William E. Phipps Books

This carefully researched and provocative treatment of the two most influential persons in world history sets aside the cultural prejudices that often hamper open, honest comparison of Muhammad and Jesus. Phipps begins with a thorough biographical investigation of the early lives of the Meccan and the Nazarene and a thoughtful assessment of their later contributions as statesman and reformer. He then debunks many of the invidious myths about Jesus and Muhammad during the course of a careful exploration of the ways in which they interpreted Hebrew Scriptures, their prescriptions for moral conduct, and their attitudes toward rewards and punishment on earth and in the afterlife.

Although there are many studies of America's most famous literary figure, this thorough investigation provides not only new information on Twain's religion, but also a different approach from anything published before. Interpretations of Twain over the past century have been largely the province of literary critics. By skillful textual analysis they have produced an abundance of nuanced studies, but they tend to have little interest in, and knowledge of, the broad religious context of Victorian society, which both angered and intrigued Twain. Phipps provides perceptions often overlooked into the way Clemens's religion was related to such significant issues as racism, imperialism, and materialism. This study takes a close look at his growing up in the slave culture of Missouri Protestants and his subsequent involvement in the radically different abolition culture in which his wire was raised. Like Twain, who aimed at communicating with the common person, Phipps has written in a style that will attract the educated public while providing fresh insights for Twain scholars. His research has taken him to Hannibal, Elmira Hartford, and to the Twain archives in Berkeley. Mostly chronological, the book makes extensive use of Twain's works and, often neglected in such studies on Twain, the Bible, his most important literary source.

The narrative explores John Newton's transformative journey from a slave in Sierra Leone to a slave trader, and ultimately, an influential evangelist and antislavery advocate. His spiritual awakening, influenced by Methodists, led to a focus on personal conversion and social justice within the Church of England. Newton's collaboration with poet William Cowper produced beloved hymns, and his testimony in Parliament played a crucial role in the abolition of the slave trade. The book also critiques Marx's views on religion, using Newton's writings as a foundation for its scholarly insights.

The biography details the extraordinary life of William Sheppard, the first African American Presbyterian missionary, who rose from a background of slavery to become a prominent leader in American Presbyterianism. It explores his significant journey to the Congo, where he fought against human rights abuses and made lasting contributions to religion, education, and art. Through his story, the book highlights Sheppard's dedication to social justice and his influential role in advocating for the rights of marginalized communities.