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Summary Of The Emergence Of A Black Theology Of Liberation By James Cone

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In evaluating Risks of Faith: The Emergence of a Black Theology of Liberation one strengths and two weaknesses will be investigated and reflected on respectively. This analysis will conclude with some brief remarks and recommendations.

This book offers an array of Cone early essays with some critical reflections on his thoughts then and now. The one strengths cover in this review is the great questions which Cone examined throughout the book.

The great questions which are throughout the book. I counted at least twenty one question which were raised or discussed. Questions such as “What kind of Christianity is it that preaches love and practices segregation? If God’s love was so great, and if He loved all His children, why were we, the blacks, …show more content…

(I Chronicle 12:32) Cone was able to weaves together a theological perspective which sheds a different light of God and liberation. From the sampling of questions the one which resonates with me is in the last section on “Going Forward.” It is under the handing Black Theology and the Black College Student. How was it possible for one to grow up black in America and not be aware of the spiritual sources of strength and courage in black culture and history? Cone’s first response to this question is brilliant. He admits that the black church made up mostly from the black middle-class is an institution which reflects the values of white America. For young black college students to reject black Christianity and the black church does not make sense because virtually every institution in America reflect white value. (125) The University in which young black students are matriculating at is a white institution with white values. On the other hand Cone’s second response caused me to raise an eyebrow of concern. I concur with Cone that the white university defines black Christianity and the black church by

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