The effects of the great Evangelical Revival in eighteenth-century England were felt throughout the world, not least in America. It has long been accepted that the Revival owed much of its initial impetus to the Moravian Church but previous accounts of the Moravian's role have been inadequate and overly dependent on Wesleyan sources. Colin Podmore uses original material from British and German archives to dispel common misunderstandings about the Moravians, and to reveal that their influence was much greater than has previously been acknowledged.

This book argues that Christians have a stake in the sustainability and success of core cultural values of the West in general and America in particular. Steven M. Studebaker considers Western and American decline from a theological and, specifically, Pentecostal perspective. The volume proposes and develops a Pentecostal political theology that can be used to address and reframe Christian political identity in the United States. Studebaker asserts that American Christians are currently not properly engaged in preventing America's decline or halting the shifts in its core values. The problem, he suggests, is that American Christianity not only gives little thought to the state of the nation beyond a handful of moral issues like abortion, but its popular political theologies lead Christians to think of themselves more as aliens than as citizens. This book posits that the proposed Pentecostal political theology would help American Christians view themselves as citizens and better recognize their stake in the renewal of their nation. The foundation of this proposed political theology is a pneumatological narrative of renewal-a biblical narrative of the Spirit that begins with creation, proceeds through Incarnation and Pentecost, and culminates in the new creation and everlasting kingdom of God. This narrative provides the foundation for a political theology that speaks to the issues of Christian political identity and encourages Christian political participation.

This book comprises fuller versions of the papers presented at the second conference of the Association of Denominational Historical Societies and Cognate Libraries. Scholars representative of a number of Nonconformist traditions reflect thematically on Free Church life and witness during the twentieth century. Among the subjects reviewed are biblical studies, theology, worship, evangelism and spirituality, and ecumenism. Over and above its immediate interest, this collection will provide a marker to future scholars and others who may wish to know how some of their forebears assessed Nonconformity's contribution to a variety of fields during the century leading up to Christianity's third millennium.

How has a Christian movement, founded at the turn of the twentieth century by the son of freed slaves, become the fastest-growing religion on Earth? Neo-Charismatic Pentecostalism has some 600 million followers worldwide, and by 2050 their numbers will grow to 1 billion: that's one in ten people. This is the religion of the Holy Spirit, with believers gaining direct experience of God and all that comes with it: success for the mind, body, spirit and wallet. But Pentecostalism is also a cultural movement. It speaks to the most impoverished people in Africa and Latin America, and inspires anti-establishment leaders from Europe to Australia, South Korea to Brazil. It throws itself into culture wars and online activism, offering meaning and community to rootless Westerners adrift in a fragmenting world. Beyond Belief is the first journalistic investigation into this revolution exploding across the globe. Visiting twelve countries and eight American states, Elle Hardy exposes a timeless tale of miracles, money and power, set in our volatile age of extremes. She exposes the Pentecostalist agenda: not just saving souls, but transforming societies. These modern prophets, quietly embedded in our institutions, have the cash and the influence to do it. 'A fantastic read. Hardy gets right into the nucleus of the Pentecostal movement with empathy and a sharp journalistic eye. An incredibly important book.' - Erica Buist, author of This Party's Dead: Grief, Joy and Spilled Rum at the World's Death Festivals 'An arresting, page-turning narrative, worthy of the pageantry, vivacity and charm of Pentecostalism. Ambitious in its coverage and earnest in its exploration, Beyond Belief is a truly compelling account of the world's foremost Christian renewal movement.' - Ebenezer Obadare, author of Pentecostal Republic 'Informative, engaging, and unsettling, Beyond Belief is an in-depth exploration of global Pentecostalism in lively, accessible prose.' - Chrissy Stroop, journalist, commentator and senior researcher on the Postsecular Conflicts Project

This book examines the evangelical Christian worship focusing primarily in the island-state of Grenada. The study is based upon the author's detailed study of Pentecostal communities in that island-state as well as her own background in Barbados. The study traces the development of Pentecostal religious communities from Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century Wesleyan Methodist movement.

