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'''Baptists''' are a [[Christian]] denomination. They practice adult baptism which is done by immersion. With that adult baptism, the individual acquires authority to determine matters of religion and [[faith]] for himself, or as part of a local congregation of believers.  Many Baptists consider the [[Bible]] to be inerrant and the literal word of [[God]]. Baptists are often opposed to [[gambling]] and the use of [[tobacco]] and [[Alcoholic drink|alcoholic beverages]].<ref>http://www.abpnews.com/2885.article</ref>  Baptists generally lack a religious hierarchy, tradition, or texts other than the [[Bible]], and they stress evangelical work. Their largest organization, the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], has 16 million members and is an influential social and political group:<ref>http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/default.asp</ref>

'''Baptists''' are a [[Christian]] denomination. They practice adult [[baptism]] which is done by immersion. With that adult baptism, the individual acquires authority to determine matters of religion and [[faith]] for himself, or as part of a local congregation of believers.  Many Baptists consider the [[Bible]] to be inerrant and the literal word of [[God]]. Baptists are often opposed to [[gambling]] and the use of [[tobacco]] and [[Alcoholic drink|alcoholic beverages]].<ref>http://www.abpnews.com/2885.article</ref>  Baptists generally lack a religious hierarchy, tradition, or texts other than the [[Bible]], and they stress [[evangelical]] work. Their largest organization, the [[Southern Baptist Convention]], has 16 million members and is an influential social and political group:<ref>http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/default.asp</ref>

Historically, '''Baptists''' are descended primarily from the work of [[John Smyth]] (1554-1612) in [[England]], who was originally an Anglican minister and a [[Cambridge]] graduate.<ref>http://levellers.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/john-smyth-1570-1612-puritan-separatist-baptist-mennonite/</ref>  He fled to [[Holland]] due to persecution of the [[Anabaptists]], of which he was part.<ref>http://www.exlibris.org/nonconform/engdis/anabaptists.html</ref>

Historically, '''Baptists''' are descended primarily from the work of [[John Smyth]] (1554-1612) in [[England]], who was originally an Anglican minister and a [[Cambridge]] graduate.<ref>http://levellers.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/john-smyth-1570-1612-puritan-separatist-baptist-mennonite/</ref>  He fled to [[Holland]] due to persecution of the [[Anabaptists]], of which he was part.<ref>http://www.exlibris.org/nonconform/engdis/anabaptists.html</ref>