Customer Reviews

Wesley and the People Called Methodists

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4 star:		(1)
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Heitzenrater's book is the best single-volume work on Wesley. He has, in an accessible prose, documented Wesley's life and the foundations of the Methodist Movement better than anyone before him. It utilizes the sources that are the foundation of the older biographies, such as Wesley's journal. More importantly, however, it effectively utilizes nontraditional sources for understanding his life. He creatively and effectively uses Wesley's theological writings, the writings of contemporaries, and conference minutes to more fully tell Wesley's story.

Heitzenrater is the Albert C. Outler Chair of Wesleyan Studies at Duke Divinity School. He is widely recognized as the foremost expert on Wesley's life. He is also the current editor of the Works of Wesley; he has taken that role since Outler's death.

This is a superb book by Richard P. Heitzenrater. The narrative moves us through the many seasons of John Wesley's ministry, noting significant events and conflicts along the way. But this is a book that is very much limited to a focus on Wesley. It is as though a spotlight is on our protagonist and everyone else is given only minor occasions for sharing in his light...or being heard in the darkened background.

The strongest criticism of this book is that it defies its own title -- there are no PEOPLE called Methodists in this book. For one of the most profound and popular religious movements since the Reformation, it is amazing that Heitzenrater has neglected to include a portrayal of the people themselves. Who were these people? I am not talking about Wesley's aids here. I am talking about the common folk who made up the lion's share of the movement. There is no mention in this book of women's spirituality (in a movement made up of approximately 60 percent women!). There is no discussion of the social factors surrounding the rise of Methodism. So much of the story is missed.

Nevertheless! This is an excellent introduction to the topic of Wesley and Methodism...it is only that it could have been so much more.

Richard Heitzenrater's book, although at times extremely heavy reading and subject matter sometimes difficult to appreciate at first blush is an excellent example of drawing the "historical" into the same sphere as "contemporary" subjects.

This is an excellent book for those seeking to gain a greater and more informed understanding of the sometimes difficult relationship betwen Wesley and the early Methodists - they were not always on the friendliest of terms.

A book highly reccomened for those wishing and willing to read a heavy but non-the-less readable book.

Congraulations to Richard Heitzenrater.

Professor Richard Heitzenrater's "Wesley and the People Called Methodist" (1995) is destined to be come a Christian classic. This well-informed text (citing 100s of sources by the helpful "scientific notation" sourcing system) tells the story of 18th century Methodism. Throughout Heitzenrater fills-in many blanks not mentioned in other histories.

Heitzenrater provides a multitude of black and white pictures, maps, graphs, and charts to make his careful and convincing points. Beginning his narrative just prior to John Wesley's birth, the author moves to the high points of Wesley's life. We hear about his Oxford University days, his failed mission to Georgia, his Aldersgate conversion experience, the origins of Wesley's field preaching, the organization of the Methodist societies in London and across England, Wesley's concern for the souls and bodies of his people, the establishment of Methodism's first health clinic and school, Wesley's opinion about the ordinations of 1784, recruiting Methodist ministers, and much more. This book offers much to the reader.

The book also documents 18th century English living conditions, mortality rates, population wide ignorance, the English fear of a Franco-type revolution, Anglican unconcern for mass poverty and disease, and royal ignorance, pomp, and avarice. (Wesley remained loyal to his English king to the very end.) Heitzenrater presents the founder of Methodism from Wesley's own hand (he reviews many primary source documents penned by Mr. Wesley). From many of his sermons we learn Wesley's theologies of justification, sanctification and glorification. We are taught that, by the end, the senior English churchman rode over 100,000 miles on horseback through his long career. The book makes one feel as a witness to the English 18th century.

Heitzenrater's novelistic style makes this informative text an easy read. Its six chapters (338 paperback pages) bring 18th century England alive. It is history at its best as Heitzenrater answers many questions about the period. This book is very recommendable. Order your copy soon.

This book has to be on the list of the top twenty-five books on early Methodism and the lives of early Methodist's. However, the book has a particular dryness, and if one get past the dryness of the writing, this book is a must get for anyone wanting to explore the history of early Methodist's. Heitzenrater begins with John Wesley's impact on early Methodist's to the different rises of Methodism, the impact of Calvinism on early 18th century Methodist's, and how Methodism evolved through the development of different societies, classes, camp ground meetings and conferences which helped to secure Methodism into the social and religous fabric of British life. This book is great for anyone wishing to discover the roots of Methodism, becuase of it's rich historical details. Another great addition to the book, which helped to clear up the dryness of the reading, was the authors use of visual aids (great examples), and sidenotes of John Wesley's work. This book is a great historical door to the past, and a must read for anyone wishing to discover more about, "The people called Methodist."

