Baptist Identity

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

Undergraduate

1. identify the main political, social and cultural factors that gave rise to the Baptist movement;
2. outline key features of the Baptist heritage and trace their historical development throughout the world;
3. explain some of the reasons for diversity among Baptists in Britain, North America, Australia and other selected parts of the world;
4. evaluate factors leading to controversies among modern Baptists and assess their impact upon selected Baptist communities; and
5. analyse the influence of Baptist history and belief upon personal and professional life.

Postgraduate

1. identify the main political, social and cultural factors that gave rise to the Baptist movement;
2. outline key features of the Baptist heritage and trace their historical development throughout the world;
3. critique some of the reasons for diversity among Baptists in Britain, North America, Australia and other selected parts of the world;
4. critically evaluate factors leading to controversies among modern Baptists and assess their impact upon selected Baptist communities;
5. analyse the influence of Baptist history and belief upon personal and professional life; and
6. respond critically and constructively to historical and theological themes identified in the unit.

Undergraduate

• Five 200-word online forum posts (20%)
• One tutorial paper (1,500 words) (30%)
• One essay (2,500 words) (50%)

Postgraduate

• Seven online forum posts (total 2,000 words) (25%)
• One tutorial paper (2,000 words) (25%)
• One essay (4,000 words) (50%)

Set texts recommended for purchase are highlighted in blue

• Beasley-Murray, Paul. Radical Believers: the Baptist way of being the church. Didcot: Baptist Union of Great Britain, 1992.
• Bebbington, David W. Baptists Through the Centuries. Waco: Baylor University Press, 2010.
• Brackney, William H. (ed.). Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, 2nd edn. Lanham: Scarecrow Press, 2009.
• Chute, Anthony L. et al. The Baptist Story: From English Sect to Global Movement. Nashville: B&H Publishing, 2015.
• Cupit, Tony et al. ‘From five barley loaves’: Australian Baptists in Global Mission 1864–2010. Preston: Mosaic Press, 2013.
• Fiddes, Paul S. Tracks and Traces: Baptist Identity in Church and Theology. Carlisle: Paternoster, 2003.
• Johnson, Robert E. A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010.
• Hayden, Roger. English Baptist History and Heritage. Revd edn .Didcot: Baptist Union of Great Britain, 2005.
• Haymes, Brian et al. On Being the Church: Revisioning Baptist Identity. Milton Keynes: Paternoster Press, 2008.
• Holmes, Stephen R. Baptist Theology. London: T&T Clark, 2012.
• Leonard, Bill J. Baptist Ways: A History. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 2003.
• Lumpkin, William L. (ed.). Baptist confessions of Faith. 2nd revd edn. Valley Forge: Judson, 2011.
• Manley, Ken R. From Woolloomooloo to ‘eternity’. 2 Vols. Carlisle: Paternoster, 2006.
• McBeth, H. Leon (ed.). A Sourcebook for Baptist Heritage. Nashville: Broadman, 1990.
• Randall, Ian M. et al. Baptist Identities: International Studies from the Seventeenth to the Twentieth Century. Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2006.
• Rees, Frank (ed.). Baptist Identity into the Twenty-first Century. Parkville: Whitley College, 2016.
• Williams, Michael et al. Turning Points in Baptist History. Macon: Mercer University Press, 2008.
• Wright, Nigel G. Free Church, Free State: The Positive Baptist Vision. Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2005.