This book examines beliefs, practices, and arguments surrounding infant baptism in Geneva during the time of John Calvin (1509-1564). Spierling studies several facets of Calvin's theology of baptism, including its impact on the formation of community; its doctrine and liturgy; its role in the raising of children; and the parts played by parents, ministers, godparents, and midwives in the practice of baptism. The book also highlights some of the controversies surrounding baptism in the sixteenth century, most notably the tension between Calvin's theology of baptism and that of the Roman Catholic Church.

This book examines beliefs, practices, and arguments surrounding infant baptism in Geneva during the time of John Calvin. Karen Spierling studies several facets of Calvin's theology of baptism, including its impact on the formation of community; its doctrine and liturgy; its role in the raising of children; and the parts played by parents, ministers, godparents, and midwives in the practice of baptism. This book also highlights some of the controversies surrounding baptism in the sixteenth century, most notably the tension between Calvin's theology of baptism and that of the Roman Catholic Church.

Karen E. Spierling is Visiting Associate Professor of History at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

“This is a most welcome and informative volume, which combines the skills of a first-class social historian with the insights of a keen theological mind. Its key strength is the presentation of the ‘practical theology’ of baptism in Calvin’s Geneva, which will leave anyone who tends to see the Eucharist as the key Protestant sacrament with that view substantially altered.” — William G. Naphy, Professor of History, University of Aberdeen, Scotland

This book grew out of questions generated at a Web site that management consultant Beale organized to communicate the ideas of Polkinghorne (Faith, Science, and Understanding), a physicist and Anglican priest, who maintains that science and religion are complementary modes of thought. It organizes selected questions under seven topics. Each question is followed by the responses of Beale and Polkinghorne, sometimes as a single answer and sometimes by the authors individually. Its three appendixes (“Anthropic Fine-Tuning,” “Brain and Consciousness” and “Evolution”) are substantial, constituting a third of the book, although they repeat some material from earlier chapters. True to the book’s subtitle, not all of the dialogue includes science, such as “How much do you need to believe to be a Christian?” and “What place do non-Christians have in God’s universe?” While many of the questions and the authors’ answers are informed by Christian assumptions, topics such as human consciousness and suffering are of universal interest.Many readers will welcome this accessible format, but some may find the blurring of science and theology confusing. (Jan.)Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

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