Sacred Borders Continuing Revelation and Canonical Restraint in Early America

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· 10 ratings · 3 reviews

Start your review of Sacred Borders: Continuing Revelation and Canonical Restraint in Early America

Dec 07, 2013 Laralee rated it it was amazing

It was interesting to read this book and realize that the concept of the closed canon of scripture was the subject of much discussion in the early centuries of America. Pastors and scholars of many persuasions weighed in on this topic.

The Bible is sufficient - all God needs to give us is in it.                                
God cannot be silenced - He still has more to say.                                
God still speaks, but it is through nature that He does so now.                                
God still speaks, but it is through the institution of the Church and tradition.
God can

The Bible is sufficient - all God needs to give us is in it.                                
God cannot be silenced - He still has more to say.                                
God still speaks, but it is through nature that He does so now.                                
God still speaks, but it is through the institution of the Church and tradition.
God can still speak, but He does not need to - He has given us His canonized word.                                
There may yet be those who can legitimately call themselves God's Prophets and speak for God.

The above list are just some of the topics that engaged the people of early America regarding the nature of God and his revealed word, all of which still have bearing on us today. It is a scholarly work so as a reader not versed in the language of this field it did require some work, but that is what study is supposed to do. I enjoyed the book and will likely read it again.
Sacred Borders: Continuing Revelation and Canonical Restraint in Early America ...more

Dec 24, 2014 Dave rated it it was amazing

Just magnificent. Holland writes a compelling and readable history of canonicity (and its discontents) in early American thought. I'm an enthusiast, not an expert, of early America, and the discussion here exploded my preconceptions about the scope, complexity, and intricacy of the debate over the biblical canon as closed or open. So fascinating to see men and women ask the same questions 200 years ago that I find myself asking now. To see what similar or widely divergent conclusions they came t Just magnificent. Holland writes a compelling and readable history of canonicity (and its discontents) in early American thought. I'm an enthusiast, not an expert, of early America, and the discussion here exploded my preconceptions about the scope, complexity, and intricacy of the debate over the biblical canon as closed or open. So fascinating to see men and women ask the same questions 200 years ago that I find myself asking now. To see what similar or widely divergent conclusions they came to after a lifetime pondering those questions. More than anything, Holland's account humbled me. It reminded me of my intellectual insignificance while simultaneously connecting me to a rich community of sincere men and women who always demanded more from the faith they embraced. ...more

Aug 04, 2014 A. rated it really liked it

Wonderfully readable scholarship, and a fascinating insight into how canon has been perceived, extended, and restrained, in antebellum American history.