Black Theology/Liberation Theology

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I’m still interested in this concept of Black Theology. According to Wikipedia it is related to Liberation Theology. The Theology purports that the main thrust of the message of Jesus was the liberation of the oppressed.

Here is the article from Wikipedia, maybe someone here can offer some insights or opinions?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_theology

*"Black theology is a Christian theology of liberation. Methodist James Cone is still considered its leading theologian, though now there are many scholars who have contributed a great deal to the field. One of its major concerns is with the perceived historic and present racism in “Western civilizations” (especially within Christendom) and the ways in which Jesus urged his disciples to seek freedom for all people.

As with all liberation theologies, black theology focuses on those who are perceived as oppressed and/or poor. Through its intentionally particular lens, black theology seeks to contribute to the liberation of black peoples."*
 
I would suggest that you take this question to the Social Justice forum. Catholic theology rejects racism.
 
I had not heard of Black Theology until I read your post. I am familiar with liberation theology which I connect with Latin America. I read the Wiki link you provided but it didn’t contain much info. Is there any connection to the Nation of Islam, which I believe began as part of the Black Power movement (and which I see as militantly anti-white, but I may be wrong). :confused:
 
lovesMary said:
I’m still interested in this concept of Black Theology. According to Wikipedia it is related to Liberation Theology. The Theology purports that the main thrust of the message of Jesus was the liberation of the oppressed.

Here is the article from Wikipedia, maybe someone here can offer some insights or opinions?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_theology

*"Black theology is a Christian theology of liberation. Methodist James Cone is still considered its leading theologian, though now there are many scholars who have contributed a great deal to the field. One of its major concerns is with the perceived historic and present racism in “Western civilizations” (especially within Christendom) and the ways in which Jesus urged his disciples to seek freedom for all people.

As with all liberation theologies, black theology focuses on those who are perceived as oppressed and/or poor. Through its intentionally particular lens, black theology seeks to contribute to the liberation of black peoples."*
Click to expand...
Be sure not to be led astray by any of these theologies. The liberation Jesus came to give us is liberation from sin - our own sins, not the suffering we experience because of the sins others commit against us.
 
Liberation Theology, I thought that was proven to be wrong with the peaceful overthrow of Marco in the Philippines in the 80’s. :hmmm:
 
I disagree that this topic belongs in another forum. This forumis about non-Catholic religions. I had never heard of “liberation theology” or “Black Liberation theology” until this week and became interested/curious as to what it is. Here is a link to an article(long) by Dr. H. Wayne House:
hwhouse.com/aninvestigation.htm

His conclusion is:
"Black theology is a recent development, arising in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement in America. And it has sought to be a voice of God to black people in America and Africa. The central theme of black theology is the oppression of the black people, and all aspects of theology are subjugated to this theme.

Black theology has much to offer as a spur to cause nonblack theologians and laypersons to recognize and have concern for the plight of the oppressed; to be more practical in theology; to discern God’s working in the world, to examine whether one is guilty in oppressing others. On the other hand black theology’s theological center is far too narrow, and it relies on experience as the norm for truth.

The terminology of black theology is to be questioned. Is there really any such thing as “black” theology? And is it free from European influence, such as the theology of hope? The answer is no to both questions. At the same time black theology is in its infancy, so one must understand this when criticizing it.

Black theology, having an improper center, is humanistic and pragmatic. God and Christ are not held in proper biblical perspective, and salvation has too much of a “this-world” emphasis. Black theologians need to ask the all-important question, Who is Christ? From their answer to that question they may begin to answer whether they have a truly Christian theology. "

Because it is not Christ-centered, I question that it is really Christian. It seems to twist scripture to make Christ a revolutionary who is only for the poor and oppressed.
Comments/Discussion???

God Bless and pray for peace!
 
It is for that very reason that it belongs in the Social Justice forum. When people become obsessed with overcoming the injustices that have fallen upon themselves as an ethnicity, because other people are passive and complacent, then those people become bitter and untrusting against all others.

When the mainstream of Christianity, and, in particular, Catholicism overtly and clearly rejects racism and other forms of social injustice, such phenomena as black theology and liberation theology have no reason to exist.
 
It sounds as if it is another Protestant interpretation of Scripture which is why I posted it here. So, it’s another offshoot of Christianity with a racial agenda, therefore it is a “NonCatholic” religion.

The Catholic Church is Universal, and doesn’t have the agenda of one particular ethnic or racial group as it’s driving force.
 
According to Black Liberation Theology -
  1. Black does not refer to skin color or ethnicity. You are “Black” if you are poor or oppressed.
  2. Salvation is for this world- to become un-oppressed.
  3. Christ was ethnically “Black”
  4. The wealthy/unoppressed are not children of God
  5. The authority for truth lies on in the “Black experience”
This theology does not mesh with Christian teaching/biblical interpretation, Catholic or non-Catholic.

This topic belongs in this thread because it is a discussion of non-Catholic theology not social justice. Social justice is an aspect of this theology. I, and I assume others, are interested in this topic not from a social justice standpoint, but trying to understand another religion/theology.

Have a frutiful Holy Week!
 
Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community … Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love.
(Quoted in William R Jones, “Divine Racism: The Unacknowledged Threshold Issue for Black Theology”, in African-American Religious Thought: An Anthology, ed Cornel West and Eddie Glaube.)

In short, Black Liberation Theology is about hating white people PEROID.
 
Daniel_Marsh said:
Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community … Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love.
(Quoted in William R Jones, “Divine Racism: The Unacknowledged Threshold Issue for Black Theology”, in African-American Religious Thought: An Anthology, ed Cornel West and Eddie Glaube.)

In short, Black Liberation Theology is about hating white people PEROID.
Click to expand...
Isn’t that similar to the Theology of the Old Testament? In it, the One True God is a God of the Jewish people. He intervenes on their behalf against their enemies.

What do you think, do you see a parallel?
 
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