The Decline of African American Theology: From Biblical Faith to Cultural Captivity
Average Rating: out of 7 Reviews
Price: $20.00
Sale: $12.52
Manufacturer: IVP Academic
EAN (European Article Number): 9780830828272
Number of Items: 1
Binding: Paperback
Author: Thabiti M. Anyabwile
Publisher: IVP Academic
Dewey Decimal Number: 230.08996073
Publication Date: 2007-12-30
Reading Level: 254
Description:
In this book, Thabiti Anyabwile offers a challenging and provocative assessment of the history of African American Christian theology, from its earliest beginnings to the present. He argues trenchantly that the modern fruit of African American theology has fallen far from the tree of its early predecessors. In doing so, Anyabwile closely examines the theological commitments of prominent African American theologians throughout American history. Chapter by chapter, he traces what he sees as the theological decline of African American theology from one generation to the next, concluding with an unflinching examination of several contemporary figures. Replete with primary texts and illustrations, this book is a gold mine for any reader interested in the history of African American Christianity.
Market/Audience
General readers
Professors
Students
Features and Benefits
Includes a foreword by Mark A. Noll
Offers insight into the history of the African American church
Counteracts contemporary assumptions about African American theology
Highlights the key figures and developments in the history of African American theology
Review Summary: African American Survey of Biblical/nonBiblical Christianity
Date: 2008-08-21
Details: The Decline of the African American Theology - From Biblical Faith to Cultural Captivity. Written by Thabiti M. Anyabwile.
This book is an excellent survey varied Theological thought in the African American community in the past 250 years. Does this book make the argument as stated in its title? My thought is no. The title is quite ambitious. It is one thing to clearly write about different schools of thought and quite another make statements and arguments how prevalent those ideas and beliefs are held in society. The author clearly claims the African American community of Christians in the first half of the 19th century held more Calvinistic views. He also states John Wesley was a major factor in moving the African American Community away from this theology. The author explains very clearly various schools of thought. I just wish he felt freer to state these beliefs had a major impact or a minor impact at the time. How persuasive is that way of thinking in today's African American Community?
The author does communicate the fact the Civil rights movement and the Social Gospel were interconnected. James Cones' Liberation explain clearly and exhaustive. How his thoughts and ideas affect the African American Community as a whole is missing. On the whole the thoughts and ideas are expressed very clearly. Jupiter Hammon and Lemuel Haynes are held as the ideal preacher. From then theology in the African American this is the high point of theology at the turn of the 19th century. Thabiti M. Anyabwile also expresses Calvinistic theology as the ideal theology. The book is organized into six theological topics and within each topic perspectives of theological thought is organized chronologically.
The doctrine of revelation, the doctrine of God, the doctrine of Christology, the doctrine of Soteriology, and the doctrine Pneumatology are the major divisions in the book. From reading the book Bishop Daniel Alexander Payne (1811 -1833) was the only influence on the theology of revelation up to the time of the civil war. Pages 28-37 are dedicated to a short biography and his thought (theology) about God. The views of William Adams are expressed briefly within the Payne's theology of revelation. Adams believed revelation through the Holy Spirit was more prevalent. This is included in the subdivision within theological divisions of Early Slavery Era through Abolition period. 1660 1865. This is by far the longest time period subdivision. The other time divisions are:
Reconstruction Jim Crow segregation, great Migration and the New Negro Movement
1865-1929
Depression and World War II 1930-1949
Civil Rights Era 1950 - 1979
End of the Century, Postmodern era 1980- 2007
The doctrine of Soteriology and Pneumatology are the most interesting in this book plus the authors concluding remarks included in the afterward. The three are interrelated: what most I do to get saved, "getting in De Spirit", and the author's thoughts how the African American Church has moved away from doctrine supported by the Bible.The church has moved away from Salvation from ones sins, the doctrine of Heaven, and many a church express the outward spectacular signs of the Spirit over the sign of obedience and the comprehension of God's word.The book is a wealth of information about theology, even if the author does not always tie the title and its implicit conclusion to what is shared.
Review Summary: Good Research, But...
Date: 2008-04-07
Details: Anyabwile does a fantastic job in summarizing the development of several pertinent themes in African American theology. He must be commended for his thorough research and fascinating insights. Other reviews have detailed the contents of the chapters, so I will get straight to my brief critique.
Let me start out by saying that I am not one who believes that I have to agree with the conclusions of a study in order to appreciate its contributions to the field of learning. Consequently, while I give this book four stars for the clearly proficient research, I am compelled to chastise it for it's troublesome conclusion.
Actually, the problem is not just in the conclusion but in the presuppositions that drive the study. To be more specific, Anyabwile takes a dogmatic approach that assumes the correctness of reformed and orthodox theology. This has led him to question the legitimacy of liberation theology and other aspects of African-American theology that challenge eurocentric theological arrogance. Why can't the Bible be the test for the validity of African-American theological expression? Why does all theology have to conform to a Reform model?
It seems to me that Anyabwile has been captivated by a powerful culture--it's just not African American or biblical culture.
out of 7 Reviews
