Baptist Political Theology - by Thomas S Kidd & Paul D Miller & Andrew T Walker (Hardcover)

About the Book

Baptist Political Theology, edited by scholars Thomas Kidd, Paul Miller, and Andrew Walker, introduces readers to the full sweep of Baptist engagement with politics.

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"In Baptist Political Theology Tommy Kidd, Paul Miller, and Andrew Walker bring together leading Baptist scholars who mine the riches of Baptist history and thought to inform our current cultural moment and to answer pressing ethical questions. The chapter titles are as inviting as their authors are impressive, but the content within each chapter is what makes this volume so worthwhile. This book comes with my highest recommendation."
--Jason K. Allen, president, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

"No one will ever accuse me of being a Baptist, but I can and do appreciate many of the insights that Baptists have contributed to political theology. This impressive collection brings together many of today's sharpest Baptist thinkers to reflect on the historical sources of and future challenges to Baptist political thought without papering over the various strengths and weaknesses. It's a resource for the entire church."
--Ryan T. Anderson, president, The Ethics and Public Policy Center

"Opinions abound about what it means to be 'Baptist, ' and that is perhaps no truer than when we try to define Baptist beliefs about politics. This collection of essays helps us on the road to defining Baptist political theology in ways that are historically informed and theologically aware."
--Matthew Emerson, professor of religion and dean of theology, arts, and humanities, Oklahoma Baptist University

"Baptist Political Theology is a masterful effort to describe and explain the collective historical experience of the people called Baptists as they interacted with various civil governments and wrestled with the role Baptists and their moral convictions should and should not play in civil society. The result is a cornucopia of critical information that will inspire readers as they discover a surprisingly well-developed tradition of Baptist political theology. This should serve as a valuable guide for all people who believe that Christian moral perspectives should be part of the conversations about societal moral standards. Baptist Political Theology should be a standard textbook in all Baptist and evangelical seminaries and colleges and will richly reward all interested readers who delve into its pages."
--Richard Land, president emeritus, Southern Evangelical Seminary

"There's never been a greater need in America for smart Christian political theology, and Baptists are central to the present and future of American Christian life. Baptists were also central to shaping early American democracy, especially religious liberty. This new volume on Baptist political theology from leading Baptist scholars is timely and relevant to all Americans who want constructive religious engagement in public life."
--Mark Tooley, president, The Institute on Religion and Democracy

"The great Protestant denominations emerging from the sixteenth century each have had unique methods of acting 'in the world, but not of the world.' Protestants have always cultivated a rich and varied engagement with the culture, and Baptists in particular. Kidd, Miller, and Walker have marshaled a constellation of contemporary Baptist luminaries to scatter light on Baptist perspectives on the changing currents of human interaction over the past four centuries. This is emphatically not a collection of stories in an acta sanctorum, but an honest, careful, and thought-provoking volume that studiously measures the contours of a tried, noble, and indispensable Christian tradition."
--John D. Wilsey, associate professor of church history and philosophy, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Baptist Political Theology offers us a chance to explore ideas that connect Baptist theological orientations to political perspectives. Both political scientists and theologians should welcome this exploration."
--George Yancey, professor of social sciences, Baylor University

About the Author

Thomas S. Kidd (PhD, University of Notre Dame) is research professor of church history at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and senior research scholar at the Institute for Studies of Religion at Baylor University.

Paul D. Miller (PhD, Georgetown University) is professor in the practice of international affairs at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.

Andrew T. Walker (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is associate professor of Christian ethics and director of the Carl F. H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.