Bibliothek religiöser Biografien Reihe

Recounts a famously outspoken agnostic's surprising relationship with Christianity H. L. Mencken (1880-1956) was a reporter, literary critic, editor, author--and a famous American agnostic. From his role in the Scopes Trial to his advocacy of science and reason in public life, Mencken is generally regarded as one of the fiercest critics of Christianity in his day. In this biography D. G. Hart presents a provocative, iconoclastic perspective on Mencken's life. Even as Mencken vividly debunked American religious ideals, says Hart, it was Christianity that largely framed his ideas, career, and fame. Mencken's relationship to the Christian faith was at once antagonistic and symbiotic. Using plenty of Mencken's own words, Damning Words superbly portrays an influential figure in twentieth-century America and, at the same time, casts telling new light on his era.

An accurate, sympathetic account of influential colonial Christian leader Cotton MatherCotton Mather (1663-1728) was America's most famous pastor and scholar at the beginning of the eighteenth century. People today generally associate him with the infamous Salem witch trials, but in this new biography Rick Kennedy tells a bigger Mather, he says, was the very first American evangelical.A fresh retelling of Cotton Mather's life, this biography corrects misconceptions and focuses on how he sought to promote, socially and intellectually, a biblical lifestyle. As older Puritan hopes in New England were giving way to a broader and shallower Protestantism, Mather led a populist, Bible-oriented movement that embraced the new century — the beginning of a dynamic evangelical tradition that eventually became a major force in American culture.Incorporating the latest scholarly research but written for a popular audience,  The First American Evangelical  brings Cotton Mather and his world to life in a way that helps readers understand both the Puritanism in which he grew up and the evangelicalism he pioneered.

Paying special attention to her experience of faith, Lundin relates Dickinson's life -- as it can be charted through her poems and letters -- to nineteenth-century American political, social, religious, and intellectual history. --From publisher description.

Focusing on Thomas Merton's monastic journey, this biography by Lawrence Cunningham delves into his evolution into a contemporary spiritual leader. It offers insights into Merton's life after "Seven Storey Mountain," highlighting his profound spiritual development and influence.

Relates one of the most remarkable lives in the tumultuous English Reformation Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) was the first Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, the author of the Book of Common Prayer, and a central figure in the English Protestant Reformation. Few theologians have led such an eventful life: Cranmer helped Henry VIII break with the pope, pressed his vision of the Reformation through the reign of Edward VI, was forced to recant under Queen Mary, and then dramatically withdrew his recantations before being burned alive. This lively biography by Leslie Williams narrates Cranmer's life from the beginning, through his education and history with the monarchy, to his ecclesiastical trials and eventual martyrdom. Williams portrays Cranmer's ongoing struggle to reconcile his two central loyalties--allegiance to the crown and fidelity to the Reformation faith--as she tells his fascinating life story.

Harriet Beecher Stowe's profound Christian faith is a central theme in this biography, which explores her journey from evangelical Calvinism to Anglican spirituality. The author, Nancy Koester, meticulously examines Stowe's writings and personal struggles, particularly her grief, to reveal how her beliefs fueled her passionate anti-slavery activism. Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin not only made her a celebrity but also significantly impacted the abolitionist movement, while simultaneously drawing fierce criticism from pro-slavery advocates.

The biography delves into the life of Francis Schaeffer, a pivotal figure in shaping modern evangelical thought during the 1960s and '70s. It explores his evolution from a fundamentalist pastor to a revered mentor and cultural critic, emphasizing his role in encouraging evangelicals to engage with contemporary society. Barry Hankins utilizes primary sources and interviews to present a nuanced portrait of Schaeffer, highlighting his complexities and flaws while acknowledging his significant impact on American evangelicalism and culture.

This biography, part of the acclaimed Library of Religious Biography, treats the religious significance of Thomas Jefferson, first by examining Jefferson's steady dedication to the cause of religious liberty, and second, by exploring Jefferson's private effort to reform the nature of religion.

Charles Wesley (1707–1788) was the cofounder of Methodism and the author of more than 9,000 hymns and sacred poems, including such favorites as "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing," and "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today." John Tyson here traces the remarkable life of this influential man from cradle to grave, using rare — including previously unpublished — hymns, letters, and journal materials.As the younger brother of John Wesley, Charles was a vital partner in the Methodist revival. While often standing in the shadow of his more famous brother, Charles Wesley was arguably the founder of the Oxford Holy Club, and he actually experienced evangelical conversion three days prior to John. In Assist Me to Proclaim Tyson explores, among other things, behind-the-scenes questions about the brothers' sometimes-stormy relationship.Notwithstanding all his accomplishments as an evangelist and itinerant preacher, Charles is chiefly remembered for his startling facility at writing hymns that show God at work in almost every instance of life. His remarkable legacy endures around the world, as hundreds of Charles Wesley hymns are still sung in churches everywhere today.Assist Me to Proclaim draws a picture of a man whose fidelity to both the Church of England and the original vision of Methodism energized his remarkable abilities as a revivalist and hymn writer. Readers also get a glimpse into Wesley's heart and mind through the window of his hymn texts. This is a biography that any student of church history or hymnody will welcome.