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Essay on the role of the African American church
Christianity and American slavery
Christianity in African American culture
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Daniel envisioned a time when knowledge would increase (Daniel 12:4). There is much evidence today of African American successes in many areas. African Americans have just about improved on about every area of life that tried to defeat them before. During the deadly decades of slavery in America, slaves being able to talk amongst other slaves were a constant cause of concern to most slave owners. They felt this to be a threat to them and their personal safety. For many members of the white society, Black religious gatherings symbolized the ultimate plot to threaten the white American slave owner’s existence. Nevertheless, African slaves established and relied heavily on their religious practices to escape the torture of slavery. Religion offered …show more content…
It is where African Americans go to express their faith and beliefs in their god. Ever since the beginning of the late 18th century to its present day existence, the black church has and will always serve as a safe house for African Americans. A place to worship God and build together, and a place where they are motivated and assist in rebuilding the African American rebuild communities. You can guarantee that on Sunday between the hours of 7 a.m. Generally (early morning service) to 4 p.m. generally (afternoon service) there will be a large population of African Americans attending church. This the way it has always been and always will be. It is something that is a tradition, so to speak. They made sure to have themselves and their children prompt for Sunday worship …show more content…
Here is when the issues of social class levels between African Americans came about .As middle-class blacks began to build a religious life much like that of their white counterparts. The lower class working individuals continued to worship in their same small knit churches. Some of the black religious pastors became so involved in some of the mixed religion institutions, such as the services of the YMCA and the Sunday school movement, that were the prime concerns of evangelical life at the turn of the twentieth century. They became yet ok to serve alongside their counterparts as though they were equals. Unlike the white evangelical pastors of the day, who were engaged in theological battles about the bibles history and its interpretation, middle-class African Americans kept their eyes trained toward the mission to achieve social justice and end racism. The battle of racism, which had steadily worsened after the 1870s, promoted a degree of political unity among black Protestant church groups that, at times, outweighed their many differences. So no matter their social status, they took a pack to stick together to seek justice and unity from the white
Christian leaders have often written about homosexuality in a negative manner. Throughout the majority of Christian history most theologians and dominations have viewed homosexual behavior as sinful and immoral especially in African-American churches. Certain orthodox interpretations of Christian morality have led the overwhelming majority of African-Americans who attend church to consider homosexuality a sin and thus same-sex marriages as wrong. Black liberation theology, especially in the context of the black political church, has led a minority of African-Americans to be inclusive of homosexuals and to permit their churches to serve as a political resource for those receptive to lesbian and gay rights (Shaw). However, in the past century some African-American Christian religious groups and churches have espoused a wide variety of beliefs and practices towards homosexuals, including the establishment of some 'open and accepting' congregations that actively support queer members. The Abyssinian Baptist church is one of these institutions. By comparing the preaching’s of early 20th century pastor Adam Clayton Powell Jr, to present day pastor Rev. Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, there is strong evidence to show the evolution of churches position on homosexuality in the Abyssinian Baptist Church.
Montgomery, William. Under Their Own Vine and Fig Tree: The African-American Church in the South. Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 1993. Print.
...e was not enough seating for everyone. These things cost money, which had to come from somewhere. Supporters of the church would most likely have jobs in order to help maintain the church. The economic freedom of African Americans were harsh, but they definitely existed.
Maffly-Kipp, L. (2001). The Church in the Southern Black Community: Introduction. The Church in the Southern Black Community: Introduction. Retrieved March 17, 2014, from http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/intro.html
Africanisms in America are a highly surveyed topic for the black community. Joseph E. Holloway describes Africanisms as “those elements of culture found in the New World that are traceable to an African origin” (Holloway 2). I believe, that africanisms are the traditions and cultural behaviors of African Americans that resemble the some of the same traditions and cultures in Africa. Which makes you ponder about what current elements does our culture use that ties back to Africa. Which in fact there are several africanisms that still exist. African Americans have retained an essence of Africa in their speech, hair care, clothing, preparation of foods, and music by over centuries of separation from the Dark Continent.
The black slaves in general held to a different form Christianity that was unbeknownst to traditional orthodox Christianity. As discussed in lecture on February 4, 2014, black slaves held to an interpretation of Christianity that placed emphasis on the Old Testament, and all of its hero’s and accomplishments. The slaves also reinterpreted Jesus Christ, figuring Him into the Old Testament context of an Old Testament King like King David, who achieved many victories upon this earth (Lecture 2/4/14). Due to the perversion of Christian teachings from slave master and their erroneous catechisms, the slaves reacted strongly against the New Testament and its teachings. In turn, the slaves would cling to the Old Testament, particularly due to the role that the Jews suffered in the midst of their captivity to the Egyptians in ancient times. (Covered in the Bible under the Old Testament books of Genesis and Exodus) The reality of God coming to the aid of His chosen people the Jews was a theme that encouraged and comforted the slaves, and they gladly adopted this similar idea of being God’s “chosen people.” Also, the slaves held to Old ...
