Summary Of Dr. Nevell Owens Chapter 2

Jasmine Hopkins REL 2135E- Dr. A. Nevell Owens Chapter 2 Analysis.

From my understanding of the reading of chapter 2, Pinn’s main premise of The Shape and Purpose of African American religion is to provide a foundational understanding based on historical development of institutionalized religion fighting for liberation expressed in socioeconomic and political terms. Identifying cultural significance within the aesthetic and ritual dimensions of religion as liberation in spiritual terms, and religion thought as liberation in theological dimensions. The historical development of liberation in African American religion emerged in the 20th century, the gospel of Christ was used to bear on the issues of class and poverty, using social Christianity

Black Theology shifted the perspective of black religion in history, culture, experience, needs, and religious traditions of blacks. This shift began the liberation of Christianity in socioeconomic and political terms. The cultural significance within the aesthetics and ritual dimensions of religion was by means of dress or appearances that expressed black Christianity. This new presentation of black Christianity presented the way black Christians spoke about their value and beauty. Through this, they were able to reshape social space and increase their visibility in the social environment. Fasting is also a form of spiritual aesthetic that is meant to cleanse the body and increase the individual’s sensitivity to the divine. Fasting and other rituals like baptisms or speaking in tongues are freedom seeking agendas that support spiritual cleansing. Religion has theological dimensions within the black community, such as Christianity and the Nation of Islam. Leaders like the honorable Elijah Muhammads teaching of the Nation of Islam were new status for blacks, rendering them as superior and whites as inferior. Muslim

Minister Farrakhan's perspective of Islamic teachings was a softer approach compared to Elijah Muhammad's, by stating that redemption is possible amongst whites but unlikely to destroy their structures and ideology based on white supremacy which promotes the dehumanization of blacks, and privileges for whites. The differences between Black Christianity and Muslim teachings are that Christianity taught blacks how to conform to the white American way of life, and Muslim teachings taught them to reject the integration of a damned society. I think that Pinn’s main premise was clearly outlined and explained based on the topic of the chapter. Pinn focuses on the two important religions that tend to contradict the other, but both have a common goal: to uplift, and empower African Americans. Christianity’s views are docile, keeping Black Americans meek minded, while Muslim teachings were intended to separate African Americans from the teachings of White America, while encouraging better lifestyle/diet changes, and superiority in society. A term that was new to me is the term Ex Nihilo, which means “creation out of nothing” and is