Baptists: Literalism, Exclusivity, and Endless Splits. Baptists are one of the most recognizable Protestant groups in the world, often defined by their insistence on believer’s baptism and independent church governance. Baptists claim to uphold “biblical Christianity” with a fierce loyalty to Scripture. Yet their history is one of fragmentation, hyper-literalism, and a reputation for being some of the most divisive and aggressive voices in Christendom.