by Robert P. Sellers  *

Many persons feel they “know” Baptists as a group because of the unkind words of a few Baptist individuals or denominations. Indeed, some very public Baptists have made statements highly offensive to persons of other faiths—and, perhaps surprisingly, also disturbing and embarrassing for historic Baptists who remember their roots and denounce such judgmental, unkind sentiments. Baptists, like adherents of all religions, are a multicultural and wildly diverse lot, exhibiting different personal, social, political, and theological perspectives.

Those Baptists, however, who do recall their historic values will courageously champion religious freedom.
 

*  [N.B. I think the Baptists used to be the "Anabaptists", people who fled religious persecution from all over Europe.  They first settled in the "nether (low) lands" (which some people call Holland) and started reclaiming the land.  They were, perhaps, the first well-known Christian heretical movement.]

 

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Program Highlight: Social Cohesion Project In the midst of the xenophobia that is sweeping Europe, Malmo, Sweden has offered to serve as the inaugural site for one of the Council’s most exciting new ventures. This five-year process will connect and mobilize mainstream religious communities to act as advocates for immigrant religious communities. Help us continue to connect communities around the world and empower their work for the common good. Make a gift today!

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AAR Annual Meeting The American Academy of Religion 2011 Annual Meeting November 19-22, 2011 San Francisco, California Click here for more information