Black Man's Religion: Can Christianity Be Afrocentric?

This is an excellent book! Though the graphic design work on the cover is pretty outdated and probably a turn-off to younger readers, don't let that deter you! (I hope they release an updated version with a more appealing cover design soon) This book is co-authored by an African-American author who is a pastor and a White author who is a Christian scholar. "Black Man's Religion: Can Christianity be Afrocentric" is a wealth of information and it is fully documented! - Literally about half of the book is end notes detailing the sources of information presented in the book!!! The title almost makes it sound like the authors are trying to make christianity fit some "afrocentric" agenda, but this is probably just the association that I have because that is what most "afrocentric" things try to do. However, that is not what this book does at all. With a humble and genuine tone the authors attempt an honest historical and cultural investigation and bring the truth to light. They confidently assert what they can and they admit uncertainty where they are uncertain. Instead of forcing evidence where it didn't lead and making huge leaps of logic this book genuinely taught me a lot about the history of African Christianity. (I've read way too many books that fall in to that.) This book can serve as either a great starting point to gain an overview of the history of African Christianity and cultural issues associated with being "Black and Christian" (especially in America) or as a starting point for deeper research using the end notes as a list of other resources to investigate. I highly recommend it, especially for Black Christian College Students or Pastors or College Ministers working with African American young people. Craig Keener and Glenn Usry shed bright light on the magnificent history of Black Christianity!

When we look way way back into Christian history we usually look to the mid-east and the missionary journeys of Paul into Turkey and Greece, etc. BUT few realize the mighty missionary work in Africa the first 10-15 years after Christ's resurrection. Usry and Keener give us an eye-opening look at the fact that Christianity was established in Africa [Egypt and Ethiopia] and spread like wildfire throughout North and East Africa-in fact Christianity became better entrenched, more united, less 'tainted' and more enduring quicker than when it spread northward and they show us Christianity MOST definitely should be considered Afro-centric. The first 3 chapters are worth the price of the book. I wish EVERY white preacher [like me] would read this. Keener [a white preacher in a mainly black denomination] is the author of several thorough and gifted volumes on marriage, the Holy Spirit and the Gospel of Matthew [published by IVP] and he brings his thoroughness here as well.Usry's [and Kenner's] testimonies are great!Their historical documentation is great and their line of thought in refuting black Muslim's arguments that Christianity enslaved and brought down black Africa is absolutely stunning. Islam didn't even exist until well after Christianity and was forced upon the people at sword-point. Black Man's Religion is superb, I highly recommend it for an eye-opening thought-provoking read-especially for Southern W.A.S.P.s like me. Also read anything by Albert Raboteau [about African-American religious experience] and the fascinating story of Coptic [African/Egyptian] Christianity. More and more and more it is very clear that Christianity is so ORIENTAL [i.e. of the mid-east, southwest Asia and North/East Africa]-American Christianity is still in its infancy in comparison.

I would like to thank the two authors Gleen Usry & Craig S. Keener for writting Black Man's Religion. I truely enjoyed reading the book. I had to read the book for a class. I feel that everybody should read this book. I would like to thank the authors for writting such a great book.