Methodism by Abraham, William J. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover page Halftitle page Series page Title page Copyright page Dedication page Contents List of illustrations 1. John Wesley and the origins of Methodism

The numbers An accident waiting to happen Early life of John Wesley The Aldersgate experience Out in the open air The goal of Methodism Severe challenges Crossing the Atlantic On the home front

2. Supporting background stimuli

The Moravian influence Differences with Evangelical Anglicans Background stimuli A new configuration of Christianity

3. The people called Methodists

The failure of renewal movements A new version of Christianity The search of succession Sanctified flexibility Core elements Modern Methodism and renewal movements

4. The message of Methodism

An ambitious vision The canonical sermons Crucial elements Industrial strength theologies Initial updating of the message

5. The search for credible alternatives

Finding a viable alternative The pied piper of United Methodism New directions Pluralism prevails Queries about pluralism

6. The practices of Methodism

A crucial study tour Means of grace Baptism and the Lord’s Supper Prudential means of grace Updating the system

7. The impact of Methodism

Social holiness Negative assessments Saints galore The impact on social movements Politics proper Think and let think Impact on education Methodist hospitals The wider cultural scene

8. The decline of Methodism

Keeping count The statistics Megatheories of decline Reviewing the numbers Positive results Wesley’s diagnosis

9. Future prospects of Methodism

Hang-glider analysis Competing identities Loss of nerve Another look at identity Three observations The two big battalions A third army of the Lord A lasting work of God

The Roots, Classical Development, and Offshoots of Methodism References Publisher’s acknowledgements Index Social Media Biblical Archaeology Catholicism Christian Ethics Fundamentalism Mormonism Religion in America