Wright Ex-Factor (by Diana Butler Bass)

My former professor, Dr. Diana Butler Bass, has another helpful discussion about the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. In this case, she reviews the recent appearances that Reverend Wright made on PBS and at the NAACP meeting in Detroit which was carried on CNN. Earlier on Friday I watched the McLoughlin Group in which at least two of the commentators recommended that Reverend Wright should not be speaking publicly, that it would hurt not only the Obama campaign, but also race relations in the U.S. I wondered about that assertion after hearing it, and after I watched and heard Reverend Wright in the PBS interview I came to the conclusion that we need to be listening to this person (critially, of course, but we should listen and not demonize!).

In the midst of the debate and the controversy, taking a good look at the whole breadth of Reverend Wright's preaching and speaking is important to do. That said, I do understand people's anger at hearing stark, angry and critical words about the United States.

Dr. Diana Butler Bass's article is posted over at Beliefnet in full...


Monday, April 28, 2008

Wright Ex-Factor (by Diana Butler Bass)

Over the last several days, I watched Rev. Jeremiah Wright in discussions of faith, theology, history, and culture on television. The three-plus hours I devoted to PBS and CNN amounted to some of the most sophisticated and thoughtful programming on American culture and racial issues that any news station has offered in recent years. And, for those who really listened to Rev. Wright, he moved from being a political liability in the current presidential campaign to demonstrating why he is one of the nation's most compelling spokespersons of the African-American community and of progressive Christianity.

On Friday, Bill Moyers interviewed Wright in an hour-long conversation. (Watch it here.) On Sunday, Wright preached at an NAACP fundraiser in Detroit that attracted 10,000 people. (Watch parts 1 [intro], 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.) Finally, on Monday morning, Wright addressed a packed National Press Club in Washington, D.C. However different the venues, a surprisingly common thread wound through all three speeches -- that a realistic understanding of history forms the spiritual basis of hope and healing.

In the Moyers interview, Wright admitted that one of the major influences on his ministry was the august historian Martin E. Marty of the University of Chicago (a white Lutheran and a true gentleman scholar), who challenged his students to relate the "faith preached in our churches" to the "world in which our church members leave at the benediction." He then quoted African-American historian Carter G. Woodson, saying that black Americans had been—and one can argue, by inference, Anglo-Americans as well—"miseducated."

I suspect that both Woodson and Marty share the perception that Americans suffer from "miseducation" regarding history. This "miseducation" means looking to the glorious parts of history and not to its despair, of having an incomplete picture—only a "piece of the story"—regarding the past. Bad history leaves out the bits that make us cringe, doubt ourselves, or question our morality. Leaving out the uncomfortable parts may reinforce cherished views, but it lacks the power of internal critique or self-correction.

Realistic history includes the good and the amoral, the profound and the profane. It gives us the ability to understand the fullness of human experience and learn from mistakes and sin. A robust vision of the past, Wright stated, enables Christians "not to leave that world and pretend that we are now in some sort of fantasy land, as Martin Marty called it, but to serve a God who comes into history on the side of the oppressed."

The God of history is also, as Wright reminded his audience on Sunday, "a God of diversity." ...

Read the rest HERE.

Angela Sims: "Nuancing a Black Theology of Liberation"

Check out this interview of professor Angela Sims on Nuancing a Black Theology of Liberation over at "The Phoenix Journal"

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From the Phoenix Journal: Documenting an Emerging Progressive Christianity

Click HERE to hear the interview.

Given all the media attention to Rev. Jeremiah Wright (wikipedia entry) a few weeks ago, I though it might be a good idea to survey what some regard as one of the most potent theological traditions in America - Black Liberation Theology.

Like all liberation theologies, Black Theology has its starting point in the lived experienced of a group of people - a people who are dispossessed. It has been no surprise to myself and others who are familiar with the tradition, that most "white" commentators (listen to the show for a definition) have struggled to find the beauty in Rev. Wright's words.

I also find it not surprising, now that polls have shown Sen. Obama to be well on the other side of this "scandal", that we have heard increasingly little about Rev. Wright. I suppose that if a black guy isn't playing his assigned role of scapegoat, then we don't need to pay attention to him. How sad.

I think you will really enjoy this interview with Angela Sims. She is extremely intelligent and personable, and very humble considering her obviously strong grasp on the subject matter. I found that talking with her was very similar to conversations with my old mentor, the Rev. Dr. Stephen G. Ray. There seemed to be a depth of wisdom in what she said that I longed to know myself. I am grateful that she was so willing to be a part of this experience, and to help us come to better terms with a theological tradition that has alluded many in the recent weeks.

For those who don't know, the song being played on the piano during the show is "Lift Every Voice and Sing" - the black national anthem. The YouTube video the audio was taken from can be found here.

Landon

James Cone interviewed by the Trinity Institute

Several weeks ago, Black Liberation Theologian James H. Cone was interviewed by Bob Scott from the Trinity Institute. This interview (20 minutes) is on Youtube and well-worth a few minutes to check out.

The Rev. Peter M. Carey





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Black Liberation Theology on Fresh Air with Terry Gross

James Cone: Black liberation theologian says
the overriding message of Old Testament prophets
— and Jesus Christ — is "a condemnation of the nation
and of the religious [establishment]
... for oppressing the poor."
Courtesy Union Theological Seminary

From the Philadelphia NPR station, WHYY, on the program "Fresh Air," Terry Gross interviews not only the founder of Black Liberation Theology, James H. Cone, but also the University of Chicago Divinity School theologian, Dwight Hopkins on this important topic. I had the good pleasure to read a lot of James H. Cone's work last year as a part of my M.Div. Thesis, and am fascinated by the interest in this important topic (I'd love to see the dialogue move to a more constructive level, and am so glad that Terry Gross brought out these two thoughtful theologians for interviews today).

Go to WHYY and check out the program Fresh Air from today's program.

Peace,

The Rev. Peter M. Carey

Fresh Air from WHYY

Listen to Monday's show · March 31, 2008

• InterviewsBlack Liberation Theology, in its Founder's Words
  

  The Rev. James H. Cone founded black liberation theology, which has roots in 1960s civil-rights activism. In an interview with Terry Gross, he explains the movement — and comments on controversial sermons by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's longtime minister and a black liberation theology proponent.

• 
  

ReligionBlack Liberation Theology: A Historical Perspective

Theologian Dwight Hopkins provides a historical perspective on black liberation theology. Hopkins is an ordained Baptist minister and a professor of theology at the University of Chicago Divinity School.

Seeking some constructive understanding of Black Liberation Theology...

...we would do well to read a variety of views on Black Liberation Theology and also move our discussion to a more substantive and constructive level than it currently has been in response to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's statements, and Barack Obama's amazing speech last week.

From the blog, Inhabitatio Dei ...

Black Liberation Theology in Current Discussions

Posted on March 25, 2008 by Halden

For those that have been confused by the rather muddled and frenzied discussions in the media lately about Barak Obama, Jeremiah Wright, and race relations in America, allow me to heartily recommend the various discussions of these things by my friend David Horstkoetter. David is a student at Union Seminary who has studied under James Cone and has a passionate interest in race and theology, and black theology in particular. He has blogged extensively about the current discussions, including some very helpful comments by J. Kameron Carter which clarify elements of this hoopla very well. I highly commend David’s critiques of the innane conservative backlash against Rev. Wright’s willingness to speak the truth about race in America. They are right on the money.