This Far By Faith: James Cone (Pioneer of Black Liberation Theology)

pbs.org ^ | 2003 | unknown

[ovrtaxt]

James Cone was born in Fordyce, Arkansas in 1939 and grew up in the small town of Bearden. There he experienced the life-affirming community of the black Church alongside the soul-crushing reality of white racism. Through sermons, songs, and prayers that called on God's concern for their well-being, the Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church taught Cone "how to deal with the contradictions of life and provided a way to create meaning in a society not of [his] own making."

Bearden, Arkansas had a population of 400 blacks and 800 whites. The whites in Bearden, as Cone explains, "tried to make us believe that God created black people to be white people's servants." White racism led to "separate but equal" schools, segregated movies and restaurants, beatings and arrests, and political and economic inequality. Cone continually questioned how the whites in his town could consider themselves good Christians, and devised - "but never enacted out of fear" - plans to disrupt their Sunday services and test their commitment to the Gospel.

KEY MOMENTS OF FAITH

A CALL TO THE MINISTRY

Cone was called to the ministry at age 16, and became a pastor the following year, 1954, when he went off to college. During his sophomore, junior, and senior years, Cone was a pastor at several small churches. He was also a reporter for his school, and followed closely the Montgomery bus boycott organized by Martin Luther King, Jr. Even though he didn't feel equipped to organize his church members, Cone "wanted to be like King," and was inspired to further his career as a minister by going to graduate school. He attended Garrett Theological Seminary in Wisconsin, and received M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Northwestern University in 1963 and 1965.

A CRISIS IN FAITH

It was the voice of Malcolm X that first made James Cone question his theology. Malcolm X proclaimed loudly that "Christianity is a white man's religion," and said that blacks should adopt an understanding of God that grew out of their own history and experience. He railed against a blond-haired, blue-eyed Jesus and a belief in the delayed rewards of heaven.

Still, Cone, then on the faculty of Adrian College in Michigan, continued to believe in the nonviolent, Christian love of Martin Luther King, Jr.

It was the northern riots and Stokely Carmichael's call for "Black Power!" during the Meredith March in Mississippi that led him to a crisis in faith.

CHRISTIANITY AND BLACK POWER: REINTERPRETING HIS FAITH

"For me, the burning theological question was, how can I reconcile Christianity and Black Power, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s idea of nonviolence, and Malcolm X's 'by any means necessary philosophy?'" (Preface to Black Theology and Black Power, p. viii.)

Christianity, as he understood it, no longer explained or held meaning in the turbulent years of the late 1960s. "I was within inches of leaving the Christian faith." If he were to remain a Christian, Cone would have to reinterpret his faith to respond to such demanding times.

James Cone currently teaches at Union Theological Seminary. He remains an influential theologian, an important writer, and an inspiring preacher and teacher.

[ovrtaxt]

More here :

http://faultlineusa.blogspot.com/2007/03/obamas-marxist-liberation-theology.html

[Past Your Eyes]

He was born in 1939, called to the ministry at age 16 and became a pastor the following year, 1954, when he went off to college? Precocious fellow, wasn’t he? He managed to reach the age of 17 when only 15 years had passed since his birth.
I wonder how much of the rest of the article is bogus.

[ovrtaxt]

nice catch! I was more concerned with his false theology, didn’t even notice the false math.

[imintrouble]

The only thing missing is the soulful song of the gospel singers.

A tale told so often by Hollywood I feel it is etched into my brain.

Hollywood’s stories have been adopted for use in the modern pulpit - but then storytelling has always been inspirational and mesmerizing if one has a point to make and needs followers for funding.

[cake_crumb]

"Cone continually questioned how the whites in his town could consider themselves good Christians, and devised - 'but never enacted out of fear' - plans to disrupt their Sunday services and test their commitment to the Gospel.' "

Oh I can explain THAT, though it was way before my time: paranoid delusions. I would question Con's mental stability.

"Cone was called to the ministry at age 16, and became a pastor the following year, 1954, when he went off to college."

Funny, isn't it, how many famous black men went to college while being simultaneously oppressed by whitey?

[Friendofgeorge]

Want to know if someone is a Christian? Goes without saying that they first have had to ask Jesus in to their heart and life, God be merciful to me a sinner, Lord Jesus come into my life, thank you Lord for dying on the cross for my sins, Lord save me....or something along those lines, must include Jesus sacrifice on the cross etc.

Then ask them if they believe in evolution?

ask them if they are pro life, this is telling. I am prepared to say that anyone who tells you they are pro choice or pro abortion does not have the Spirit of God within them and are not Christians but only imposter's.

I wont even get in to homosexuality, the Bible is just as clear on that, just as it is clear that our bodies are not our own to do with as we see fit( 1 Corinthians 6-19)

Do you not know that your body is the temple of The Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God and YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN!

1 Corinthians 6 v 20 goes on to say For you were bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, WHICH ARE GOD`s!

We are not our own, so a woman does not have right to kill her child under any circumstances.

I am prepared to say that if you vote Democrat, you will not find yourself in heaven when you die.

On top of that voting Democrat means you are OK with removing the Name of God and Christ from the public square, schools etc.

My point is this.... Any Church that says they are pro choice/ pro gay and support pro abortion candidates will not find themselves in heaven, regardless whether or not their minister spouts of racist, hateful nonsense.

[BigCinBigD]

Races in Bearden: 2007

White Non-Hispanic (64.7%)
Black (32.4%)
Hispanic (1.5%)
Two or more races (1.2%)
Other race (1.1%)
American Indian (0.7%)
Making progress.

[Grampa Dave]

[Kackikat]

fuzzy math, and fuzzy theology. I have gone to several integrated churches in my life, and I find it amazing that people confuse religion with christianity. I may not understand the black experience of some being white, but I know that most of the evangelical churches openly welcome blacks, asians, native americans or any race.
They do NOT accept hate, racism or discrimination of women, children or other ungodly behavior. So if these people have stayed in a racist community, it is like scripture says “my people perish for lack of knowledge”.
For those too poor to leave, if God calls you, then he can equip you through study of the Bible to be an example right where you are....no college needed. Anyone can start a Bible Study in their home, this is America..for now anyway.

[ovrtaxt]

Better than that, anybody can start a church in their home.

[Verginius Rufus]

You’re trying to impose white man’s math on the Rev. Cone.

[aimhigh]

More here : http://faultlineusa.blogspot.com/2007/03/obamas-marxist-liberation-theology.html

Great link. Thanks. Here's an amazing Cone quote:

"The definition of Jesus as black is crucial for christology if we truly believer in his continued presence today. Taking our clue from the historical Jesus who is pictured in the New Testament as the Oppressed One, what else, except blackness, could adequately tell us the meaning of his presence today? Any statement about Jesus today that fails to consider blackness as the decisive factor about his person is a denial of the New Testament message."

And another Cone quote:

"The black Christ is he who threatens the structure of evil as seen in white society, rebelling against it, thereby becoming the embodiment of what the black community knows that it must become. . ."

[Friendofgeorge]

RIGHT ON BROTHER!!!

[mewzilla]

The Lincoln Bedroom Guest List

James Cone is on that list.

[mewzilla]

BTTT.