Obama & The Black Liberation Theology Of The Church He Attended / Video / Reverend Wright / James Cone

Courtesy of http://www.1000sundays.com

Obama & Black Liberation Theology Of The Church He Attended. Barack Obama's pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, has defended himself against charges of anti-Americanism and racism by referring to his foundational philosophy, the "black liberation theology" of scholars such as James Cone, who regard Jesus Christ as a "black messiah" and blacks as "the chosen people" who will only accept a god who assists their aim of destroying the "white enemy." "If God is not for us and against white people," writes Cone, "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." Wright has not talked to media since video segments of his sermons over the past decade surfaced last week including one in 2003 in which he encouraged blacks to damn America in God's name. But in a 2007 interview replayed on the Fox News Channel's "Hannity and Colmes" show Friday, he repeatedly fended off Sean Hannity's questions with an appeal to authority, asking if the host had read any of the books of Cone, professor at New York's Union Theological Seminary, or Dwight Hopkins, professor at the University of Chicago's Divinity School, notes the Asia Times columnist who writes under the pseudonym Spengler." Obama, who has spoken of his pastor of more than 20 years as his mentor and moral compass, "wants to talk about what Wright is, rather than what he says," notes Spengler, by referring him as a "respected biblical scholar, and as someone who taught or lectured at seminaries across the country, from Union Theological Seminary to the University of Chicago." But Spengler says "that way lies apolitical quicksand." Cone, he points out, was the most prominent theologian in the "black liberation" school in the 1960s, teaching that Jesus Christ himself is black. The theologian explains: Christ is black therefore not because of some cultural or psychological need of black people, but because and only because Christ really enters into our world where the poor were despised and the black are, disclosing that he is with them enduring humiliation and pain and transforming oppressed slaves into liberating servants. Rather than viewing God as a sovereign being who does as he wills according to his purposes, Cone insists God must do what we want him to do, or we must reject him. What the black community wants, Cone says, is for God to assist in its goal of destroying "the white enemy." 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.

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[iamvegito]

(cont) understanding of what Cone is trying to do. Yes, at first glance, the books seem to attack white people, but once you see that 'black' and 'white' are ultimately symbols, it becomes more readable. But overall, I'd suggest reading some of his work before passing judgment on the author or his disciples.

And before anyone asks, I'm white, and don't support President Obama, due to irreconcilable differences in ideology. So... there you go.

Peace,

HariG

[iamvegito]

(cont) before utterly dismissing him. It makes quite a bit of sense, and he does not make the assertion that he is 100% correct or that he will even be correct at all times, as theology has ostensibly evolved over millennia. He is merely responding to his experience in the south with the KKK and the continuing structures of oppressive dominant society. Having read two of his books, (A Black Theology of Liberation [69] and God of the Oppressed [75]) I feel that I have developed an okay (cont)

[iamvegito]

(cont) before utterly dismissing him. It makes quite a bit of sense, and he does not make the assertion that he is 100% correct or that he will even be correct at all times, as theology has ostensibly evolved over millennia. He is merely responding to his experience in the south with the KKK and the continuing structures of oppressive dominant society. Having read two of his books, (A Black Theology of Liberation [69] and God of the Oppressed [75]) I feel that I have developed a decent (cont)

[iamvegito]

(cont.) the violent structures of a society of oppression. This correlates salvation with liberation. Taking the idea that "the kingdom of God is among you," we are thus called as Christians to make a liberated society stand today, allowing the Kingdom to be established. Cone's theology is quite biblical, taking the idea that one can only read the Bible through the lens of an oppressed people. Trust me, this summary is insufficient, but I'd suggest at least reading some of Cone's work (cont)

[iamvegito]

I feel like this video is painting a caricature of Jeremiah Wright, James Cone, and Black Theology in general. It isn't hard to see, from an ontological reading of the gospels, that Jesus was working for the oppressed in his ministry. This action of God is also evidenced by the Exodus and the institution of nahala in early Yahwism. Seeing a parallel between Jews in the times of the Romans and Blacks today is easy. Therefore, Jesus Christ's death on the cross is a statement against (cont.)

[smoothALOE]

Wow, James Cone actually appears to be delusional. So he doesn't believe that Christ's death on the cross paid for all of our sins? But he calls himself a Christian? I guess this would be the doctrine that was passed down to President Obama too. Wow!...

[eatsyrup]

@HowardsGirl1985 OMB BEST COMMENT ALL DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[remedii30]

this is crazy....You can call yourselves Christian, but you are not one unless you truly believe in God's word.... God's word says to love everyone, no matter what age, race, culture, or ethnicity. This extreme racism makes me sick. White people are not the only ones who had slaves as well, many white people were enslaved in Barbara Africa as well~ buand many people do not ealize that. every race has been victimized at one time or another.

[AlastorDarkAngel]

If in order to repent you need to come to god hands and feet clean of your past trespasses seeking repentance then wouldn't it be foolish to still live off of the blood sweat and tears of the oppressed?

[1989iamgod]

not every black man is my brother but all white people are my enemy. why should i go out of my way to love these vampires when all they do do is cause misery for my people.