Religions of America - Softcover

Rosten, Leo

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0671219715 ISBN 13: 9780671219710

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 1975

Synopsis

This fascinating new book reflects the results of the turmoil and change in the religions of America since Leo Rosten first wrote about them.
The first section consists of nineteen articles by distinguished men, each one a recognized authority on the creed for which he speaks, setting forth the clear and candid stories of our own faiths and those of our neighbors. All religions are covered, from the major established groups to the "charismatic" cults. There are also chapters about the agnostic, the non-churchgoer and what he believes, and the scientist. A multitude of questions are raised and answered, such as: What percent of ministers profess they no longer believe in God? In which leading church can homosexuals be married? How many priests condone birth control devices? Abortions? Which faiths feel what way about intermarriage? Divorce? Have churches that participated in social activism in the 1960s gained or lost in their membership and their finances? Have the Protestant and Roman Catholic churches significantly changed their 400-year-old schism?
Part Two is the Almanac, a massive compendium that is more complete and far-ranging than any other existing one, with the statistics, public opinion polls, basic documents, sociological résumés and psychological analyses of the role, conflicts, influences and trends that characterize religion in the United States today. These basic authoritative facts and figures are accompanied by the author's own essays and comments on material that is rarely subjected to critical examination. There is also a Glossary of religious terminology.
Those familiar with Leo Rosten's A Guide to the Religions of America (1955) and his Religions in America (1963) need not be told of the extraordinary reception both volumes received from the reviewers and the public. They were acclaimed by theologians of all faiths. Each book sold hundreds of thousands of copies. But this new Religions of America renders those two volumes entirely out of date. There is no other book even remotely comparable to it.

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1

WHAT IS A BAPTIST?

NOTE TO THE READER: The original text of "What Is a Baptist?" was written by the late William B. Lipphard. Many new answers (to new or old questions) have been supplied for this new, revised edition by Dr. Frank A. Sharp.

Wherever the text has been supplied by Dr. Sharp, his initials appear in brackets.

WILLIAM B. LIPPHARD / Mr. Lipphard wrote from an editorial background of nearly fifty years of professional association with the American Baptist Convention, which consists of over 6,500 churches. He was president of the Associated Church Press from 1947 to 1949 and served for ten years as its executive secretary. He was for twenty years editor of the Baptist publication Missions Magazine and served as a delegate to Baptist World Congresses in Sweden, Canada, Germany, the United States, Denmark, and England.

Mr. Lipphard was born in Evansville, Indiana, and was educated at Yale University, from which he received a B.A. and M.A., and at Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, where he earned his B.D.

From 1940 to 1943, Mr. Lipphard was secretary of the World Relief Committee of the American Baptist Convention. He was a member of the Joint Commission on Missionary Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ and a member of the American Friends of the World Council of Churches and the Foreign Policy Association. Mr. Lipphard received an award from the Associated Church Press for eminence in editorial writing. He served as director of the Church Press at the 1954 second assembly of the World Council of Churches at Evanston, Illinois. He died in 1971.

FRANK A. SHARP / The Reverend Frank A. Sharp is director of the Department of Public Interpretation of the American Baptist Churches (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania). His weekly column in the American Baptist News Service is widely distributed throughout the United States.

A graduate of Colgate and the Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, he received his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1948 and served as pastor of several Baptist churches.

Dr. Sharp has traveled widely as a representative to, and reporter on, many Baptist and interdenominational conventions -- in Europe and Latin America. In 1966 he attended the World Conference on Church and Society in Geneva; in 1968, the Fourth General Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Uppsala, Sweden; in 1970, the Baptist World Alliance Congress in Tokyo.

His writings have appeared in many journals on religion, including Christian Century, Churchman, and International Journal of Religious Education.

NOTE TO THE READER: It should be emphasized that neither the American Baptist Convention nor the Southern Baptist Convention has ever adopted an "official" statement of doctrine and faith; accordingly, minor differences among Baptists, on specific points of creed or practice, may be regarded as individual, not official, variations. [LR]

What Is a Baptist?

Baptists have never adopted one of the historic Christian creeds -- because Baptists have been dedicated to a high degree of personal independence and to the right of the individual to interpret the New Testament for himself in matters of faith and practice. It is difficult, therefore, to present one fixed set of criteria by which to characterize a Baptist.

Among Baptists, there is a great deal of diversity because of their insistence on purity, on personal responsibility, and on freedom of belief and worship.

Any attempt to describe a Baptist would include the following points:

1. Belief in the supremacy of the Scriptures, rather than in the church or a hierarchy.

2. Belief in religious liberty, in the freedom to worship without any compulsion from or by the state.

3. Belief in the baptism of believers, rather than the baptism of infants.

4. Belief in the independence of the local church. [FAS]

Is There Then No Baptist Hierarchy or Central Authority?

