About this episode
Dr. Eric Smith discusses his critical biography of John Broadus, exploring his life, legacy, and the complexities of cultural and theological transitions in the post-Civil War South.
This episode features Dr. Eric Smith discussing his critical biography of John Broadus, a pivotal figure in Southern Baptist history. The conversation explores Broadus's life, legacy, and the complexities of navigating cultural and theological transitions in the post-Civil War South. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest 01:23 Who was John Broadus? A brief overview 04:00 Broadus’s influence in Baptist life and culture 06:14 Approach to writing a balanced, honest biography 09:56 Choosing Broadus for a critical biography 13:29 Reckoning with Broadus’s legacy and controversial aspects 16:03 Broadus’s ability to bridge North and South after the Civil War 19:20 Broadus’s charm and reception in Northern audiences 22:04 Broadus’s navigation of Southern culture and identity 23:41 Balancing theological liberalism and conservatism 29:39 Broadus’s legacy and influence on future generations 37:22 Reflections on the task of writing a critical biography 38:14 The process of selecting primary sources 43:31 Personal character and exemplary qualities of Broadus 47:21 Broadus’s preaching and communication style Support this podcast at —…
People in this episode
Host: Jordan Steffaniak
Guest: Eric Smith
Topics covered
- John Broadus
- Southern Baptist history
- cultural transitions
- theological discussions
- biography writing
Keywords
- John Broadus
- Eric Smith
- Southern Baptist
- biography
- post-Civil War
- theology
- cultural identity
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Southern Baptist, The London Lyceum
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