Heitzenrater has written the definitive popular survey of the origins of the Wesleyan movement. Meticulously researched, he weaves the primary source documents into his narrative in ways that enlighten without being obtrusive. Of particular use, I think, is his identification of the stress points between John and Charles Wesley, between the Methodists and the Anglican Church and between Wesley and some of his preachers. By presenting this in what appears to be objective fashion, he allows us to examine Wesley's decision making process and leadership style. A solid useful book

This was a well-written book that I am priveledged to have been introduced to. It is easy to read and carries one smoothly through the life of John Wesley from the rise of Methodism to the stage set for it's continued success folllwing his death in 1891. For any seminary student it is a must read. For any Methodist it is foundational to who you are as such. To any Christian it will be a blessing.

Each year for Lent I try to accomplish something. Sometimes it involves giving up something while other years I take a study course at church. This year, since my church didn't offer much that interested me, I chose to study Methodist theology and history on my own. Wesley and the People Called Methodists tracks the emergence of Methodism within the larger Anglican context of eighteenth century Great Britain.

Central to Methodism is John Wesley. The book's author, Richard P. Heitzenrater, specifically tells the reader in the book's beginning that it is not intended to be a biography of John or Charles Wesley. He admits that one cannot really write a book on Methodism without focusing on the lives of the two Wesley brothers, but Methodism was always larger than John and Charles. John tried his hardest to keep control over the movement and always insisted he did not intend to separate from the Anglican church, but he was often at odds with others either in his employ or at least in the Methodist fold. His most serious challenge came from those who earlier had subscribed to Puritan beliefs centered on Calvinism and also from the Arminians, but in the end he was able to develop a cohesive theology unique to good works and living a holy life that did not allow for predestination or submit to antinomianism.

People of the Methodist faith will find this book invaluable as they attempt to better understand their church and their beleifs. John Wesley's rich life of giving and teaching and providing for the needy are examples many churches can readily embrace today. No Methodist church library should be without this book.

In many ways this is a probably a great book. But overall, I found it to be depressing. I found the life of John Wesley to be sad and his theology to be gloomy. Wesley seemed to be heartless towards people, and it seems that only his work mattered to him. The more I read, the more I disliked Wesley. This book really made me not want to know anymore about John Wesley. I could only get through the first half of the book before I just could not force myself to read anymore. I found myself literally falling asleep as I struggled to keep my focus. For my purposes, this book did not satisfy. It was like reading a book of footnotes that got continually lost in the details and seldom gave the big picture. I was waiting for the author to connect all the dots. Every once in a while he did, but more often he did not. I kept asking myself, "How is this relevant to story"? I thought the book moved too slowly and I kept waiting to learn something significant.

Before I bought this book, I read the 9 positive reviews. I thought, Wow!, this book should be really good. But I found it dry and hard to keep my self interested. I am sure that some have enjoyed this book, but after reading this book for myself, I had to question whether all the people that reviewed it actually read it. After writing this review, I did read some more of the book. Unfortunately I found the Epilogue to this book to be equally sad. This is not a happy book.

That is why I say - for the average reader, you will not enjoy this book. Most people will not appreciate all the work the author did to create this book. This book may have been well researched and the author apparently did do his homework, but the common person will not value this book. The best books are the ones that people read. I would guess that most people that buy this book will not read it.

The author does say in the preface of the book (this is my paraphrase), "This book then is not a biography of Wesley or contain many of the classic stories of his life. Our focus here is Wesley's relationship to the movement that would become the Methodists." That is my paraphrase - you can read the preface to this book for yourself on Amazon before you buy the book.

Great book(?), I just could not relate.

I am now reading the 2 volume set on George Whitefield from Banner of Truth. George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the Eighteenth-Century Revival - Volume I and George Whitefield: The Life and Times of the Great Evangelist of the Eighteenth Century - Volume II. These books are very readable!!!! They cover much of the same period of church history and I will learn much of the revivals of the 18th Century.

Dr. Heitzenrater has written one of the very best books on the life and ministry of John Wesley and the early Methodists. This book is simply a "MUST READ" for any United Methodist or anyone else, for that matter, who is interested in the teachings and ministry of Wesley and his world-shaking Christian reform movement. Few books are must reads ... this is one of them.