The Texas Baptist Crucible: Tales from the Temple

by James Spurgeon

When he was ten years old, James converted to Christianity in a Southern California Baptist church. After graduating from high school in 1987, James enrolled in Texas Baptist College. Seven harrowing years later, James escaped that cult-like environment with his spirituality and sanity intact. This is his story--a story of struggle, courage, faith, and perseverance. It will make you laugh and cry, make you angry, make you cheer. The Texas Baptist Crucible illustrates the ugly side of legalism, misguided zeal, and misplaced priorities. But it is also a story of grace, and how God often takes us through difficult paths so that we will learn to appreciate what real grace is all about.

Genres: Memoir, Fundamentalism

284 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2006

About the author

Reformed Baptist pastor and hospice chaplain in Texas. Originally from Tennessee. He has written a memoir of his experiences as a student at a Fundamentalist Baptist college in Texas.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic read that you will not want to put down. This is the account of the author's experience at fundamentalist Texas Baptist College, a ministry of Longview Baptist Temple. At the helm of LBT and TBC was Bob Gray, the other fundamentalist Bob Gray. If you have never seen fundamentalism from the inside, you will probably think Spurgeon is exaggerating. Those who have been inside will know better. It is an eye-opening book and I recommend it.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strangely fascinating true (ish) stories of a young man and the scarily strict Bible college he attended. You can read it and thank whatever dark gods claim you that you aren't in his shoes, the stories are well written snapshots of a life under near total control.

I took a star off because James of the 80s and 90s was, quite frankly, a bit of a d**k. (Can one swear on Goodreads?). He acts like a naughty little boy, and the contrast between the fact he's at this college by his own choice and spends his whole time in rebellion is strange. His attitude to the few women he meets leaves something to be desired, too. This makes it tedious at points and I did lose sympathy for him, although he does try to explain why he stays.

I am sure he's a nicer bloke now though, having well and truly passed through the fire. It is worth a look.

[Tony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am the Anthony Alvarez mentioned in this book. I read the whole book in 2 days. I could not put it down. Reading this book brought back so many memories good and bad. I can tell you that during my year there (The Year of the Rebellion) was my last in the college. I am glad that James and my brother both made it out of there and continued to serve the Lord. We sure did have some good times when we weren't being watched...Our bus route was the best...

[Jeri Massi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read James' chronicles several times from the week he first introduced them on the old Fighting Fundamentalist Forum. The very first chapter had me in tears of laughter, and I e-mailed copies of it to many friends. What a great day to see James Spurgeon's memoirs of life at Longview Baptist Temple and Texas Baptist College in print!

If you have suffered church abuse, this is the book that will teach you to laugh again. Without ever losing sight of what is sacred---indeed, James uses the Rabadash-like characters around him to emphasize what is truly sacred and what is false--Spurgeon brings the reader into the world of Independent Baptist Fundamentalism Gone Bad. It is a nightmare of comedies (or comedy of nightmares), as truth is turned on its head, manipulation and pressure are masqueraded as God's love, and hours of hard labor building membership of the church by suckering children into "decisions" is passed off as grace.

Ridiculous Bible lessons, impossible competitions to "win souls," a culture of deceit and boasting, harsh and illogical rules, and one young man's ever more ingenious ways to beat the system by playing the system against itself make this collection a mixture of PILGRIM's PROGRESS and McHALE'S NAVY. It's a delight from beginning to end.

[Bob Bingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, though it brought back some painful memories of the past at another fundamentalist college (the author, James Spurgeon, is recounting his experiences at Texas Baptist College). This book is very hard to find as it is out of print. However, Interlibrary Loan obtained a reading copy through the local library.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a good job of showing what happens to any place where the judgments and opinions of men (or one man) are held to same level as God and the Bible. I applaud the author for calling out a place that has clearly become a cult.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Sawyer goes to fundamentalist Bible college. Hijinks ensue.

[Tammy Millington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ordered this book from Barnes&Noble yesterday and they canceled the order today. Can someone please tell me how to get this book?