The Southern Baptist Convention and the Judgement of History: The Taint of an Original Sin

by Luther E. Copeland

Overview

Never before has a book sought to relate the various aberrations of Southern Baptist history to the defense of slavery. Copeland maintains that the inception of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is tainted by its origins in the defense of slavery. The Southern Baptist Convention and the Judgment of History also emphasizes the relation to American Baptists, the response to the ecumenical movement, the position of women, the enforcement of theological orthodoxy, and foreign missions.

The revised edition aims to bring readers up to date on what has happened in the SBC (the radical statement of 1995, the revision of the Baptist Faith and Message statement at the points of Baptist theology, the status of women, etc.) since the books original publication, and to explain how the SBC's controversial stance on racial issues has influenced the denominational life of members and how this stance developed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761822875
Publisher:	University Press of America
Publication date:	07/03/2002
Edition description:	Revised Edition
Pages:	198
Product dimensions:	5.62(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.77(d)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Foreword Chapter 2 Preface Chapter 3 Preface to Revised Edition Chapter 4 Abbreviations Used in this Book Chapter 5 Introduction: Our Present Predicament and the Burden of Our History Chapter 6 A System "Instituted and Commanded by God:" The SBC, Slavery, and Southern Identity Chapter 7 "Keeping the Negro in His Place:" The Continuation of Racism among Southern Baptists Chapter 8 Anglo-Saxons— "God's Pre-eminent Missionary Race:" Racism and Missionary Paternalism Chapter 9 "Free to Serve as a Source of Blessing Anywhere:" Southern Baptists and American Baptists Chapter 10 "Our Theology, Our Doctrines, Our Methods are Complete:" Southern Baptists and Other Christians Chapter 11 "First in the Edenic Fall:" The Southern Baptist Enforcement of Orthodoxy Chapter 12 Conclusion Chapter 13 Appendix I Chapter 14 Appendix II Chapter 15 Notes Chapter 16 Bibliography Chapter 17 Index Chapter 18 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

Copeland…points out fruitful avenues of research and suggests new questions.. .. He clarifies his thesis against critics of the first edition by reminding his readers the he never intended to show slavery as the sole cause of what he calls the 'various aberrations of the Southern Baptist Convention,' just one of the oldest and most persistent.

Review and Expositor - Loyd Allen

Copeland...points out fruitful avenues of research and suggests new questions. . . . He clarifies his thesis against critics of the first edition by reminding his readers the he never intended to show slavery as the sole cause of what he calls the 'various aberrations of the Southern Baptist Convention, ' just one of the oldest and most persistent.--Loyd Allen, McAfee School of Theology "Review and Expositor "

From the Publisher

Copeland…points out fruitful avenues of research and suggests new questions. . . . He clarifies his thesis against critics of the first edition by reminding his readers the he never intended to show slavery as the sole cause of what he calls the 'various aberrations of the Southern Baptist Convention,' just one of the oldest and most persistent.
— Loyd Allen, McAfee School of Theology

Review and Expositor

Without revealing when the original was published, Copeland says he has incorporated subsequent events, and has clarified his argument that taking the wrong side of the slavery issue was not the Convention's only error, but merely its most pernicious. He continues to assert that the position not only contributes to ongoing racism, but also has possible effects on foreign missions, relations with American Baptists, responses to the ecumenical movement, the treatment of women, and attempts to enforce orthodoxy of belief. He was a Baptist missionary. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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