Forging a Christian Order

Discover the compelling insights of Forging a Christian Order by Kimberly Kellison, published by the University of Tennessee Press in 2023. This thought-provoking hardback, spanning 280 pages, delves into the complex relationship between faith and slavery among eighteenth-century White Baptists in South Carolina. Kellison argues that these communities utilized the Bible to create a Christian model of slavery that acknowledged the humanity of enslaved individuals while simultaneously reinforcing artificial racial distinctions. As the narrative unfolds, the book illustrates how this initial Christian perspective on slavery transformed into a justification of the institution as morally acceptable. A must-read for those interested in the intersections of religion, race, and history, Forging a Christian Order invites readers to reflect on the evolving moral frameworks surrounding slavery in American history.