The Civil War as a Theological CrisisViewing the Civil War as a major turning point in American religious thought, Mark A. Noll examines writings about slavery and race from Americans both white and black, northern and southern, and includes commentary from Protestants and Catholics in Europe and Canada. Though the Christians on all sides agreed that the Bible was authoritative, their interpretations of slavery in Scripture led to a full-blown theological crisis. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 28
Page 2
... institution not from avarice, but from principle.''2 The fact that Beecher in the North and Thornwell in the South found contrasting messages in Scripture by no means indicates the depth of theological crisis occasioned by this clash of ...
... institution not from avarice, but from principle.''2 The fact that Beecher in the North and Thornwell in the South found contrasting messages in Scripture by no means indicates the depth of theological crisis occasioned by this clash of ...
Page 4
... institution, narrowly defined, the New York rabbi was definite. One of the many Northerners with a good religious education who knew the Bible very well, yet in whose mind questions did arise about the intrinsic evil of slaveholding ...
... institution, narrowly defined, the New York rabbi was definite. One of the many Northerners with a good religious education who knew the Bible very well, yet in whose mind questions did arise about the intrinsic evil of slaveholding ...
Page 5
... institution of slavery for] its guidance and control.'' From this history, according to Rice, the South had taken the lesson ''never to consent that her social system . . . be confined and restrained by any other limits than such as the ...
... institution of slavery for] its guidance and control.'' From this history, according to Rice, the South had taken the lesson ''never to consent that her social system . . . be confined and restrained by any other limits than such as the ...
Page 12
... institutions and agencies of culture with which we are now familiar were much smaller than they have become. Richard Carwardine put the matter well in his study of religion and politics before the Civil War when he concluded that during ...
... institutions and agencies of culture with which we are now familiar were much smaller than they have become. Richard Carwardine put the matter well in his study of religion and politics before the Civil War when he concluded that during ...
Page 13
... institutions of higher learning in the country, all but a bare handful of them run by religious organizations. > Only a few years earlier, the Methodist Christian Advocate was pleased to tell its readers that of the fifty-four oldest ...
... institutions of higher learning in the country, all but a bare handful of them run by religious organizations. > Only a few years earlier, the Methodist Christian Advocate was pleased to tell its readers that of the fifty-four oldest ...
Contents
1 | |
17 | |
3 The Crisis over the Bible | 31 |
4 The negro question lies far deeper than the slavery question | 51 |
5 The Crisis over Providence | 75 |
6 Opinions of Protestants Abroad | 95 |
7 Catholic Viewpoints | 125 |
8 Retrospect and Prospect | 157 |
Notes | 163 |
Index | 193 |
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abolitionists Abraham African American appeared arguments attacks authority believers Bible biblical Canada Catholic cause century chapter Christian Church Civil Civil War claim commentary common concerning conclusion conservative considered course crisis culture debate defended direct divine early economic effect efforts emancipation especially European evangelical evil example existed fact follow force foreign God’s human Ibid important individual institution intellectual interests interpretation issue James John later less letter liberal liberty Lincoln Lutheran masters meaning Methodist moral nature North Northern offered opinion political practices Presbyterian principles problem proslavery Protestant providence published question race reasoning reli religion religious republican Roman sanction Scripture sense side situation slave slavery Smith social society South Southern spirit Testament theologians theological things thought tion took traditional turned Union United University Press York
Popular passages
Page 89 - Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondman's two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said : " The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Page 33 - Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you ; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land : and they shall be your possession. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over...
Page 35 - And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren ; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit These things teach and exhort.
Page 34 - And he said, CURSED be Canaan; A servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, BLESSED be the Lord God of Shem ; And Canaan shall be his servant.
Page 58 - Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee: he shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy gates, where it liketh him best : thou shalt not oppress him.
Page 35 - Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh ; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers ; but in singleness of heart, fearing God...
Page 89 - The will of God prevails. In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be and one must be wrong. God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time. In the present civil war it is quite possible that God's purpose is something different from the purpose of either party; and yet the human instrumentalities, working just as they do, are of the best adaptation to effect his purpose.
Page 88 - Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world? In our present differences, is either party without faith of being in the right? If the Almighty Ruler of Nations, with His eternal truth and justice, be on your side of the North, or on yours of the South, that truth and that justice will surely prevail by the judgment of this great tribunal of the American people.
Page 35 - Render therefore to all their dues: tribute, to whom tribute is due; custom, to whom custom ; fear, to whom fear; honour to whom honour.