Historical Dictionary of Radical Christianity

Brackney’s study of radical Christianity illuminates this ongoing tug-of-war between orthodoxy and heresy, each contributing to the perception of the other. This would be a useful addition to the reference collections of high schools and universities.

This dictionary by Brackney (Acadia Divinity College, Nova Scotia) is a fascinating compilation of various groups and movements that at one time or another have been considered ‘radical’ or ‘unorthodox.’ By ‘radical, ‘ the author means ‘an identifiable person/group that sought in some way to restore or recover the original essence of Christianity, as witnessed in the New Testament scriptures and literature of first-century Christianity.’ The introduction provides a brief, insightful overview of the ‘evolving nature of radical Christianity’ from the foundation of the church to the present. The most helpful part of this dictionary is the typology the writer uses to characterize how various individuals and movements have differed from the creeds and practices developed by and in the early church. The general types include theological (T), ethical (E), reconstructive (R), prophetic (P), and sacramental (S). The dictionary is thorough, though not exhaustive. Each entry is brief but clearly written and well researched. Also offered is a useful bibliography of general, primary, and secondary resources. Specialists and theological students, along with church historians, will find this volume a great ready-reference dictionary and a welcome supplement to other works on the same subject. Summing Up: Recommended.

This is [an] excellent encyclopedic “dictionary” from the Scarecrow stable, with over 400 entries which are handily cross-referenced by means of bold print….This well-written and endlessly fascinating book is based upon a thorough knowledge of the work of previous scholars and upon research in libraries in the US, Canada, and the UK.