America In Crimson Red

by James R. Beller

Hardcover

Genres: History, Spirituality, Christian

607 pages, Hardcover

First published July 31, 2004

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best worst written book I have ever read. Or maybe it is the worst best written book I have ever read. Either way, everyone should read it. "The Baptist History of America" is really a history of how the United States went from independent states that almost uniformly practiced religious persecution to United States that understood religious freedom as a basic right. Before the formation of the United States, many Baptists died, lost their homes and other property, and were kicked out of their communities merely because they refused to baptize infants and refused to pay the tax for the salaries of the pastors of government-established churches. Through the persecution, the Baptists in America thrived and ultimately led America to embrace religious freedom. We have since lost that understanding, meshing Baptists into Protestantism. James Beller, importantly, reminds us of this history and the important people who played a part in this history, with great attention to detail, good story telling, and impeccable research. Unfortunately, he needed an editor, or a better one, for every page of the book contains poor sentence structure, commas out of place, and many other grammatical problems. Nevertheless, everyone should overlook those faults and read this book.

[Ryan Rench · Rating 5 out of 5]

Largely unknown history of America. Loved it in college!

[Laura Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every self-proclaimed Baptist should read and study this book. It contains valuable information and history of the Baptist faith in America and the trials and pitfalls of that faith throughout our nation's history.

The writing is a little scattered at times and the grammar is not always exact, but the information contained is well worth looking past those types of mistakes.

You may think you know Baptist and church history. But if you haven't read this book, you don't know the truth. Bro. Belled spent endless hours in research all over the country to put all of the information in one book.

This is probably the most important and valuable book any baptist could read apart from the Bible.

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm, what to say about this one. If I could give it 2 1/2 stars, I probably would. I will admit, my opinion of this book is heavily tainted by my lack of interest in typically written and more generalized history books regardless of the specific focus. If I'm going to read history, I prefer a targeted event or personality or even object. I've read an entire book on the history of milk, and I found that enjoyable and interesting. Depth intrigues me, but breadth, not so much.

Suffice it to say, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I'm sure these types of books are necessary to record and maintain names and dates which are important to not lose as a people, but they just don't light my fire of interest or passion. I would have preferred a few of these names or events zeroed in on and expanded to see more of the day to day details and stories of how these people struggled and "bled." Instead, I got machined gunned with all the deftness of an ADHD professor, cramming his students for a college course examination.

All that being said, if you are one of those weirdos who salivates at the mere thought of names, dates, and locations being disgorged at every turn of the page, and you are interested in the Baptist movement in early America, boy, does this book have a feast for you.

[Seth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reviewer who said this is the best worst-written book he's ever read said it well. :) From a literary standpoint, it isn't well-written.
The content is tremendous. It's an excellent and stirring introduction to Baptist history in America; but more than that, it reveals that our very nation was built upon Baptist principles, and at great cost to many.

[Timothy S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say this book is fantastic would be one of the biggest the understatements of the century. This book was filled with useful information that Baptist people should know. I had already heard a few seminars on some of the topics, yet this book taught me plenty of things I didn’t know about those topics I’d already had some familiarity with. This is not the first Baptist history book I’d recommend due to its length and the amount of detail given. However, this book is highly recommended to those who already have a basic knowledge of the stories and are eager to learn more. The only critique I have, and it is a minuscule one, is that while the book lists info about the first Baptist church(es) for several states (including California and Oregon), it fails to list information about others. That said, it is such an insignificant critique due to the overwhelmingly true, yet untold story that is presented in this book. Dr. Beller combines the stories and narratives of Semple, Cathcart, Armitage, Backus, Graves, Christian, and other Baptist historians into a simple, engaging, and factual masterpiece.

[Everett F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An altogether interesting history of the Baptist people and their churches and heritage in America during the first century and change of independence and prior, going back to the arrival of the first of their sort in the early colonial period with the likes of Roger Williams (who did not remain a Baptist very long) and an obscure, yet impactful, preacher and medical missionary named John Clarke, whom Beller asserts is the man who should truly be given credit for establishing the mother church of the American Baptists, rather than Williams, as has long been traditionally asserted. I'll write a more formal review for my class later, but for now, this suffices. Four stars for interesting tidbits and some new insights, yet one is off due to the strong Baptist slant and underlying animosity towards other Christian branches, such as the Congregationalists and Anglicans (though the Presbyterians play a supporting role as allies of the Baptists for most of the narrative, with a few exceptions). Also gives good insight into the formation of cults and the Baptist role in them.

[Connor Kinkade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was convicting and eye opening. Baptist History is a new topic for me and I learned more than I can probably handle. The author did a great job mounting evidence on how America was built on Baptist principles and had thorough accounts and records on the early Baptist churches and the suffering of many Christians, even in early America. Satan, of course, is going to erase Christian history as best as he can and unfortunately he has done a good job of it. Praise God for preachers who are willing to put in the time and effort to preserve this history. Anyone who is a Baptist ought to understand the sacrifices their forefathers have made because we easily take them for granted and we will lose them if we're not careful.

[Susanna]

DNF

[Bill Delperdange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent presentation of our Baptist heritage in America. Details the persecution of Baptists in the colonial period and reveals the Baptist foundations of the American experiment.

[Joshua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freedom of religion has not always existed for everyone in America and it did not exist for the Baptists until Rhode Island. Obadiah Holmes was beaten in boston. He recieved forty stripes his crime was being Baptist. As many as 40 Baptist preachers were in jail at one time in Virginia because they were Baptist. The blood of Alamance County, NC had Baptist cause at its foundationand the leader of the regulator movement was a Baptist and Governor Tryon wanted a Baptist preachers head in a charger it is believed he his on the property of Squire and Sarah Boone the parents of Daniel Boone.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although poorly written (the incorrect usage of commas was annoying!), I was able to learn a whole lot about Baptist forefathers and the history of America. America is a nation that was founded on biblical principles, which is something I think most people look over these days. It was really neat to see how the persecution of the Baptist (and other things concerning the Baptists) really lead to the founding of America as we know it.

[Willy George · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book because it gave me a better understanding of our Baptist heritage and gives me much more appreciation for what these men went through to give me what I have today. A church to go to that speaks the Truth of the Word if God. I gave it a four out of five though because it was very poorly written.

[Adrianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to know what this country was really based on - this is a GREAT book! A bit dry at times, but over all, a great review of American history from a non-revisionist's view!

[Thomas Kinsfather · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very long and very skewed view of American history. Every event is seen through a thick Baptist lens. Lots of well documented information. It lost my attention about a third of the way through.

[Jim Gordon]

Fantastic book a must read for every Baptist and Christian. Learn the real history of America and not the lies common text books tell our kids, and what the public schools teach.