(Part 1)

JBTM Book Reviews
124
Wilsey makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing discussion on exceptionalism, civil
religion, and patriotism. Wisley is concerned not only with tracing historical development,
but also with offering a solution. He succeeds on both fronts. How viable his model of open
exceptionalism is remains to be seen. The reader never has grounds to question Wilsey’s
affection for his country. His balance on this point is refreshing, since historians often
lean to the extreme of either vilifying America or blindly exalting it. Wilsey embodies the
approach that he promotes in this work. In addition to the main content of this work,
I appreciate the aesthetic value of the book. Thought-provoking quotations frame the
content for each chapter, and pictures add a visual dimension. Each chapter includes a
section for further reading which offers the major secondary sources on each subtopic.
Furthermore, Wilsey’s research is strong. His endnotes demonstrate depth both in
primary and secondary sources. At times, however, he draws out illustrations at the expense
of reinforcing his argument. One example is in chapter three, when he needlessly draws out
background on Queen Mary who reigned in sixteenth-century England (92–94). However,
this does allow him to develop a narrative. In general, he skillfully frames the historical
context and background.
This book has a broad appeal. Scholars concerned with American exceptionalism and
civil religion will need to consider Wisley’s work, but it would also be suitable for history
courses in colleges and seminaries. Even further, the author asks important questions that
all Americans, but especially Christian Americans, should be asking. Evangelicals who
increasingly feel tension in civil and cultural engagement should consider Wilsey’s proposal
of open exceptionalism. This approach is thoughtful, sophisticated, and also compatible
with the Christian gospel.
- Paul A. Sanchez, Emaus Church, San Jose, California
Arminian and Baptist: Explorations in a Theological Tradition. By J. Matthew Pinson.
Nashville: Randall House, 2015. 262 pages. Paperback, $22.99.
J. Matthew Pinson is president of Welch College in Nashville, Tennessee. He previously
served as pastor in churches in Alabama, Georgia, and Connecticut. He earned master’s
degrees from the University of West Florida and Yale and a doctorate from Vanderbilt.
This book is a collection of Pinson’s previously published articles on the history and
doctrine of Reformed Arminianism with the addition of one new chapter. Pinson’s purpose
in publishing these essays is to help “those who wish to understand the Arminian Baptist
theological tradition and the unique stream of Arminian theology associated with it, thus
complementing a growing body of literature from this theological vantage point” (xi).
The premise of chapter 1 is that Arminius has often been interpreted based on later