Risks of Faith CL: The Emergence of a Black Theology of Liberation, 1968-1998

James Cone is one of the pivotal figures in theology of the twentieth century. From the turbulent times of the 1960s to the present, he has been writing and revising theological thought from the Black perspective in North America; early in his career he set the general tone for his work by challenging the establishment's comfort with permitting Blacks to remain virtually invisible. With writings such as 'God is Black,' there is no mistaking Cone's intentions. This is no mere book of essays or collected works. In it, Cone draws upon his large body of work, but also his direct experiences. He recounted the early experience with his doctoral advisor, fighting in class over the aspects of racism in the very structure of theology, a theology largely constructed by white male academics that never even considered the issue of race and what a difference context would make. He recounts his experiences later, now the teacher with students, continuing the cause over and against theologies that come into vogue (one example related at the end of the text is Cone's suspicion with ecological ideas in theology, as they distract from key issues of humanity's inability to relate even to itself in crucial ways). Cone divides the book into three primary sections -- Black Theology and Black Power; Martin and Malcolm; and Going Forward. The first of these takes place in the context and aftermath of the 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement in the streets of America and the slow awakening on the part of academia and church hierarchies that race matters, not just to preserve the peace, not just to right an ancient wrong, but because the fundamental equality and justice due to all persons demanded it. In the 1980s, Cone began the task of evaluating the historical and lasting impact of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, two pivotal figures, not just theologically, but politically and socially as well, whose impact both on the Black community and the wider global community will continue to be felt for generations. Cone examines both the reinterpretations and the canonisations that both King and Malcolm X have undergone; these range from the sentimental to the bizarre (Cone points out the number of high-profile African-American leaders who seem to believe that Malcolm X is a black-Republican icon!). Ultimately, King's influence in the Christian community is so great that he is second to none in the American theological enterprise, with the crucial and important difference vis-a-vis most other theologians who would be ranked as 'the best' in that King was a theologian of action, a do-er as opposed to a detached thinker. Malcolm X's influence, despite his outsider status with regard to Christianity, remains strong due to the context, the emphasis, and the moral content of his message.In the final section, Cone looks toward the future. Critical issues remaining include the role of gender in Black society (indeed, as it does in general society) -- Cone retells the h

This is a collection of essays written over a 31-year period (1968-1998). As might reasonably be expected, Cone has matured and learned his craft better over the years. The older essays are still worth reading, but the best ones are those he wrote during the eighties and nineties, especially the ones he wrote in 1994 and 1998. Cone's "Black Theology" is a "Liberation Theology." Cone contends that liberation is the central message of the Bible. While it is clear that a message of liberation can be found in the Bible, it is not the central message of the Torah or the Prophets. The particular liberation that these books extoll is liberation OF THE JEWS. Not until the Pauline Epistles and the lectionaries of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John do we get some hint of a message of liberation for everybody. Even then, the message of liberation is not really for everyone; Paul advises slaves to obey their masters "in all things", and advises masters to give their servants "that which is just and equal," (Col. 3:22-4:1) But although Cone sometimes overstates his case, this is definitely a book to be taken seriously. Cone gives us whites the opportunity to see ourselves thru the eyes of an intelligent and articulate black person. We may not greatly like all that we see, but it is up to US to remake ourselves into non-racists. Neither James Cone, nor Malcolm X., nor Martin Luther King, nor Whitney Young, nor any of their black successors can do that for us. WE must act. Cone can help show us how, but WE must take seriously the need to change ourselves. We must cure ourselves of racism, and sexism, and every other ism that permits us to discount others because of their race, religion, sex, sexuality, etc. If we don't realize that there is a problem, we are not going to solve it. Read "Risks of Faith." If you are not a Christian, just ignore Cone's Christian bias. It isn't essential to the insights you can obtain from the book. Insights into the content and pervasiveness of racism can help Atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Pagans, and others, as well as Christians to see where their act needs cleaning up and to get going on what needs to be done. This book should strike a responsive chord especially among Jews, who have been persecuted in most of the same ways, and just as unfairly, as blacks. Thank you, James H. Cone, for "Risks of Faith." Keep up the good work. [email protected]