Radical Christian Writings: A Reader

“The organization and diversity of this work make it fairly distinctive. Recommended for seminary and academic libraries.” Library Journal

“Whilst diverse in subject, the editors have done a marvellous job in providing an editorial narrative that takes the reader apace through the ideas of this group of Christian thinkers, activists and theologians. This is what makes the book hard to put down – the authors’ enthusiasm for their subject comes through in both their treatment of the individuals and of the literature. The book will undoubtedly become a useful source of study and reference material, but it is more than this. For me, it has provided a fascinating window onto some lesser-known authors who have developed ideas which provide a context for the thoughts of today’s Christian socialists. It is not a book to be rushed through, but one to which I will enjoy returning and exploring again and again.” Christian Socialist

“This compilation is a welcome contribution, combining as it does feminist and black theology themes with the incipient communism of the Civil War radicals.” Anabaptism Today

“An inspiring collection.” Church Times

“This book is a goldmine, which I have already put on the Reading List for a new course…This is essential for scholars, and a good read for many others as well.” Reform

“[T]hose who read Radical Christian Writings with patience and proper guidance will find it an invaluable resource. Nowhere else is the range and depth of Christian social prophecy so fully displayed.” Theology

“The book offers an easy introduction to subversive Christian thought through the ages and should be a welcome addition to the shelves of thoughtful Congregationalists whose history includes many forays into radical activity, as well as to Christians of all denominations.” Congregational History Circle Magazine

“The 63 authors selected in this collection offer an exciting array of diverse insights into what is usually called ‘the Christian tradition,’ but perhaps should more accurately labeled ‘the Christian traditions.'” The European Legacy

There has long been a tradition in the Christian church which has discerned in the scriptures an imperative towards radical political action. Beginning with the Fathers and their writings on the community of goods, it can be traced through the mystics of the middle ages and radical reformers and Puritans of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, to Christian socialists, liberation theologians and social activists of more recent times.

Though remarkable for their incisiveness, originality and distinctive theological perspective, these writings have often failed to reach a wide readership. Bradstock and Rowland have now brought more than sixty extracts together in this one volume, including some which have been newly translated and many which have long been unavailable. This has resulted in a unique and immensely valuable resource, which includes letters, sermons, poems, liturgies and other writings from the third- to the twenty-first century.

This volume, which fills a gap in the current literature, will be an essential resource for third-year undergraduates and above in Biblical studies, political theology, Church history and political theory.