Moreover, many owners later came to feel that Christianity may actually have encouraged rebellion (all those stories of Moses and the Israelites in Egypt, after all, talked about the liberation of the slaves), and so they began to discourage Christian missionaries from preaching to the slaves. African Americans have taken their own spiritual, religious journey. God was looked upon as a source of peace and encouragement. The community of enslave Africans were able to use religion and spirituality as a way of overcoming the mental anguish of slavery on a daily basis. To a slave, religion was the most important aspect of their life. Nothing could come between their relationship with god. It was their rock, the only reason why they could wake up in the morning, the only way that they endured this most turbulent time in our history.
Black caucuses developed in the Catholic, Presbyterian, and Episcopal churches. "The central thrust of these new groups was to redefine the meaning and role of the church and religion in the lives of black people. Out of this reexamination has come what some have called Black Theology.... ... middle of paper ...
In their quarters, slaves expressed themselves with some what more freedom from white slave owners. Religion provided a feel of similar freedom and also gave slaves mental support. By attending church, slaves created a Christianity that emphasized salvation for every race, including slaves.
Influential Black male ministers like Martin Luther King Jr., were regarded as pillars within the Black community. A Black women activist noted that “a lot comes from the traditions of the church and the male minister as the leader, the person whom you’re supposed to obey.” The traditional gender roles and values therefore prevented Black women from becoming ministers, deacons, or heads of the Southern Baptist church. Consequently, the accomplishments of “visible titled leaders” are credited for their activism and overall success of the Civil Rights Movement. Leadership cannot just be narrowly based on visibility, authority, and/or charisma. It is by these definitions that the contributions of Black women in the Civil Rights Movement have been ignored and overshadowed. Specifically, the overgeneralized mentality that “Men led, but women organized” relinquishes women of any leadership qualities and
African-American is a politically correct term used to refer to blacks within the United States. The roots of many African-American rites can be traced back to African cultural rites. However, it is important to note that not all blacks in America identify with African cultural roots. Therefore, some of the rites found within what many in the United States call African-American culture stem from Caribbean and other cultural traditions. For this reason, when making end of life decisions or funeral arrangements the “cultural identification, spirituality and the social class” the individual identifies with must be taken into account. The black majority within the United States identifies with Afrocentric traditions and perspectives. For this reason the term African-American will be used within this paper to denote the black population found in America as comparisons are made regarding how end of life decisions are viewed and made by African-American culture verses the traditional western European beliefs of American culture (Barrett, 2002).
They created their own times and found secret locations as a group or community. According to the book, World Religions in America, there are four types of African American churches. The Pastoral type, the Prophetic type, the Political type, and the Nationalist type. Beginning with The Pastoral Type, this is the oldest type which was used before forming individual churches and it was focused on hope for a better future and the goodness found in people or God. As stated in the book, "optimistic in outlook, they have consistently challenged blacks to be more self-respecting, industrious, honest, thrifty, self-reliant, morally virtuous, and hopeful that a better day will surely dam because of God's providence," (Neusner 66). It shows how this type of church provided comfort and grew hope in their hearts. The second type, The Prophetic Type, focuses more on proclaiming the justice of God by publicly condemning all forms of racial injustice. As stated, "Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. Du Bois, Martin Luther king Jr., and Jesse Jackson represented some of the greatest leaders to emerge from the prophetic type of ministry," (Neusner 67). This type is similar to the Pastoral Type but it focuses more on spirituals, the guttural exuberance of the gospel music, and the persuasive oratory of dynamic preaching. The third type, The Political
In From Slavery to Freedom (2007), it was said that “the transition from slavery to freedom represents one of the major themes in the history of African Diaspora in the Americas” (para. 1). African American history plays an important role in American history not only because the Civil Rights Movement, but because of the strength and courage of Afro-Americans struggling to live a good life in America. Afro-Americans have been present in this country since the early 1600’s, and have been making history since. We as Americans have studied American history all throughout school, and took one Month out of the year to studied African American history. Of course we learn some things about the important people and events in African American history, but some of the most important things remain untold which will take more than a month to learn about.
The development of Black Theology in the United was one that shocked the nation as a whole. While in slavery, Blacks had to sneak and hold church services. This was partly because Whites felt that Blacks were not able to be accepted into heaven, and they believed that once one as a Christian they could no longer be enslaved. So to appease their conscience they would not allow Blacks to take part in theology. Due to these issues Black Theology soon originated within the United States.
While some will call Rastafarianism a religion, others will say that Rastafarianism is a kind of spiritual consciousness because the Rastas lack a great deal of what is central for other religions while still retaining a belief in a God. There aren't too many organised Rasta 'churches', and the closest thing you would come to a church will probably be Rasta organisations like 'The Twelve Tribes of Israel', the 'Nyabinghi Order' and especially the 'Bobo Dreads'. Rastafarianism also lacks a confession of fate, which most other religious systems will have. So the question will remain open if this is a religion or a spiritual consciousness where everyone calling him/herself a Rasta will be more or less free to believe in what they like.