
Predestination
The American Career of a Contentious Doctrine
Peter J. Thuesen(Author)
Oxford University Press Inc
1st Edition
Published on 24. October 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-0-19-983239-2 (ISBN)
Description
Winner of the Christianity Today 2010 Book Award for History/Biography, and praised in Christian Century as "witty...erudite...masterful," this groundbreaking history, the first of its kind, shows that far from being only about the age-old riddle of divine sovereignty versus human free will, the debate over predestination is inseparable from other central Christian beliefs and practices--the efficacy of the sacraments, the existence of purgatory and hell, the extent of God's providential involvement in human affairs--and has fueled theological conflicts across denominations for centuries. Peter Thuesen reexamines not only familiar predestinarians such as the New England Puritans and many later Baptists and Presbyterians, but also non-Calvinists such as Catholics and Lutherans, and shows how even contemporary megachurches preach a "purpose-driven" outlook that owes much to the doctrine of predestination. For anyone wanting a fuller understanding of religion in America, Predestination offers both historical context on a doctrine that reaches back 1,600 years and a fresh perspective on today's denominational landscape.
Reviews / Votes
fascinating * Ava Chamberlain. Journal of the American Academy of Religion *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Adult education
Scholars and students of colonial and 19th century America, Christianity, sociology, woman's studies and general audiences, mostly Evangelical Protestants.
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
497 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-983239-2 (9780199832392)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
08/2009
Oxford University Press Inc
€71.70
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
07/2009
OUP eBook
€14.49
Available for download

E-Book
07/2009
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€18.99
Available for download
Person
Peter J. Thuesen is Professor and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. He is author of In Discordance with the Scriptures: American Protestant Battles over Translating the Bible and editor of The Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 26, Catalogues of Books.
Author
Professor and Chair of Religious StudiesProfessor and Chair of Religious Studies, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
Content
Illustrations ; Introduction: Doctrine of Discord: Presdestination in American Christianity ; Chapter One: The Predestinarian Labyrinth: Historical Background ; Chapter Two: The Agony and the Ecstacy: Predestination in New England Puritanism ; Chapter Three: "Shall the Hellish Doctrine Stand?" Enlightenment Doubts and Evangelical Division ; Chapter Four: From Methodists to Mormons: Attacking Predestination in the Young Republic ; Chapter Five: Domesticating a Doctrine: Catholics and Lutherans ; Chapter Six: Debating a Doctrine: Presbyterians and Baptists ; Epilogue: The Purpose-Driven Life? Predestination and the Decline of Mystery ; Glossary of Theological Terms ; Notes ; Index