Black Theology and Ideology

Harry H. Singleton, III, Ph.D., is assistant professor of comparative religions and African American religion in the religion/philosophy department at Benedict College, Columbia, South Carolina.

• ContentsPreface  viiIntroduction  xi1. The Black Experience and the Emergence of Ideological Suspicion  1The Black Experience as an Existential Encounter with White Supremacy  1The Black Experience as an Eschatological Decision for Black Liberation  9The Black Experience as the Contemporary Revelation of God  17Conclusion  232. The Western Intellectual Tradition and Ideological Suspicion  25Western Intellectual Discourse and White Supremacy  26The Western Theological Tradition and Sociopolitical Oppression  34Why a Black Theology?   38Black Theology as Christian Theology  42Conclusion  463. Hermeneutical Methodology and the Emergence of Exegetical Suspicion  47Hermeneutical Methodology, White Supremacy, and Slavery  48Hermeneutical Methodology, White Supremacy, and Segregation  55Black Theology and Hermeneutical Methodology  58Black Theology, Hermeneutical Methodology, and the Old  Testament  61Black Theology, Hermeneutical Methodology, and the New Testament  63Conclusion  664. A New Hermeneutic  68God  69Humanity  72Jesus Christ  77Eschatology  82Revolution and Violence  86Conclusion  915. The Case for Indigenous Deideologization  92Cone’s Theology of Liberation  93Segundo’s Liberation of Theology  99The Case for Indigenous Deideologization  105Conclusion  118Works Cited  121Index of Subjects  125

As theological discourse speaks into the twenty-first century, Black Theology and Ideology inspires yet another generation of theologians and religious scholars. Harry Singleton's re-presentation of liberationist hermeneutics demonstrates that compelling interpretative strategies do not fade away with the passage of time. Instead, they remain thought-provoking and relevant. Moreover, through his own interpretation of African American religious history and critique of white supremacy, he is discovering his unique place among those of us who bear witness along with our ancestors that the 'God of the oppressed' is 'a way out of no way.'Will Coleman, CEO/President, BT Forum, Inc., Co-Director, Black Kabbalah Institute, Inc.