The anatomy of a hybrid: A study in church-state relationships

by Leonard Verduin

Book by Verduin, Leonard

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Orion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. I agree with a lot of things Verduin says, but I don't always agree with the way he says it.

This book had a surprising amount of crossover content with "The Reformers and Their Stepchildren". Like that book, it tackled an interesting historical subject in a polemic way... making the book more of a persuasive/argumentative piece than an informative piece. I would prefer something a bit more informative and a bit less polemic.

[Christina Patches · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good study, I just think the author used complex terms which could have been worded differently.

[Micah Lugg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very helpful in showing the problems with a government that only accepts one religion as the "right religion," even if that religion is Christianity. When the church serves the needs of the state and state serves the needs of the church, the true definition of the church is lost, church discipline becomes irrelevant, and people are coerced into adopting Christianity. I was reminded that Christendom from Augustine through the Reformation and into the New World failed to allow dissenting voices and to define the church as a community of the redeemed.

I had read one of his other books, The Reformers and Their Stepchildren, in seminary and found that to be eye-opening as well. This book has some overlapping material from that one, but this work tells the larger tale of the consequences of a church and state that act on each other's behalf.

[Herb Kraker]

Zwingli and Infant Baptism

This book is a worthwhile read on the subject of Anabaptism and the Reformers. Rev. Verduin has done considerable research. However, with respect to a related matter, infant baptism, the book contains a flaw. It attributes a quote to the Reformer Zwingli incorrectly. Dialogos Studies has done research into this. The practice of infant baptism should be cleared of this error. For more information on this see:

http://www.dialogos-studies.com/Dialo...

[Derek Shiels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not for everyone, probably not for anyone at certain times too. I've tried picking this book up again recently and couldn't get into it, but the first time I read it through, I was changed. There is a history and so much out there left to know and when you learn it, it can change your paradigm.

[Donald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read to balance the often misinformed view of Anabaptist.