Baptists have no hierarchy, no centralized control of religious activity, no headquarters that conduct an "oversight" of churches -- or liturgies, practices, or regulations.

The local Baptist parish church is a law unto itself. Its relations with other Baptist churches, its compliance with recommendations from national church headquarters, its acceptance of any resolutions formulated at regional, national, or international conventions -- all these are entirely voluntary on the part of the parish church, without the slightest degree of compulsion from any central or national or international body.

Indeed, Baptists are more properly called a denomination, not a church.

Why Do Baptists Call Themselves a Denomination Instead of a Church?

Most Baptists do not believe that they constitute a "church" because they are organized into independent, local "churches."

The local parish church is the sovereign, all-powerful ecclesiastical unit.

The term "Baptist Church" is used for convenience; "denomination" is preferred by most Baptists. In fact, a recent attempt to change the name to "American Baptist Church" was discarded in favor of the name "American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A."

Can Any Group of Believers in the Baptist Faith Form a Congregation or Church?

Yes.

A Baptist congregation needs no specific chain of historical events in order to be a true church. Any group of dedicated, regenerated, Bible-oriented people can form a Baptist church that can be an authentic part of the Body of Christ.

Such a church would not need a fully accredited, ordained pastor in apostolic succession -- because originally Baptist churches were run by laymen, and even today pastors are ordained by local churches. [FAS]

Do Baptists Accept the Literal Interpretation of the Bible?

Some do; some don't.

All Baptists believe in the inspiration of the Bible and accept the Bible as infallible in religious teachings: as a trustworthy record of the progressive revelation of God, climaxed by the supreme revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ.

"Progressive" and "liberal" Baptists regard some sections of the Bible as written in the thought patterns of Biblical times -- that is, as allegorical, figurative, and legendary yet conveying eternal religious truths.

"Fundamentalist" or "extreme" Baptists accept the Bible literally, regarding it as infallible and final in every detail.

But no official dogma prescribes how any individual Baptist shall interpret the Bible.

Do Baptists Have Sacraments?

No. What are known as sacraments are regarded by Baptists as simple, dignified ordinances with no supernatural significance and no sacramental value.

But Do Not Baptists Observe the Communion Service, or the Lord's Supper?

The Lord's Supper, or communion service, is usually observed on the first Sunday of the month. It is a reminder of the death of Christ and is observed in obedience to His command to commemorate the Supper on the night before He was crucified.

But whatever grace a Baptist derives from participating in the Lord's Supper depends on his own awareness of what the Supper signifies as a memorial service. No grace is supernaturally bequeathed to him -- neither by the officiating clergyman nor by partaking of the bread and of the cup. Whatever blessing a Baptist receives comes through some new rededication, by him, in the communion service to a life of righteousness and service to his fellow men.

Why Do Baptists Baptize Only by Immersion?

For two reasons:

1. Immersion is the mode of baptism described in the New Testament; John the Baptist immersed his converts in the Jordan River; Christ Himself was so immersed.

2. Baptists regard baptism as a public confession of Christian faith and as a symbol of the burial and resurrection of Christ, as stated by Paul in his Epistle to the Colossians. Hence, Baptists look upon immersion as realistic symbolism, through which the life of sin is buried in baptism and the new life of faith emerges.

Incidentally, "baptize" is a transliteration (not a translation) of the Greek word baptizein, meaning "to immerse." Therefore, to say that Baptists "baptize by immersion" is redundant; baptism originally was immersion.

Why Don't Baptists Baptize Infants?

Baptism is a voluntary public profession of Christian faith; therefore, Baptists believe, only persons old enough to understand its significance and its symbolism should be accepted for baptism.

Baptists give their children the right to decide for themselves whether or not they wish to be baptized as a public profession of Christian faith. We believe that such a decision makes the ceremony of baptism, and religion itself, more meaningful.

Is Baptism Mandatory for All Baptists?

There are differences of opinion among Baptists in regard to baptism. Some churches limit their membership to immersed believers only (closed membership); other churches admit members by letter from other Christian bodies -- but limit the right to vote on certain issues (associate membership); and still other churches admit members on their profession of faith, leaving the question of baptism to the conscience of the believer (open membership).

There are also some Baptists who refuse to regard baptism as valid and call it "alien baptism" if it is or was administered by any other than a New Testament church, which is usually interpreted as being a Baptist church of like mind and theology.

