Now available from Ignatius Press:
Evangelical Exodus: Evangelical Seminarians and Their Paths to Rome
Edited by Douglas Beaumont
Over the course a single decade, dozens of students, alumni, and professors from a conservative, Evangelical seminary in North Carolina (Southern Evangelical Seminary) converted to Catholicism. These conversions were notable as they occurred among people with varied backgrounds and motivations—many of whom did not share their thoughts with one another until this book was produced. Even more striking is that the seminary's founder, long-time president, and popular professor, Dr. Norman Geisler, had written two full-length books and several scholarly articles criticizing Catholicism from an Evangelical point of view.
What could have led these seminary students, and even some of their professors, to walk away from their Evangelical education and risk losing their jobs, ministries, and even family and friends, to embrace the teachings they once rejected as false or even heretical? Speculation over this phenomenon has been rampant and often dismissive and misguided—leading to more confusion than understanding. The stories of these converts are now being told by those who know them best—the converts themselves.
They discuss the primary issues they had to face: the nature of the biblical canon, the identification of Christian orthodoxy, and the problems with the Protestant doctrines of sola scriptura ("scripture alone") and sola fide ("faith alone")
Douglas Beaumont has a Ph.D. in theology from North-West University and an M.A. in apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, where he served as assistant to President Norman Geisler and taught Bible and religion for ten years. Beaumont is the author of The Message Behind the Movie (Moody, 2009) and has contributed to The Best Catholic Writing (Loyola, 2006), The Apologetics Study Bible for Students (B&H, 2010), and Got Questions? (Pleasant Word, 2009). He lives in Charlotte, N.C., with his wife and four children.
"This is a true 'Book of Exodus' — riveting like the original, inspired, and inspiring. The contributors have taken a long journey to the banks of the Tiber, and it is every step an adventure."
— Scott Hahn, President, St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology
"The integrity of this significant book is matched only by the passion of its contributors. Their honesty in recounting an odyssey of faith is refreshing indeed."
— Wayne Alan Detzler, Professor Emeritus, Southern Evangelical Seminary
"Just when I thought I'd heard all the reasons why Protestants become Catholic, I encountered Evangelical Exodus. This book has set a new standard for compelling conversion stories."
— Devin Rose, Author, The Protestant's Dilemma
"As these thoughtful contributors reveal, there is an exodus of smart Evangelical converts, marching backward in time, but forward in thought, to the promised land of Catholicism."
— Brandon Vogt, Author, Saints and Social Justice
"These conversion stories will encourage more Protestant ministers to come into the Church, as well as fallen away Catholics to come back home. I recommend this great book for everyone!"
— Terry Barber, Author, How to Share Your Faith with Anyone
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