The New Crusades, the New Holy Land: Conflict in the Southern Baptist Convention, 1969-1991

Cool insight of the history of the SBC. Gets whiny at times.Great change and great schism changed the course of millions of lives.People were removed from biblical institutions for teaching that the bible is flawed.Is the heart of the SBC tolerant peacefulness or doctrinal integrity?Just like you should watch Fox News AND listen to NPR, try reading this gem with Jerry Sutton's,"The Baptist Reformation: The Conservative Resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention."I want to call these books boring, but I'd just feel guilty for demeaning chronicles of such anold, lively debate.

The book came in very timely. I was very pleased with that. There was also minimal to no damages to it. Awesome!

Great service and quality book just as presented!

Though it is likely evident enough in the title alone, this book is a moderately subjective portrayal of the power struggle for the SBC during the era of the Conservative Resurgence. Morgan provides a detailed, approachable and well-sourced account of the entire process. He documents its beginnings with M.O. Owen's and Bill Powell's formation of the Baptist Faith and Message Fellowship, their failed attempts to establish control in the 70s, the rise of conservative control of the presidency in the 80s and their eventual victory in 1991 under the joint leadership of Paige Patterson (the theologian) and Paul Pressler (the politician).Morgan makes no attempt to conceal his own sympathies for the moderate cause. He repeatedly portrays conservatives as arrogant, power-hungry fundamentalists (in particular Charles Stanley) who sought to purify all theological heterodoxy from the denomination at the expense of unity and diversity. His account of the events is captivating and does incite frustration over the causalities accrued by these crusades. Nevertheless, it must be read alongside other voices, in particular those like Jerry Sutton (The Baptist Reformation, B&H, 2000), who more fairly depict the heretical views held by what Morgan refers to as moderates (who were in fact anything but liberals). Though I agree the power struggle was vicious, when one considers the importance of what was at stake from the conservative view (the authority of the Bible), it is hard to argue that such a reformation was unnecessary. In the end, this book provides a helpful perspective from the side of the defeated, and left me longing for eventual reconciliation of our divided denomination.

Thank God I left this church when I did. It did NOTHING for me spiritually for all the years I attended it, and I am so glad I left before the fundamentalists completely took over the SBC, like the tyrants they are. I got out just in time!!

David Morgan does an excellent job with the history of the conflict within the SBC over the past 25 years. Clearly documented and well researched, Morgan takes you step by step through the transformation of the convention from liberal (or moderate) leadership to conservative management. Although he never suscintly states his position, he does offer clear clues along the way that he comes from a more "moderate" persuasion, but he does seem to present a quite unbiased reference work. He demonstrates clearly the attitudes and actions of both sides, neither of which is very complimentary in light of Christianity at times. An excellent, readable work - exciting, frustrating, and most of all, enlightening.

The author does seem to present clues that he comes from a moderate position. Nonetheless this is an excellent book. I personally enjoyed the many details he uses to describe SBC life 1969-1991.