The First Prejudice

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Daniel Salinas

The story of Latin American evangelicals doing theology is mostly unknown. In the 1970's there was an important development with the formation of the Latin American Theological Fraternity (FTL). This group spearheaded the theological production in Latin America, marking the beginning of a critical stage in the history of evangelicals in the region. This book deals with the reception history in North America of the FTL and its program. Interamerican theological dialogue is documented and analysed.

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photographs by Clark G. Baker

At the crossroads of Central Texas, cotton once ruled as king. Around this demanding monarch, numerous communities grew up and thrived. From the distant horizon, the communities were marked by church steeples stretching skyward. Today, cotton has disappeared from the land, and the communities too are largely gone. Only the churches remain - the rock beneath the sands of time. This powerfully illustrated book seeks to explain the staying power of these rural churches and to introduce the people who keep them alive while the surrounding communities have given way to the larger towns and cities nearby. Beyond the power of religion itself, the authors have uncovered the roles of geography, race, ethnicity, and family in giving life to these small churches. Authors Lois Myers and Rebecca Sharpless enhance our understanding of the interplay of religion and culture, the qualities of late twentieth-century rural life, and the continuing draw of the open country. Photojournalist Clark Baker portrays open-country churches and their members in vivid black and white photographs. Churches featured in the volume include the oldest Norwegian Lutheran church in Texas, four African American Baptist churches organized soon after emancipation, white Southern Baptist churches, Protestant and Catholic churches founded by European and Mexican immigrants, and one union church that for most of the past century accommodated both Methodists and Baptists. Based on memories of longtime members, church minutes and histories, baptism records, and family histories the authors collapse decades of tradition into the enchanting and informative pages of this book. Given in memory of Jameson Garrett Brown by the Rotary Club of Aggieland with matching support from the Sara and John H. Lindsey '44 Fund.

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Kurt Bowen

In this sociological assessment of the Evangelical movement in Mexico, Kurt Bowen highlights the demographic, social, and political character of the movement in the 1980s and 1990s. He pays particular attention to conversion processes, commitment mechanisms, schisms, and distinctive beliefs. Bowen also considers the controversial issues of religious persecution and American missionary influence. Bowen reveals that Evangelicalism's appeal is so pervasive in Mexico that if Evangelical converts all remained faithful it could become Mexico's dominant religion by 2006. This projection, however, is improbable due to high drop-out rates and Bowen argues that Evangelical apostasy is rooted in the most basic beliefs and practices of its followers.

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Gil Soo Han

Social Sources of Church Growth is the product of a comprehensive scientific study conducted to unveil the unexplained explosive growth of the Korean church both in Korea and overseas. Despite much discourse on this subject, Han explains that previous attempts to understand growth are futile without first employing the concept of church as social institution. Han investigates the growth with references to pervasive Korean culture, education, industrialization, and other religions.