Obama's Pastor & Black Liberation Theology (A Blog Response) Please state your thoughts?

Question

Black Liberation Theology is not the only Liberation Theology movement among minorities. Blk Liberation assumes Blk people speaking for themselves as in the case of Feminist Liberation Theology, Asian Liberation Theology and (the most popular) Latin Liberation Theology.

Most accuse Liberation Theology of having Marxist overtones or suggestions but I have not found that to be true. Most Liberation Theology movements are really "voices from the margins of society" who speak directly to a people who experience systematic, racial, gender discrimination or biases. (Some Evangelical Scholars make the case that Liberation Theologies are reactionary movements, I still disagree with that).

(HERE IS THE MAJOR POINT)

Most of what we consider Standards Biblical Interpretation is based on Euro-centric Evangelical models. (I will blog often on this site please ask if you want specifics).

WHY IS THIS: Most published conversations (books and commentaries) about theology are based in Europe (Germany, England, Spain and Italy).

I have been to seminary so I know this for a fact: MOST OF THE STUDY OF CHRISTIAN HISTORY IS BASED IN EUROPE. However, Europe was not the only continent to make global contributions to Christianity.

(A BASIC POINT ABOUT THEOLOGY)

Theology is not simply based on DIRECT DIVINE INTERPRETATION. Everyone who interprets a text, just as in literature, brings their history, experience, and world views to the table. This is called a HERMANUTIC OF SUSPICION. (Lord I wish I had a spellcheck. lol)

Since most conversations about theology are from European males and based on Euro male interpration of scripture and CHRISTIANITY, NATURALLY people who have different world views, experiences and come from different traditions are going to feel isolated.

LET ME HELP YOU: DECONSTRUCT LIBERATION MOVEMENTS

(Most liberation Theologies scriptural interpretations are informed by a particular groups experiences of oppression, cultural perspectives, collective history)

IN STUDYING LIB. THEOLOGY HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT KEY ASPECTS TO FOCUS ON:

1. Literary Interpretation of CHRIST
as a Divine HERO THAT OVERCOMES OVERWHELMING OPPRESSION FROM THE SYSTEM (Rome and Jesus' own people)
Think of a super hero figure like Superman, Batman and etc.


2. JESUS WAS BORN IN A LOWLY MANGER OF HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Look for an "underdog" interpretation of scripture. References are ussually made to the fact that there was no room in the end or the Son of God had no place to lay his head.

3. CRUCIFIXITION & RESURRECTION

Literary interpretation, Jesus died speaking truth to power. (Healing the sick, raising the dead, bulking the establishment, and performing miracles on the Sabbath)

He did not reject the mission to "bring the Kingdom of Justice and Truth down to earth as it already is in heaven."

His goals to lift the oppress was pursued on the basis of principles and not outcomes.
He (Jesus) did not care that his mission would lead to his eventual and inevitable death on the cross.


Liberation Theology is not a theology that is based on any group claiming superiority over another, but it is about a particular group or ethnicity that has been marginalized by society speaking for themselves about theology. (Hermeneutic of Suspicion)

JUST A QUESTION:

1. Does anyone get offended with the titles "Greek" Orthodox, "Russian" Orthodox, & "Roman" Catholic? Should people of different ethnicities be offended by such titles?

2. When Greek Orthodox have festivals that celebrate Greek Culture, Greek family structures, Greek Traditions, and Greek food, would you consider them separatist?

3. Let's look at other religious traditions. Should I feel uncomfortable going to a Mosque or a Synod because both religions are so closely tied to culture that it is hard to distinguish one from another? Should we call Jew's separatist because of they have "family ethics" that are particular to Jews. (My grandmother is Jewish)


Is seperatist a "pretty new" title for denominations or church communities that I am not comfortable or familiar with?

Say what you will about Dr. Jeremiah Wright, but he is right on one thing. "If you are going to talk about Theology, you must talk about it in context."

I have read Sean Hannity's bio. He attended a catholic high school that called itself a seminary.(It is no longer in existence. It closed in the 1980's). He also did not even finish a 2 yr college. Sean has NO experience or understanding of theology and it was obvious. I do not understand how FOX let's it's analyist/journalist get away with that.

Dr. Jeremiah Wright probably came across as rude because Sean came across as if he were not really interested in interviewing Dr. Wright. It seemed to me that he wanted to expose an agenda.

FOX really should demand better. Why couldn't they have atleast found a conservative journalist who understands "a little" about Blk Liberation Theology and it's prominant authors (Dr. James Cone, Dr. Dwight Hopkins, Dr. Cain Hope Felder).

PURE AND SIMPLE

Sean Hannity provoked a DOG fight with a Pit-bull. His little smart Alex comments, "Pray for me Reverend" and calling his church a cult before the Pastor even got a chance to explain what the website was about. Then when the Reverend tried to explain, he cut him off on several occasions. Sean was GRANDSTANDING. I guess that is what brings in great ratings!!

I think a "properly" seasoned journalist WHO HAS AN ACADEMIC BACKGROUND IN JOURNALISM as well as experience would have handled that differently and the outcome would have been different.

Answer 1

Wow you spent a long time writing this up,
I think people sometimes get a little to mad at titles sometimes though the person saying it can actually be trying to do that, just to try and make them mad.
No matter where you go people are always going to have their own views and opinions and some people will think they are always right and not willing to be considered wrong usually the hard head.
People are always going to consider and take things a different way until the rapture comes.
So it can be considered that titles give in a way different classifications or a way of assortment. Some churches for example are very very similar, as for me I just go to a nondenominational church.
I hope I am answering somewhat correctly some of the stuff was hard to understand, well when you used really big words^.^ I am just a Junior in High school after all so that's all I got.

Answer 2

Who gives a rat's butt about what that mouthpiece for the White House, Sean Hannity, has to say.