* Identifies and traces the radical tradition within Christianity. * Makes available for the first time a comprehensive collection of radical Christian writings within one volume. * Includes over sixty extracts, including some which have been newly translated and many which have long been unavailable.

Preface xi Acknowledgments xiii Christianity: Radical and Political xvi 1 Justin (c 100-c 165) and Cyprian (c 300) 1 2 The Acts of Paul and Thecla (Second Century) 4 3 Pelagius (Late Fourth and Early Fifth Centuries CE) 12 4 Joachim of Fiore (1135-1202) and Peter Olivi (1248-1298) 34 5 Marguerite Piorete (died 1310) 38 6 John Ball (d 1381) 40 7 William Langland (1330-1387) 42 8 Jan Hus (c 1372-1415) 51 9 Lollard Sermon for Christmas Day on Luke 2.1-14 (Early Fifteenth Century) 56 10 Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498) 59 11 Defending the Indians 62 12 Argula von Grumbach (c 1492-1554) 69 13 Thomas Münster (1489?-1525) 75 14 William Tyndale (1494-1536) 81 15 Early Anabaptist Writings 84 16 The Family of Love 94 17 Early Baptist Worship 105 18 Thomas Helwys (c 1550-c 1616) 107 19 The Levellers 109 20 John Milton (1608-1674) 114 21 Gerrard Winstanley (1609-1676) 120 22 Abiezer Coppe (1619-1672) 138 23 Anna Trapnel (c 1654) 144 24 Priscilla Cotton and Mary Cole 147 25 Anne Wentworth (c 1679) 153 26 James Nayler (c 1617-1660): Behold You Rulers (1658) 157 27 John Bunyan (1628-1688) 162 28 William Blake (1757-1827) 165 29 John Woolman (1771-1720): Some Considerations on the Keeping of the Negroes (1754) 172 30 The Narrative of Sojourner Truth (c 1797-1883) 176 31 Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902) 180 32 Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) 186 33 Joseph Arch (1826-1919) 189 34 Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918) 193 35 Padraig Pearse (1879-1916) 196 36 Frank Weston (1871-1924) 199 37 The Barmen Declaration (1934) 201 38 Dorothy Day (1897-1980) 204 39 The Worker-Priests 209 40 Jacques Ellul (1912-1994) 216 41 Alan Ecclestone (1904-1992) 221 42 Martin Luther King (1929-1968) 229 43 Camilo Torres (1929-1966) 235 44 Dorothee Soelle (b 1929) 238 45 The Solentiname Community (1966-1977) 243 46 Steve Biko (1946-1977) 247 47 Stanley Hauerwas on John Howard Yoder (1927-1997) 250 48 William Stringfellow (1928-1985) 255 49 Ian M Fraser 261 50 Carter Heyward 265 51 Herbert McCabe (b 1926) 272 52 Oscar Romero (1917-1980) 277 53 John Vincent 280 54 The Kairos Document (1985) 285 55 Carlos Mesters 305 56 The Interpretive Method of 'Unlock' 308 57 Theology from the Perspective of 'Third-World' Women 311 58 Sigqibo Dwane 315 59 Sara Maitland 321 60 Kenneth Leech (b 1939) 327 61 Daniel Berrigan (1921-) 332 62 Gustavo Gutiérrez (1928-) 335 63 Thomas Hanks 343 Index 347 Scriptural Citations 350

There has long been a tradition in the Christian church which has discerned in the scriptures an imperative towards radical political action. Beginning with the Fathers and their writings on the community of goods, it can be traced through the mystics of the middle ages and radical reformers and Puritans of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, to Christian socialists, liberation theologians and social activists of more recent times. Though remarkable for their incisiveness, originality and distinctive theological perspective, these writings have often failed to reach a wide readership. Bradstock and Rowland have now brought more than sixty extracts together in this one volume, including some which have been newly translated and many which have long been unavailable. This has resulted in a unique and immensely valuable resource, which includes letters, sermons, poems, liturgies and other writings from the third- to the twenty-first century. This volume, which fills a gap in the current literature, will be an essential resource for third-year undergraduates and above in Biblical studies, political theology, Church history and political theory.

"The organization and diversity of this work make it fairly distinctive. Recommended for seminary and academic libraries." Library Journal "Whilst diverse in subject, the editors have done a marvellous job in providing an editorial narrative that takes the reader apace through the ideas of this group of Christian thinkers, activists and theologians. This is what makes the book hard to put down - the authors' enthusiasm for their subject comes through in both their treatment of the individuals and of the literature. The book will undoubtedly become a useful source of study and reference material, but it is more than this. For me, it has provided a fascinating window onto some lesser-known authors who have developed ideas which provide a context for the thoughts of today's Christian socialists. It is not a book to be rushed through, but one to which I will enjoy returning and exploring again and again." Christian Socialist "This compilation is a welcome contribution, combining as it does feminist and black theology themes with the incipient communism of the Civil War radicals." Anabaptism Today "An inspiring collection." Church Times "This book is a goldmine, which I have already put on the Reading List for a new course...This is essential for scholars, and a good read for many others as well." Reform "[T]hose who read Radical Christian Writings with patience and proper guidance will find it an invaluable resource. Nowhere else is the range and depth of Christian social prophecy so fully displayed." Theology "The book offers an easy introduction to subversive Christian thought through the ages and should be a welcome addition to the shelves of thoughtful Congregationalists whose history includes many forays into radical activity, as well as to Christians of all denominations." Congregational History Circle Magazine "The 63 authors selected in this collection offer an exciting array of diverse insights into what is usually called 'the Christian tradition,' but perhaps should more accurately labeled 'the Christian traditions.'" The European Legacy