Arising out recent class discussion topics touching on the ideas of James Cone’s ideas on Liberation Theology and the relationship between the Cross and the Lynching Tree, our group decided to focus the topic of our presentation around Liberation Theology. However, in order to create a counter argument to stimulate further discourse, we introduced the Theology of Prosperity, as an opposing theological concept, to our presentation. Hence, we came up with the topic of Liberation Theology vs. Theology of Prosperity.
Firstly, it was necessary to give the class a concise definition of these broad theories, and follow these definitions with general background explanation on the idea behind the respective theologies. The definitions that we used to introduce the different ideas were; ‘Liberation Theology: A form of Christian theology that emphasizes social and political liberation as the anticipation of ultimate salvation.’ And, ‘Theology of Prosperity: A religious belief that wealth is a divine reward for a person's faith in god.’ After having defined the concepts of discussion in our own terms, we proceeded to explain each idea separately, incorporating questions respective to the specific topics, and finished by introducing questions comparing and contrasting these two theories and discussing their nature in full, including the showing of a short video clip of a sermon by Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
The ideal behind the idea of Liberation Theology maintains a liberation from a socially, politically, or economically oppressed position through their infallible faith. In that way it maintains an aspect of malleability by means that Liberation Theology can be founded in a number of different social communities in various locations ...
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...ed amount of class time, this information would have taken away from the comparative nature of the presentation, and, in stead, turned it into a mere explanation. The integration of more media support concerning each individual theology would have been an improvement to our presentation, as well. Perhaps this would have given the discussion a stronger foundation of discussion.
Overall, as a group, and as far as the class feedback dictated, our presentation went quite well. The discussion was interesting, and engaging. There was vigorous participation from most members of the class concerning Liberation Theology and Theology of Prosperity. However, the most successful aspect of our presentation, we feel, was the fact that we were able to get the ideas behind these two theologies across to the class, and relate them both to African Americans and biblical culture.
This course has broaden my knowledge of the religious history of African Americans and enables me to gain greater appreciation for the black churches.
What is theology? The word “theology” comes from two Greek words that combined mean “the study of God. There are more than 20 types of theologies. Black liberation started the American struggles of the 1960’s. In liberation theology there are 2 groups, the oppressed and the oppressor. The poor are the oppressed and the rich are their oppressors. This kind of theology contextualizes Christianity in an attempt to help those of African descent overcome oppression. This paper will focus on Black Liberation Theology and will explain how it discovers God and how the Biblical God inspire the prophetic work of black liberation theology.
Within mainstream society it seems as if there is not a great deal of emphasis on the contributions made by theologians in society, as well as contributions by theologians to religious thought. Particularly in Christendom, ecclesiastical assemblies are so consumed with vain ideas of worship, and content on hearing biblical messages that capitulate to their personal desires, that theological studies are often neglected. Yet the contributions theologians have made in society, and the impact these contributions have had on religious assemblies have been pivotal in guiding religious discourse on subjects such as ethics, morality, and social transformation. It is for this reason, that in this essay an attempt will be made to analyze three essays from three world-renowned theologians of the 20th century. The theologians are Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Walter Wink, all of which have produced the essays used for this analysis, and have written works that have completely challenged status quo religion, and changed the landscape of Christendom forever.
At the time of Edwards’ sermon, the height of the great awakening to Christianity had peaked (Farley ). Considering this period and his audience, Edwards use of the Bible as evidence for his arguments is practical. His cla...
Other theologians have also noted that African Americans require a different approach to counseling and healing. In Liberation and Human Wholeness: The Conversion Experiences of Black People in Slavery and Freedom, Dr. Edward P. Wimberly and his wife, Anne Streaty Wimberly, focused on the history of slavery and the wholeness of African Americans who are struggling with their inner self. In addition to the book, Dr. Wimberly created a workshop and seminar to help pastors and community leaders help African Americans who were once slaves. Liberation and Human Wholeness provides a clear path for how people can deal with their emotional problems in the 21st century.
