The "Gold Standard" of the Wiregrass Primitive Baptists of Georgia: A History of the Crawford Faction of the Alabaha River Primitive Baptist Association, 1842-2007
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Authors
Holt, Michael
Issue Date
2009-11-16T14:15:36Z
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The study of Primitive Baptists to date has focused primarily on the origins of the
denomination in the 1830s. However, few works trace the subsequent development of the
group. The object of this study was to examine the origins and development of a single
Primitive Baptist Association and interpret their meaning in relation to the Primitive
Baptists of the Wiregrass Region of Georgia as a whole.
A single association was chosen because of the highly decentralized nature of the
Primitive Baptists, which makes overarching studies difficult. Also, the personalities
behind the developments in Primitive Baptist Doctrine are most clear in the study of an
individual association. The Crawford Faction of the Alabaha River Primitive Baptist
Association is an excellent choice for this study because of their unique qualities among
Primitive Baptists. Whereas other Primitive associations have changed aspects of their
doctrine in the course of their development, the Alabaha Association has remained
essentially unchanged since its founding in 1842.
The findings of this study suggest that the Alabaha Association has remained
unchanged for a number of reasons including isolation from other Primitive Baptist
associations, relatively stable membership, and a strong conservative faction that has
survived numerous splits since the Alabaha was founded. Their unchanged status among
Primitive Baptists makes them a valuable reference point or "gold standard" for
understanding the faith and practice of an often misunderstood denomination.
Understanding the origins and development of the Crawford Faction of the Alabaha is
critical to understanding who the Primitive Baptists are and how their practices have
evolved over the course of the denomination's history.
Description
Citation
Publisher
Valdosta State University
License
Copyright protected. Unauthorized reproduction or use beyond the exceptions granted by the Fair Use clause of U.S. Copyright law may violate federal law.