Baptist ideals like the separation of church and state have indelibly shaped Western democracies, and Baptist thinkers continue to influence public policy and political engagement today. Yet the historical contours, enduring commitments, and current contributions of Baptist political thought are little understood.
Baptist Political Theology, edited by scholars Thomas Kidd, Paul Miller, and Andrew Walker, introduces readers to the full sweep of Baptist engagement with politics. Part 1 reviews the life, writings, and political activity of important figures in Baptist history, as well as Baptist involvement in key historical eras and episodes. Part 2 presents a collective effort at applied political theology, with essays relating Baptist principles to a range of contemporary issues. This monumental volume sheds light on the history and contemporary practice of Baptists in the public square, offering context and clarity for Baptist political thought in the years to come.
Introduction – Thomas S. Kidd, Paul D. Miller, and Andrew T. Walker
Part One
1. The Reformation and Early Development of Baptist Political Theology – Dustin Bruce
2. British Baptist Origins: From Thomas Helwys to Andrew Fuller – Michael A. G. Haykin
3. Roger Williams – James Calvin Davis
4. The Baptists and John Locke – Malcolm Yarnell
5. Baptists and the American Revolution – Kristina Benham and Thomas S. Kidd
6. John Leland – Casey Hough
7. Isaac Backus – Brandon J. O'Brien
8. Baptist Theology and Politics in the Early Nineteenth Century – Tom J. Nettles
9. “They That Wait”: Baptists, Slavery, and Segregation – Eric M. Washington
10. Baptists and the Civil War – Gregory A. Wills
11. Progressive Baptists: The Activist Faith of Walter Rauschenbusch, Henlee Barnette, and James Dunn – Aaron Douglas Weaver
12. The African American Baptist Tradition – Kenneth Reid
13. The Political Theology of Martin Luther King Jr. – Daniel Lee Hill
14. Carl F. H. Henry – Jason G. Duesing and Jesse M. Payne
15. Contemporary Baptist Political Theology: Billy Graham, Charles Colson, Richard Land, Albert Mohler, Russell Moore, and Jonathan Leeman – Cory D. Higdon
16. The Christian Right: From Reagan to Trump – Nathan A. Finn
17. Baptist Witness in a Post-Christian Culture – Karen Swallow Prior
Part Two
18. Baptists in Babylon: On the Role of Politics in Modern Baptist Life – Jonathan Leeman
19. The Natural Law Tradition and Baptist Public Ethics – Andrew T. Walker
20. Baptists and the Contemporary Challenge to Religious Liberty – R. Albert Mohler Jr.
21. Baptist Perspectives on Bioethics and Human Dignity – C. Ben Mitchell
22. Sexuality and Gender in Baptist Perspective – J. Alan Branch
23. Stewardship and Environmentalism – Andrew Spencer
24. The Necessity of Humility in Determining the Connection between Political Economy and Neighbor Love: Reflections on Baptist Political Economy – Hunter Baker
25. Just War and Baptist Political Theology – Paul D. Miller
26. Baptists and American Evangelical Identity – Barry Hankins
Conclusion: The Weaknesses and Future of Baptist Political Theology – Andrew T. Walker and Paul D. Miller
Subject Index
Scripture Index
Baptist ideals like the separation of church and state have indelibly shaped Western democracies, and Baptist thinkers continue to influence public policy and political engagement today. Yet the historical contours, enduring commitments, and current contributions of Baptist political thought are little understood.
Baptist Political Theology, edited by scholars Thomas Kidd, Paul Miller, and Andrew Walker, introduces readers to the full sweep of Baptist engagement with politics. Part 1 reviews the life, writings, and political activity of important figures in Baptist history, as well as Baptist involvement in key historical eras and episodes. Part 2 presents a collective effort at applied political theology, with essays relating Baptist principles to a range of contemporary issues. This monumental volume sheds light on the history and contemporary practice of Baptists in the public square, offering context and clarity for Baptist political thought in the years to come.
Introduction – Thomas S. Kidd, Paul D. Miller, and Andrew T. Walker
Part One
1. The Reformation and Early Development of Baptist Political Theology – Dustin Bruce
2. British Baptist Origins: From Thomas Helwys to Andrew Fuller – Michael A. G. Haykin
3. Roger Williams – James Calvin Davis
4. The Baptists and John Locke – Malcolm Yarnell
5. Baptists and the American Revolution – Kristina Benham and Thomas S. Kidd
6. John Leland – Casey Hough
7. Isaac Backus – Brandon J. O'Brien
8. Baptist Theology and Politics in the Early Nineteenth Century – Tom J. Nettles
9. “They That Wait”: Baptists, Slavery, and Segregation – Eric M. Washington
10. Baptists and the Civil War – Gregory A. Wills
11. Progressive Baptists: The Activist Faith of Walter Rauschenbusch, Henlee Barnette, and James Dunn – Aaron Douglas Weaver
12. The African American Baptist Tradition – Kenneth Reid
13. The Political Theology of Martin Luther King Jr. – Daniel Lee Hill
14. Carl F. H. Henry – Jason G. Duesing and Jesse M. Payne
15. Contemporary Baptist Political Theology: Billy Graham, Charles Colson, Richard Land, Albert Mohler, Russell Moore, and Jonathan Leeman – Cory D. Higdon
16. The Christian Right: From Reagan to Trump – Nathan A. Finn
17. Baptist Witness in a Post-Christian Culture – Karen Swallow Prior
Part Two
18. Baptists in Babylon: On the Role of Politics in Modern Baptist Life – Jonathan Leeman
19. The Natural Law Tradition and Baptist Public Ethics – Andrew T. Walker
20. Baptists and the Contemporary Challenge to Religious Liberty – R. Albert Mohler Jr.
21. Baptist Perspectives on Bioethics and Human Dignity – C. Ben Mitchell
22. Sexuality and Gender in Baptist Perspective – J. Alan Branch
23. Stewardship and Environmentalism – Andrew Spencer
24. The Necessity of Humility in Determining the Connection between Political Economy and Neighbor Love: Reflections on Baptist Political Economy – Hunter Baker
25. Just War and Baptist Political Theology – Paul D. Miller
26. Baptists and American Evangelical Identity – Barry Hankins
Conclusion: The Weaknesses and Future of Baptist Political Theology – Andrew T. Walker and Paul D. Miller
Subject Index
Scripture Index
