This article includes alist of references,related reading,orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations.(April 2009) |
The Trail of Bloodis a 1931 book byAmericanSouthern BaptistministerJames Milton Carroll,comprising a collection of five lectures he gave on the history ofBaptistchurches, which he presented as asuccessionfromthe first Christians.The work has been criticized for linking together numerous unrelated sects and historicalheresiesthat have no relation to Baptist theology or polity. However, supporters postulate that these disparate groups held beliefs similar to current Baptists, and many of the charges against these groups were raised by their enemies. It is considered to be doctrine primarily amongIndependent Baptistchurches.[1]
Content
editThe full title isThe Trail of Blood: Following the Christians Down through the Centuries: or, The History of Baptist Churches from the Time of Christ, Their Founder, to the Present Day.[2]Carroll presents modern Baptists as the direct successors of a strain of Christianity dating toapostolictimes, reflecting aLandmarkistview first promoted in the mid-nineteenth century byJames Robinson Graves(1820-1893). Graves had started an influential movement inTennesseeand thewestern states.The Landmark controversy divided many Baptists, and ultimately led to the formation of theAmerican Baptist Associationin 1924, as well as of Gospel Missions[citation needed]and unaffiliated churches. This is a belief calledBaptist successionism.
Carroll claims that modern Baptists descend from such earlier groups as:
- theWaldensians(founded in the 1170s, based in the Cottian Alps)
- theNovatianists(orCathari) (founded in the 3rd century)
- thePaulicians(foundedc.650 in Armenia)
- theDonatists(originating in North Africa in the 4th century)
Carroll acknowledges a number of other writers, including G.H. Orchard (1796–1861) andJohn T. Christian(1854-1925). The title is taken fromJames Robinson Graves'The Trilemma.[2]The book was published in the year Carroll died.
James Edward McGoldrick wrote a response to Carroll's work calledBaptist Successionismwhich gave researched opposition to the theory of "Baptist successionism."[citation needed]
As of 2010[update]Ashland Avenue Baptist Church inLe xing ton, Kentuckyheld the copyright to Carroll's book.[citation needed]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^McBeth, Leon (1987).The Baptist heritage.Internet Archive. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman Press. p. 58.ISBN978-0-8054-6569-3.
- ^abWilliam Hull, "William Heth Whitsitt: Martyrdom of a Moderate,"Distinctively Baptist: Essays on Baptist History,ed. Marc A. Jolley, John D. Pierce, pp. 237-78, p. 255, note 70.
External links
edit- Trail of Blood,Challenge Press is one of the sole distributors of the print copy this book
- The Trail of Bloodat archive.org
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