A Hill on Which to Die: One Southern Baptist's Journey

by Paul Pressler

Book Overview

The battle lasted for decades. It cost people their jobs, their family stability -- and even their faith -- as moderates and conservatives fought for control of the Southern Baptist Convention. Now,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805416773
• ISBN13: 9780805416770
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
• Length: 362 Pages
• Weight: 1.17 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Read wikipedia first

I was halfway into this book when I researched the author. 6 men have come forth with complaints of molestation against him. I stopped reading at that point. He has zero credibility now.

A Hill On Which To Die Set the Record Straight

This is a great book. I recommend it highly. I have observed in politics that the side which gets the positive press coverage is the side which becomes favored by the public no matter whether that 'reporting' was totally based in fact or not. The same is true in the area of religious organizations. I am thankful that Paul Pressler wrote 'A Hill On Which To Die.' This is the first time that I have really heard the story of the conservative resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention in the first person. I am thrilled that the record is now straight. The press, including religious and denominationally owned papers at that time, made Judge Pressler out to be a tyrant. Those who know him best know that isn't true. They do know that he is a man driven by principle. Much of what the press reported him having said was taken out of context. Judge Pressler apologized over and over for misconceptions created by a press that was out of control. The press refused time and time again to retract those statements. Judge Pressler was willing to place himself on the block for something that he believed in. The attack dogs of the secular media and religious news organizations took every opportunity to malign him. The book is well documented. We need more people like Paul Pressler who stand upon principles. Southern Baptists have much to thank him for.

One Lutheran's thanks for Pressler, et al conservative work

Missouri Synod Lutherans contend that the Christ centered Holy Bible is God's unerring divine scripture. Thankfully, conservative Judge Paul Pressler agrees. The Southern Baptist Convention should be most thankful for his tireless efforts and wonderful literary report. This book should be read, set aside for a very short time and read again and again!

Must read for all Baptists: liberals and conservatives alike

After years of seeing liberals spin the conservative takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention to their liking, Paul Pressler's book is refreshing. Pressler is to conservative Southern Baptists what Ronald Reagan is to Republicans. In "A Hill on Which to Die," Pressler gives documentation of rampant liberalism throughout the convention. Pressler did not, as some liberals would have us believe, "Burn down the barn to get rid of a few rats." Liberalism was prevalent, and a conservative takeover was the only way to reclaim the seminaries and colleges.The book offers countless surprises: how Adrian Rogers did not want the nomination the night before the 1979 convention opened; how and why Pressler watched the 1979 convention from a skybox; how the "Donahue" show helped the conservative movement; how former president W.A. Criswell, himself a conservative, had failed to make changes when he was president; how Pressler tried to make changes before 1979, only to get the cold-shoulder.Throughout the book, Pressler tells how the conservative movement was misunderstood and misrepresented. The battle was not over the interpretation of Scripture, but rather its integrity and inerrancy. And, surprisingly, it was not very organized. Conservatives did not use countless vans and buses to get messengers to conventions, as liberals charge. Rather, it was mostly a grass-roots effort which began with conservative churches wanting to change the liberal establishment. The conservatives were in the majority throughout the churches, but were not being represented in the presidency and on the committees.And, as some may claim, it was not a hate-filled movement. The book is filled with examples of Pressler's Christian love for all believers - liberals, moderates and conservatives. However, throughout the battle, Pressler's beliefs and motives were mischaracterized and spun by the opposition, leading to the negative opinions about him that abound today. Occasionally, there were even flat-out lies. Finally, he gets to respond.Liberals will not want to read this book, but they should.This should be required reading for all Southern Baptists.

The Baptist Conservative Resurgence in historical context

This book is relevant to a wide variety of readers, from conservative Baptists who want an historical account to pass on to their children, to conservative Christians confronted by liberalism in the pulpit and seminaries and wondering, "what can I do?" This book is an autobiographical account of one man's courage to resist complacency, to build a network of friends, and work to restore an existing denomination with a tendency toward theological liberalism. It records the history of a man who was born into the highest ranks of privilege in Texas, who chose not to enjoy the full benefits of that privilege, who confronted theological liberalism at Princeton, who won and discipled Christians at an early age, and who never waivered in his faith. This book demonstrates how people, both young and old, inside or outside the establishment, may be strong and courageous Christians and faithfully transmit the gospel, against strong opposition, to this and future generations.

A great read! A must for any interested in the SBC.

Paul Pressler has done historians, Southern Baptists, and religious conservatives a great favor in writing this book. This insider's look at what really happened before during and immediately after the conservative resurgence in the SBC is very insightful, correcting some misconceptions along the way as portrayed by the left wing press. For anyone interested in the unprecedented return of a denomination back to its historical roots, this is a must read!