I’m not sure I quite agree. It almost seems like Wright is trying to take Obama down.

Actually - you weren’t - I was kind of referencing the comment section when I wrote that - namely number 6.

“But to elevate earthly concerns above spiritual and eternal concerns is a grave mistake.” (Shane)

Why is this a ‘grave’ mistake? Here is reality - we know what we can see and do right now to ‘love our neighbors’ and better humanity - what can we do for the ‘there and then’? I don’t think we can do anything for heaven anyways - it’s an eventual meeting place - but until then God had given us earth to work with.

My main beef is that this position is flawed mainly because of the way the Bible is interpreted and I also it does not acheive reconciliation that should be desired. It breeds more hate and distrust.

I’m not saying that Christ’s work on the Cross doesn’t have earthly implications because it does - “He’s come to give us life and life to the full,” (John 10:10). But to elevate earthly concerns above spiritual and eternal concerns is a grave mistake.

“Black Liberation Theology also gained ground in the 1960’s as the need arose for black people “to define the scope and meaning of black existence in a white racist society,””

I agree with this statement – black people in the 1960’s and white people in America had very different living experiences at this juncture. I think if black people kept on viewing God through the eyes of the oppressor and not that of the oppression group – we might not have the same reforms in America we see this day. It’s rather funny, in some senses, we have the story of the Exodus in the bible, a group that oppressed in slavery and God freed and gave them a nation…even rules of living. Why should we even so much as think God would not want to be viewed different and this should come from an oppressed mass.

I looked at your breakdown of Cone and the points he made – I think that is fairly accurate – those points were made in his theology – but are they really that bad?

“liberate the oppressed”; “prevents blacks from tolerating present iniquities”; “Salvation primarily has to do with earthly reality” (Cone)

I see some very good things in these sayings and very gospelic ideas. Liberation (or freedom) is something Christ promises to those who follow him – why should anyone think this is just for another time and place when Jesus said plainly right here on ‘earth’?

I also believe the black community should not tolerate the segregation, racism, and economic disparity that exists in the country they live in – a country they were kidnapped to and forced to live in as separate and not equal peoples – so ‘yes’ – they should have some deep seated animosity about that and find a constructive way to filter that – this theology might help.

Salvation is an idea for the ‘here and now’ – and for the ‘there and then’ – it’s not so one-sided in it’s focus according to the teachings. If salvation – or being ‘saved’ – is just for the time after your death – then God wasted His time in my opinion. Changes need to occue in out time and place and that includes all of us in the Christian community – and if anything – we should be seeking a way to help in the efforts in the black community for their self expression and viewpoint in this faith…to do so is to further berate that culture.

I have to be honest, I rather like Cone’s opinions because he is speaking them from a brutally honest position and representing and addressing the black identity in America. No black person can help but look at history and be angry – and for good cause – black people were oppressed to the Nth degree (for like 400 years) – and by who? Nobody? I would not be so quick to jump up to defend that gov’t or any for that matter. Cone is just looking at faith through his lenses of living – and what is wrong with that? To think you do not is both proud and to not ‘walk a mile in a minority’s shoes’.

There is some real anger in these communities and they are directly tied to events in the past that has negatively effected these folks upbringing and former familial generations – and this hurts a lot. Heck some of these events were seen in the 1960’s – like only 40 years a ago (isn’t that only a generation?). Brushing them off theologically is not going to solve the problem – no matter how much you think you did a good job of it – get down – in the the problem areas – and lend a hand man! If you condemn them – you condemn yourselves.

He is not doing this therefore I do not recognize him as a preacher or a pastor. He stands against all good things Christian therefore he can be likened to an anti-Christ. After all remember he honored Louis Farrakan the sick leader of Islam.

Barack Obama knew everything that went on. Obama is one of the most intelligent people of our time, but he blew it by continuing his association with Wright-which was his endorsement of Wright and what Wright teaches, said, and did.

I have had it with all this molly codling the issue-this is why our nation is in the state it is.

Are there any good men or women left?