Alexander Campbell as a Paradox

Authors

Gregory E. Sterling, Yale Divinity SchoolFollow

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Alexander Campbell was one of the founders of the religious reform movement that bears his name, but he also embodied a paradox. He was an elite who was, at the same time, a populist—somewhat like Thomas Jefferson, only more of a populist than Jefferson. Interrogating this paradox not only helps us better understand Alexander Campbell's mind and mission, but it might also help us think about the values that we hold today.

Author Bio

Gregory E. Sterling is Dean of Yale Divinity School, where he is The Reverend Henry L. Slack Dean and Lillian Claus Professor of New Testament, and he was invited to give this lecture as the Founder’s Day address for Bethany College (Bethany, WV) on February 29, 2024.

Recommended Citation

Sterling, Gregory E. (2024) "Alexander Campbell as a Paradox," Journal of Discipliana: Vol. 77, Article 5.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.discipleshistory.org/journalofdiscipliana/vol77/iss1/5