What do you say to someone who is hurting? How many times in everyday conversation do we struggle to comfort others in a troubled world? Christians should be "first responders," say Andy Reese and Jennifer Barnett, yet we lack the tools and confidence to reach out. We end up frustrated by our own inability to connect meaningfully and make a difference. But what would happen if we had the ability and courage to speak out in love? In these pages Andy and Jennifer give you the practical understanding and simple tools to do just that. You can fill even your casual conversations with the gentle yet transforming power of Jesus Christ. Here is what you need to confidently step out to bring peace, give grace and help others experience renewal. Visit www.freedomprayer.org for more information. "Extremely instructive and practical."--Max Lucado, pastor and bestselling author "This book will change lives--maybe even yours."--Rich Stearns, president, World Vision U.S. "Solidly based on the Gospel and immensely practical. It has helped our leaders walk in increased freedom while we help many know the truth that sets them free."--David McQueen, senior pastor, Beltway Park Baptist Church, Abilene, Texas "Our leadership team is fully on board and delighted with the simple effectiveness of this ministry."--Michael Swecker, pastor of Prayer and Freedom Ministries, Hosanna! Church, Lakeville, Minnesota "For many people a ministry like Freedom Prayer is the best place to start . . and I am most impressed with the team at the Freedom Resource."--Stephen Mory, M.D., assistant clinical professor of psychiatry, Vanderbilt University; psychiatrist, Mental Health Cooperative "Freedom Tools offers piercing insights with keen discernment to empower the reader to be set free at last. . . .A great tool for your spiritual warfare arsenal."--James W. Goll, founder, Encounters Network, Prayer Storm and GET eSchool; author, The Lifestyle of a Prophet and many more "Freedom Prayer has been invaluable to me as a counselor.."--Wendy Barnes, LPC, San Antonio "Freedom Tools is both practical and profound. It does a masterful job of taking a potentially complex subject and bringing it into everyone's reach."--Bill Johnson, senior leader, Bethel Church, Redding, California; author, When Heaven Invades Earth and more "Through the partnership of truths from the world of psychology and those from the world of inner healing, we can see powerful healing and transformation. By integrating the two, we will see more people live abundant lives as they heal their connection with God and are restored body, soul and spirit."--Margaret Nagib, Timberline Knolls Clinical Development Institute "Freedom Tools gave me a biblical manual for helping people experience freedom.."--Kirk Freeman, lead pastor, CrossBridge Community Church, San Antonio, Texas "Professional counseling and prayer ministries work hand in hand as essential partners to facilitate inner healing in wounded lives. Working together we can maximize the freedom, recovery and renewing of all those in need."--Dr. Mark Jones, LMFT director, Liberty Alliance "This powerful book gives you the Freedom Tools you need to demolish the adversary's obstacles to freedom and prosperity. Use them and you, too, can experience the super-abundant life that God desires for you!"--C. Peter Wagner, chancellor, Wagner Leadership Institute "A great need has long existed for someone to reduce inner healing to simpler, everyday language and tools. Our friend Andy Reese has done that admirably in Freedom Tools."--John Loren Sandford, co-founder, Elijah House Ministries "This is ministry from the heart and by the Spirit--so simple and natural that you'll ask yourself, 'Why didn't I know this before?'"--David Kyle Foster, founder and exec utive director, Mastering Life Ministries

Transcendentalism, a movement of theological innovation and literary experimentation arising within New England Unitarianism in the 1830s and 1840s, significantly influenced American religion, literature, education, and political culture. This reference is the first comprehensive guide to the major philosophical concepts, themes, genres, periodicals, events, organizations and movements, and places associated with Transcendentalism in the United States. Significant classical, European, Asian, and native sources and influences are included, as are later transformations. This reference approaches the subject from a history-of-ideas perspective, embracing the inconsistencies and oddities as well as the powerful achievements of the Transcendentalists. With 145 entries by 70 expert contributors, this volume is the first comprehensive guide to the major philosophical concepts, themes, genres, periodicals, events, organizations and movements, and places associated with Transcendentalism in the United States. Significant classical, European, Asian, and native sources and influences are included, as are later manifestations and transformations. Aspects of the movement covered include religion, philosophy, literature, the arts, education, politics, science, and reform. The book features separate entry bibliographies, an extensive chronology, and a detailed index.

American Evangelicals and Religious Diversity is a qualitative study of how religion and education intersect at one conservative Christian school. The school is Evangelical and American. The school's curriculum is bible-based and fulfills its state's educational requirements for high school graduation. While the school has an environment that is Evangelical, the students live in a religiously-diverse world. This book documents how three students and their teacher struggle to understand a world that challenges their faith. The context for this understanding is how the teacher presents and the three students come to understand Catholicism, Islam, and the indigenous religions of the Americas. Americans continue to debate whether religious schools are too parochial and do not prepare students to live a diverse society. It is the opinion of the editors that this book should put to rest some of this fear. We read the manuscript with a critical editorial eye but found the story a compelling one which challenged us to review the tenets of our own faith. The author's style of presentation is consistent with good scientific discourse yet impels the reader to a view inside the experience of the subjects of the study. Reading the manuscript was not only an informative experience but a faith affirming one too. We are very pleased to present Kevin Taylor's book, American Evangelicals and Religious Diversity as an important part of our series on research on religion and education.

This book investigates a puzzling and neglected phenomenon - the rise of English Arminianism during the decade of puritan rule. Throughout the 1650s, numerous publications, from scholarly folios to popular pamphlets, attacked the doctrinal commitments of Reformed Orthodoxy. This anti-Calvinist onslaught came from different directions: episcopalian royalists (Henry Hammond, Herbert Thorndike, Peter Heylyn), radical puritan defenders of the regicide (John Goodwin and John Milton), and sectarian Quakers and General Baptists. Unprecedented rejection of Calvinist soteriology was often coupled with increased engagement with Catholic, Lutheran and Remonstrant alternatives. As a result, sophisticated Arminian publications emerged on a scale that far exceeded the Laudian era. Cromwellian England therefore witnessed an episode of religious debate that significantly altered the doctrinal consensus of the Church of England for the remainder of the seventeenth century. The book will appeal to historians interested in the contested nature of 'Anglicanism' and theologians interested in Protestant debates regarding sovereignty and free will. Part One is a work of religious history, which charts the rise of English Arminianism across different ecclesial camps - episcopal, puritan and sectarian. These chapters not only introduce the main protagonists but also highlight a surprising range of distinctly English Arminian formulations. Part Two is a work of historical theology, which traces the detailed doctrinal formulations of two prominent divines - the puritan John Goodwin and the episcopalian Henry Hammond. Their Arminian theologies are set in the context of the Western theological tradition and the soteriological debates, that followed the Synod of Dort. The book therefore integrates historical and theological enquiry to offer a new perspective on the crisis of 'Calvinism' in post-Reformation England.