Dictionary of Baptists in America
This dictionary is intended as a guide to the largest Protestant religious tradition in America. Ideas, events, people, movements, traditions, institutions, and denominations are presented in 650 signed articles from more than 100 contributors, specialists in historical studies and related to Baptist institutions. Its primary focus is historical, with concentration on movements in the U.S.The introductory essay, "The Baptists: A People, a History, and an Identity," provides a perspective on widely divergent Baptist beliefs, origins, and the 80 groups that call themselves Baptist. Twentieth-century issues, education, and future developments are considered. Asterisks throughout the essay refer to related articles, providing a subject approach to the alphabetically arranged material that follows.The articles range from less than a column to several pages. Many have appended bibliographies. Some represent original research and correctives to previously published information. Articles include not only the prominent, but also the obscure. Scope is broad and detail rich: the long articleBaptist Hymnody, the shorter oneSacred Harp. Contemporary issues are addressed: recent Southern Baptist controversies, emergent groups and institutions, some biographies of contemporaries. Such topics asInerrancy ControversyandRacial Attitudes, Baptistare treated in a balanced fashion. Asterisks andseeandsee alsoreferences enable readers to move easily throughout the volume.William Henry Brackney'sThe Baptists(Greenwood, 1988) would be a good companion to the dictionary. It consists of six essays on central principles of Baptist thought and a biographical dictionary of Baptist leaders. It is much less comprehensive. The only other encyclopedic reference on Baptists is theEncyclopedia of Southern Baptists(4v., Broadman, 1958-82).TheDictionary of Baptists in Americais a convenient, well-organized, and thorough reference tool. Any interested audience, clerical or lay, Baptist or non-Baptist, will appreciate it. Recommended.