Most Baptists do regard immersion as the New Testament mode, but some hesitate to make that mode a theological absolute, feeling that the confession of faith is more important than the symbolic rite. [FAS]

Do Baptists Accept the Doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Christ?

A great majority undoubtedly do. A substantial minority do not.

For the majority, the doctrine of the Virgin Birth is essential to faith in the deity of Christ. The minority need no such support, since they find no reference to the Virgin Birth in the writings of Paul or in the Gospels of Mark and John.

Baptists pay no special homage to Mary but respect her as the noblest of women. They have never accepted the doctrine of her immaculate conception or the doctrine, announced in 1950 by Pope Plus XII, of the Assumption of Mary.

Since Baptists have no authoritarian creed to control their faith and practice, each local parish church has the right to decide whether or not to make acceptance of the doctrine of the Virgin Birth a condition of church membership.

Do Baptists Accept the Doctrine of the Trinity?

Most Baptists do.

This is a basic doctrine of Christianity. The trinitarian formula, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," is used at every baptism.

The sublime mystery of the Trinity, of the eternal and infinite essence of God manifested in three persons -- these, the Baptist leaves to theologians to interpret. He accepts them.

What Do Baptists Believe About Sin and Salvation?

Baptists believe that every true believer in Christ as personal Savior is saved -- without the intervention of preacher or church.

The confession of sin is a personal matter between the individual and God.

Each individual must give evidence of his personal redemption by faith, good works, and the Christian way of life. [FAS]

Do Baptists Believe in Heaven and Hell?

Most Baptists believe in some form of life beyond the grave. Ideas range from a nebulous, indefinable existence to a definite place, like a city of golden streets or a region of everlasting torment.

Some Baptists find it difficult to reconcile the fact of an all-merciful God with endless punishment for sins committed within the short span of a lifetime on earth. [FAS]

Do Baptists Approve of Divorce?

No, except when there has been adultery.

But there is no regulation among Baptist churches regarding divorce. Annual conventions of Baptists have often condemned the rising divorce rate in the United States. Each Baptist clergyman depends on his conscience in deciding whether or not to officiate at the marriage of divorced persons. No church law prescribes what he must do.

What Is the Baptist Attitude Toward Black People?

Our denomination has passed a resolution as follows:

We recognize the --

Failure of the white-dominated society to respect and rely on the voice of the poor citizens, and especially poor black men, in decisions affecting their welfare in white-owned, white-dominated and white-maintained ghettos.

We call our churches to --

Develop and support opportunities for all, especially the minority group poor, to participate in decisions by religious, governmental, industrial, commercial, welfare and other institutions affecting their lives.

Join with the victims of discrimination in securing legislation and business practices that insure open housing in established and new communities, and that improve opportunities for full participation in economic life by all citizens. [FAS]

What Is the Status/Role of Women Among Baptists?

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At the Seattle, Washington, National Convention in 1969, a resolution was passed urging the American Baptist Convention, and its affiliated organizations and constituent churches, to:

1. Reverse the declining number of positions held by professionally trained women in local churches, states, cities, and regional and national staffs.

2. Establish policies and practices in electing and appointing persons to offices, committees, and boards to ensure more adequate opportunities for women.

3. Urge member churches to give equal status to women in positions of major responsibility (deacons, moderators, trustees, etc.) within the local church. [FAS]

Can Women Be Ordained?

The American Baptist Churches already have some fifty women ordained as ministers. Some of them serve in churches, others in executive positions. [FAS]

Do Baptists Sanction Birth Control?

No parish Baptist church and no ecclesiastical convention of Baptists has ever by resolution expressed approval or disapproval of birth control or planned parenthood.

Even if it had, such resolution would not be binding on any Baptist. Most Baptists would resent and repudiate any such resolution as an unwarranted intrusion into the private life of husband and wife.

What Is the Baptist Attitude Toward Abortion?

There is no official or single stand. Every Baptist is free to make up his own mind.

The nearest thing to "the" Baptist attitude may be found in the resolution adopted by our National Convention. (These resolutions, be it noted, express and reflect only the attitudes of the delegates, but many Baptists, no doubt, are influenced by the National Convention's deliberations and resolutions.)

With reference to abortion, the American Baptist Churches meeting in Boston, in 1968, passed a resolution asking that the termination of a pregnancy, prior to the end of the twelfth week of pregnancy, be at the request of the individual or individuals concerned and be regarded as an elective medical procedure, governed by the laws regulating medical practice and licensure.

The other part of the resolution stated that after the twelfth week of pregnancy, the termination of the pregnancy ...

Edition details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 1975
• ISBN 10: 0671219715
• ISBN 13: 9780671219710
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 672