In this groundbreaking examination of the antislavery origins of liberal Protestantism; Molly Oshatz contends that the antebellum slavery debates forced antislavery Protestants to adopt an historicist understanding of truth and morality. Unlike earlier debates over slavery; in antebellum America the key question was whether slavery was a sin in the abstract. Unable to use the letter of the Bible to answer the claim that slavery was not a sin in and of itself; antislavery Protestants argued that biblical principles required opposition to slavery and that God revealed slavery's sinfulness through the gradual unfolding of these principles. Although they believed that slavery was a sin; antislavery Protestants' sympathy for individual slaveholders and their knowledge of the Bible made them reluctant to denounce all slaveholders as sinners. In order to reconcile slavery's sinfulness with their commitments to the Bible and to the Union; antislavery Protestants defined slavery as a social rather than an individual sin. Oshatz demonstrates that the antislavery notions of progressive revelation and social sin had radical implications for Protestant theology. Oshatz carries her study through the Civil War to reveal how emancipation confirmed for northern Protestants the notion that God revealed His will through history. She reveals how; after the war; a new generation of liberal theologians drew on this experience to respond to evolution and historical biblical criticism. Slavery and Sin provides critical insight into how the theological innovations rooted in the slavery debates came to fruition in liberal Protestantism's acceptance of the historical and evolutionary nature of religious truth.
#1239677 in Books Amanda Porterfield 2009-08-28Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.00 x .50 x 9.00l; .75 #File Name: 0199729948232 pagesHealing in the History of Christianity
Review
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful. A Worthy Effort that Leaves Some More to be DesiredBy Craig StephansAmanda Porterfield follows the course of healing as an expression of Christianity during the faith's history starting with Jesus' own ministry. Through her studies; Porterfield discovers that healing has consistently been a central element in the faith throughout its global reach. Porterfield explores how Christians have attempted to relieve sickness and suffering in response to Christ's example and his redemptive work. This spans the practice of laying on of hands and exorcisms of the first Christians to more recent medical centers inspired by the faith.Healing in the History of Christianity takes readers on a journey patterned by brief stops with Jesus; his early disciples and those who would come in the proceeding centuries throughout Europe; Asia; North and South America; Russia and Africa. Porterfield shows how Christian healing continually revamps itself in time and place. Christianity has inspired its adherents to reach out to the suffering in many forms. Porterfield examines a plethora of these; however; due to the scope of this exercise many facets are left untouched.An attempt to trace the history of healing in Christianity becomes a study of the history of Christianity itself. Porterfield shows that the Christian message without the ministry of healing is found to be incomplete. In her survey; she helps paint the picture of Christian healing; sometimes with broad strokes and at other times with precise artistry.Porterfield's willingness to approach this subject with an open mind and follow various paths assures that all readers will learn surprising details. Conversely; readers may also wonder what inspires Porterfield to follow some trails such as Native American ghost dances while ignoring others such as Mother Teresa's ministry to the poor and suffering. The author makes minimal use of Scripture and often seems uncritically dependent on secondary sources and to lack both intimacy and depth with her topics.Rather than discussing Jesus' ministry of healing and his disciples' continuation of it; Porterfield gets bogged down in source criticism of the gospels themselves. She falls into the trap of the ill-informed Jesus Seminar practices of labeling portions of the gospel as valid and others as embellishments. As she examines the early church; she fails to highlight the central role of healing in the book of Acts or spend much time on the writings of Paul; James and Peter who also highlight healing among Christians. Porterfield fails to mention the spiritual gift of healing cited by Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians. She connects Paul's inspiration to Greek stoicism which is strange considering he repeatedly urged his audiences to rejoice and describes his own weeping and joy. This is one example of Porterfield's apparent disconnect with her subject; but is replayed throughout the book; as the author seems to follow tangents inspired by secondary sources.I wish she had also discussed contemporary healing ministries; Christian hospital systems and their impact today.Despite the book's flaws; readers are sure to stay interested and to share Porterfield's conclusions about the significance of healing in Christianity.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. As a non Christian it gave really good coverage of the "who's Jesus" questions I had while ...By CustomerAs a non Christian it gave really good coverage of the "who's Jesus" questions I had while providing a thorough background and history of the healing traditions perpetuated in Christianity. Not only that but it's easy enough to read that I didn't abhor picking it up for class every day.
