MACMILLAN The Open Brethren: A Christian Sect in the Modern World

Glossary Introduction                                  Part 1: Perspectives Chapter 1. The Tight Brother's Tale Chapter 2. The Loose Brother's Tale Chapter 3. The Historian's Tale Chapter 4. The Psychologist's Tale Chapter 5. Brethren Lives Chapter 6. Salvation and Service                        Part 2: Authority Chapter 7. Conformity and Belief Chapter 8. Authority in Action Chapter 9. The Authority of the Bible Chapter 10. The Authority of the Brother                                   Part 3: Separation Chapter 11. Separation and Identity Chapter 12. Pure from the World Chapter 13. Separated from the Sects Chapter 14. Apart from the Apostates                                   Part 4: Fundamentalism  Chapter 15. An Archetypal Fundamentalism Chapter 16. The Brethren and Modernism        Chapter 17. Fundamentalism and Christianity Chapter 18. Religion and Globalisation Review “Herriot describes what life is like within the tight Open Brethren, including in the discussion conversion, service, opposition to political activity, and the role of women in the church. … Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.” (W. T. Lindley, Choice, Vol. 56 (11), July, 2019) Review “This is a highly readable book exploring the dynamics of the faith of the author’s father, the Open Brethen. It is an especially valuable study showing that fundamentalism can be associated with peaceful withdrawal from the larger society rather than engaged in acts of violence directed against it.” (Ralph W. Hood, Jr., Professor of Psychology and Leroy M. Martin Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, USA) “Herriot gives us a gripping theological explanation of the movement, and one that is also complemented with a fine critique and moving autobiography that deals with his experiences of the Open Brethren. It is a compelling volume: one that blends insight, narrative, description and critical interpretation. Herriot’s account and reflection is handled with sensitivity, and it makes for a captivating volume. This book will have an enduring value for research in the field.” (Martyn Percy, Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, UK) From the Back Cover This book gives a personal insight into the hearts and minds of a fundamentalist Christian sect, the Open Brethren. Using Brethren magazine articles, obituaries, and testimonies, Peter Herriot argues that the Brethren constitute a perfect example of a fundamentalism. Their culture is entirely opposed to the beliefs, values, and norms of modernity. As a result, like other fundamentalisms they challenge modern Christianity and impede its efforts to engage with global society. About the Author Peter Herriot, who was brought up in a Brethren family, was Professor of Psychology at the City University and at Birkbeck College, University of London. He has since written on fundamentalism from a social psychological perspective. Among his books are ‘Religious Fundamentalism: Global, Local, and Personal’ (2009) and ‘Warfare and Waves: Calvinists and Charismatics in the Church of England’ (2017).