The Pietist Impulse in Christianity

'The Pietist Impulse in Christianity' provides a masterfully handled, multi-authored analysis of the Pietist movement tracing its origins in Northern Europe through the centuries and concluding with an examination of its enormous in fluence upon Western and global Christianity. Scholars from a variety of disciplines highlight the profound theological, cultural, and spiritual contribution of Pietism, and the "pietist impulse," to the Church. They demonstrate that Pietism was a movement of great depth and originality that was not merely concerned with the "pious soul and its God." Rather, Pietists were from the beginning concerned with a wide variety of issues including social and ecclesial reform, the nature of historical inquiry, the purpose of theology, and the missional task of the church. The volume provides an understanding of this theological heritage, which is particularly valuable as the majority of contemporary Christians are unaware of the pivotal role of Pietism in the development of the Church. The study of Pietism has become an international and multidisciplinary intellectual endeavour, as the contributors to this volume eloquently demonstrate. This is a work which sheds much needed illumination upon a seminal movement, and will be of great interest to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of a major in fluence upon contemporary Christianity. Christian T. Collins Winn is Associate Professor of Historical and Systematic eology at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is author of " 'Jesus is Victor!" The Significance of the Blumhardts for the Theology of Karl Barth" (2008) and Series Editor for the Blumhardt Series. G. William Carlson is Professor of History and Political Science at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of numerous articles on Baptist General Conference history, Swedish Pietism, religion in the Soviet Union, and comparative evangelical political thought. Christopher Gehrz is Associate Professor of History and coordinator of the Christianity and Western Culture programme at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Eric Holst is a graduate of Bethel Seminary, with an interest in contextual theology and theories of Christian education. 'Understanding Pietism is critical for grasping the modern manifestations of Protestantism in Europe and North America. This impressive volume illustrates both the diversity and range of American research on Pietism and its promise for scholars on both sides of the Atlantic.' Hartmut Lehmann Max-Planck-Institut f r Geschichte, G ttingen.

Christian T. Collins Winn is Associate Professor of Historical and Systematic theology at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is author of "Jesus is Victor!" the Signicance of the Blumhardts for the theology of Karl Barth (2008) and Series Editor for the Blumhardt Series (Cascade Books). G. William Carlson is Professor of History and Political Science at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is the author of numerous articles on Baptist General Conference history, Swedish Pietism, religion in the Soviet Union, and comparative evangelical political thought. Christopher Gehrz is Associate Professor of History and coordinator of the Christianity and Western Culture program at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Eric Holst is a graduate of Bethel Seminary, with an interest in contextual theology and theories of Christian education.