Category: History

"America" in "The Choir" (1833)

Best of The Pietist Schoolman: A Brief History of Patriotism in American Hymnals

September 23, 2013

Now that we’re into the academic year and I’m both busier and readership is up, I thought I’d ease into the week by reposting a couple of pieces that you might have missed during the warmer months. I’ll start with a three-part series from July. Which patriotic hymns are most popular? Have they changed over … More Best of The Pietist Schoolman: A Brief History of Patriotism in American Hymnals

Cover of the Covenant Quarterly

Announcing a New Issue of The Covenant Quarterly on Pietism

September 17, 2013

I’m honored to announce the publication of a theme issue of The Covenant Quarterly, guest edited by my colleague Christian Collins Winn and myself, that features articles on the historical and contemporary significance of Pietism. If you’re not familiar with it, The Covenant Quarterly is published by the Evangelical Covenant Church through its seminary, North … More Announcing a New Issue of The Covenant Quarterly on Pietism

BGC contributions to Bethel, 1984-2005

Bethel, the BGC, and the Decline of Denominational Financial Support for Christian Higher Education

September 16, 2013

There are lots of factors contributing to the financial crises afflicting higher education in general and my employer in particular. However, since Bethel is a Christian college that has retained more than a nominal relationship with its founding denomination, I’ve sometimes wondered just how changes in Converge Worldwide (Baptist General Conference) have affected our situation. … More Bethel, the BGC, and the Decline of Denominational Financial Support for Christian Higher Education

Tracy McKenzie

Tracy McKenzie on “Thinking Christianly about the Past”

September 14, 2013

9/14/13 – That Was The Week That Was will be a few hours late while I attend a retreat at church. Meanwhile, let me suggest that you use the time you’d normally devote to perusing my suggested links and instead read Tracy McKenzie’s latest post. It’s not only a model of how to respond to … More Tracy McKenzie on “Thinking Christianly about the Past”

"Hitler will send no warning - so always carry your gas mask"

The Second World War Before Pearl Harbor: The Phoney War, 1939-1940

September 12, 2013

I’m not sure that anyone has made a good movie about the stretch of WWII that lies between the fall of Poland in early October 1939 and the German invasion of western Europe in early April 1940. But if they did, it wouldn’t fit the conventions of war movies. Given that this half-year was sometimes … More The Second World War Before Pearl Harbor: The Phoney War, 1939-1940

The remnant of the World Trade Center

Best of The Pietist Schoolman: This Day in History: 9/11

September 11, 2013

Change the first word to “Twelve” and this post from 9/11/2012 still seems to fit today, 9/11/2013. Eleven years ago this morning I was in Hamden, Connecticut, waking up after a late night of dissertation writing to turn on CNN in time to watch the collapse of the World Trade Center’s twin towers. Those structures … More Best of The Pietist Schoolman: This Day in History: 9/11

Terrell and Bruce, The Anglo-Scottish Border and the Shaping of Identity, 1300-1600

A Baptist Pietist University Gets Medieval

September 10, 2013

You wouldn’t expect a Baptist Pietist university in the American Midwest to be anything remotely like a hotbed for interest in the Middle Ages, but there’s been a mini-revival of matters medieval here at Bethel University. Leading the charge is church historian Chris Armstrong, who has branched out from his interests in Wesleyan and Holiness … More A Baptist Pietist University Gets Medieval

Fea, Why Study History

John Fea in The Juvenile Instructor

September 4, 2013

If you’ve been wondering “Who is John Fea, and why has his forthcoming book, Why Study History? Reflecting on the Importance of the Past, been spotlighted in Christianity Today as “New and Noteworthy” and his blog, The Way of Improvement Leads Home, been named by one semi-knowledgeable source as one of ten by Christian historians that … More John Fea in The Juvenile Instructor