Throughout the first part of this semester, our class has discussed slave religion a few times. Different claims from certain people and the class discussions have opened up a deeper understanding of slave religion for me. From African-American slaves to the black race now, I believe that black people have come a long way in recognizing their identity. African-American theologians and religious historians like James Cone and Gayraud Wilmore and scholars like Albert Raboteau have located within slave religion of the importance in maintaining culture for African-Americans. Cone and Wilmore proposed ideas of Black Theology. I believe that their theories show how African-Americans can gain their own identity through their own practices of religion and culture. I believe that the greatest struggle of African-Americans in a racist society is the struggle to regain collective identity and culture. However, they show how it is very possible to rise above racial discrimination, and stereotypes. Although Albert Raboteau was not necessarily a theologian, his claims of slaves finding their own way of life despite being dehumanized, easily relate to the ideas of Cone and Wilmore. The arguments and ideas that Cone, Wilmore, and Raboteau put forward make me wonder about what it means to be black in America. I believe that the battle for culture and identity is at stake for African-Americans; from past to present. However, I will show how the ideas and claims of James Cone, Gayraud Wilmore, and Albert Raboteau make way for the African-American race.
...hing “bad” happened they found a way to rejoice in the suffering. The Puritan believers were selfish with sharing their faith. A plantation missionary stated that sharing the gospel to slaves would “promote our own mortality and religion.” However the gospel and religion the masters shared with their slaves did not remain the same. The slaves were able to apply their faith to their lives, their work, and their future. The faith the slaves possessed was rich in emotion and free from preexisting regulations. In this class we focus on the many faces and interoperations of Christ that change with the seasons of history. The slave faith represented in Jupiter Hammon’s poem shows a high level of integrity and selfless, personal application of faith. The emotion and need for Christ the slaves had during this time created a new realm of relationship in the evangelical era.
Explain the meaning and significance of the following statement by Gutiérrez, and demonstrate its relationship to a comprehensive view of liberation, (including the danger of reductionism), and the importance of the preferential option for the poor : "The present life is considered to be a test: one’s actions are judged and assessed in relation to the transcendent end. The perspective here is moralistic, and the spirituality is one of flight from this world" (p. 84).
Calvinism is the best sort of improvement that is reached by society, inside the sixteenth century, once vigorous non secular and political reforms. As a principle of its own, it brings concerning some sort of independence to ancestry (Allen & Lemke, 2010). It’s a religion that is distinctive in its own manner that employs a peculiar system of theology and a completely unique manner of worship. It together pursues a well-designed manner of ...
Emmanuel McCall, "Black Liberation Theology: A Politics of Freedom," Review and Expositor 73 (Summer 1976):330; cf. C. Eric Lincoln and Lawrence H. Mamiya, The Black Church in the African American Experience (Durham: Duke University Press, 1990), 352.
...s distributed in Theology 101 at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle on 22 April 2008.
Eastman, Roger. The Ways of Religion: An Introduction to the Major Traditions. Third Edition. Oxford University Press. N.Y. 1999
Boyd, Gregory A., and Paul R. Eddy. Across the Spectrum: Understanding Issues in Evangelical Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2009.
Calvinism is the theological system of John Calvin who exerted international influence on the development of the doctrine of the Protestant Reformation (Warfield, 2004). Calvin and his followers marked by strong emphasis on the sovereignty of God, the depravity of mankind, and the doctrine of predestination. This system was developed as a biblical Christianity. It has stirred countries such as Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, England and America. Calvinist theology spread rapidly, and became the basis for many protestant denominations. These included the Swiss Reformed Church, The Dutch Reformed Church, The English Puritans, The French Huguenots, The Presbyterian and Congregational Churches, The Baptist Churches, and through them the Pentecostal Churches and Assemblies of God. Jansenism, a Catholic form of Calvinism, was condemned as heretical in 1653.
Lutzer, Erwin. The Doctrines That Divide: a Fresh Look at the Historic Doctrines That Separate Christians. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 1998.