The Armchair Series
Written by experts but designed for the novice, the Armchair series provides accurate, concise, and witty overviews of some of the most profound moments and theologians in Christian history. These books are essential supplements for first-time encounters with primary texts, lucid refreshers for scholars and clergy, and enjoyable reads for the theologically curious.
This witty and illuminating volume introduces the life and writings of the great American theologian and preacher Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758). The most widely studied figure in American religious history and an iconic figure of the American colonial period, Edwards is well known and highly regarded as a stalwart defender of Calvinist theology and his Puritan heritage. As James P. Byrd deftly reveals, however, Edwards was also a brilliant thinker and passionate pastor who wrestled continuously with the most important issue of his time: the relationship between faith and reason. Exploring his life, most important writings, and enduring legacies, Jonathan Edwards for Armchair Theologians provides an engaging overview of a man far more complex and multifaceted than most understand. With Ron Hills characteristically humorous illustrations, studying American religious history has never been so enjoyable!
James P. Byrd is Assistant Dean for the Graduate Department of Religion and Assistant Professor of American Religious History at Vanderbilt University. He is the author of The Challenges of Roger Williams: Religious Liberty, Violent Persecution, and the Bible.
