David Brainerd is simultaneously one of the most enigmatic and recognizable figures in American religious history. Born in 1718 and known for his missionary work among the Indians (as well as for being expelled from Yale), Brainerd and the story of his life entered the realm of legend almost immediately upon his death at the age of twenty-nine.
Much of his reputation is based on the picture of Brainerd constructed by Jonathan Edwards in his best-selling Life of David Brainerd. This new biography seeks to restore Brainerd to the context of the culture in which he lived. Combining archival research with the most recent scholarship on the Great Awakening and Indian missions, John A. Grigg argues that Brainerd was shaped by two formative experiences. On the one hand, he was the child of a prosperous, well-respected Connecticut family that was part of the political and social establishment. On the other, he was a participant in one of the more fundamental challenges to that establishment-the religious revivals of the 1740s. Brainerd's work among the Indians, Grigg argues, was a way to combine the sense of order and tradition inherited from his family with his radical experiences in the revival movement. Moving beyond biography, Grigg also examines how the myth of Brainerd came to be. He argues that both Edwards and John Wesley crafted their versions of Brainerd's life in order to address specific problems in their own churches, and he examines how subsequent generations of evangelicals utilized Brainerd for their own purposes.
The Lives of David Brainerd is the first truly scholarly biography of Brainerd, drawing on everything from town records and published sermons to hand-written fragments to tell the story not only of his life, but of his legend. The David Brainerd who emerges from this work is a man who is both familiar and remarkably new.

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.

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

Billy Graham, the high-profile evangelist, author, and founder of the diverse Billy Graham Evangelical Association, is now in his 80s. Yet his popularity is undiminished, thanks to new generations seeking Christian spiritual fulfillment. Graham is the superstar evangelist who has remained untainted by the financial and sex scandals that have plagued his evangelical peers. His movie-star looks, manner, and propriety have made him a role model, and have brought him into close contact with power. He has had a personal relationship with every president since Dwight D. Eisenhower, serving as an unofficial White House chaplain and, to some extent, policy advisor. This balanced biography covers Graham's life and work, his extraordinary accomplishments, and the criticisms he has endured. It is clear that Graham will be remembered as a tireless crusader for his faith in popular revivals around the world. He has preached in nearly 200 countries, drawing the largest crowds for religious events in history, and made special efforts to reach audiences in Communist countries in Asia and the Soviet Union, which alienated fundamentalists.

Written by an expert in the history of Protestant Christianity

The last days of the apocalypse are already upon us, but most people don't know it. Author Louis A. Kelsch, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, reveals that the last days are already here and will not be deterred. He explores the methods God will use to teach us repentance and how selected individuals will benefit others as events unfold. Christ will reign on Earth, and life will be restored to a true utopia.

He also considers the ways in which the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints looks exactly like the church that Christ once organized. Founded on the principle of revelation from God, it is a truly an original American church.

There are trying times ahead for the Latter-Day Saints, and if you're already a member of the church, your faith will be tested. But it will not be more than you can bear, and there will also be times of unspeakable joy. No matter what your faith, there's not much time left to start living a life that will free you from sin. Discover how to find the path to salvation with The Apocalypse Has Begun.

Is Heaven on Earth Really Possible?

When we struggle with defeat and discouragement, the Holy Spirit is the key to victory and peace. Best-selling author Dr. Myles Munroe shows how to bring order to the chaos in your life, receive God’s power to heal and deliver, fulfill your true purpose with joy, be a leader in your sphere of influence, and be part of God’s government on earth. We have access to the unseen world of the Spirit and can bring heavenly influence to earth. When you receive God’s Spirit into your life, you will find that His gifts are your birthright. Receive the fullness of God’s Spirit and start living in the spiritual power that God has promised you. “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7 NKJV).

American writer, educator, theologian, and feminist pioneer EMMA CURTIS HOPKINS (1849-1925) may well be the most important woman in the history of religion in the United States. Influenced by Mary Baker Eddy and her "Christian Science," Hopkins developed the more metaphysical philosophy of New Thought, an early "New Age" outlook that encouraged its adherents to tap the latent powers of their potent minds. Known as "the teacher of teachers," Hopkins inspired her students, many of whom went on to become influential leaders of the New Thought movement, to give full expression to their creative genius. In this 1888 book, considered by many her masterpiece, Hopkins explores the wisdom of Jesus Christ from twelve different perspectives, all of which demonstrate, in their own unique ways, how we all hold within us the mystical energy to transform ourselves, our lives, and the world itself for the better, and to fill our hearts with the joy of the infinite. ALSO AVAILABLE FROM COSIMO: Hopkins' High Mysticism