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http://www.theunia-acl.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=76
http://www.blackagendareport.com/?q=content/left-and-obama-trauma
http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/when-white-not-always-right-experience-black-students-predominantly-white-institutions
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Frederick Douglass: A Precursor to Liberation Theology...
Nixakliel - 12/11/2011 - 10:25
The idea that Frederick Douglass was an non-theist / atheist is quite a stretch - though apparently he did vigorously challenged stereotypical / traditional religion- particularly slave-oriented Euro-Christianity as espoused & practiced by white racists! In fact- Douglass was an African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) Church clergyman, who stated that "God is our common Father and Creator" - "the Most High, who is ever the God of the oppressed..." Those are hardly the actions & words of an atheist! [Note: I once had a person commenting here @ BAR insist to me that Mark Twain also was an atheist- but according to Wikipedia: > Though Twain was a Presbyterian, he was sometimes critical of organized religion and certain elements of Christianity... stating that '"If Christ were here now there is one thing he would not be – a Christian." - Twain also stated that he believed in an almighty God & that "the goodness, justice, and mercy of God are manifested in His works," but also that "the universe is governed by strict and immutable laws..."]
Of course there are these Douglass quotes: 'I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.' [Which is same vane as what the old folks use to always say- 'God helps those that help themselves' & 'If you make one step God will take 2 extra steps for you'.]
And Also: 'I can see no reason, but the most decietful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, the grossest of all libels... - I assert most unhesitatingly, that the religion of the South is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes-- a justifier of the most appalling barbarity, a sanctifier of the most hateful frauds, and a dark shelter under which the darkest, foulest, grossest, and most infernal deeds of slaveholders find the strongest protection. Where I to be again reduced to the chains of slavery, next to that enslavement, I should regard being the slave of a religious master the greatest calamity that could befall me...I...hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land.'
Yet this does NOT confirm that Frederick Douglass was an atheist - just that he critiqued in no uncertain terms white racist slave oriented Euro-Christianity [or Christianity as practiced by white racists- enslavers & oppressors]. IMO: 'Frederick Douglass: A Precursor to Liberation Theology'- by Reginald F Davis, hits the nail on right the head:
[> Liberation theology is a major theological school of the 20th century. However, such theological developments do not occur in a vacuum, thus one should be able to look back into the past and see evidence of such thinking and acting among people of the past. Such as the case of Frederick Douglass. We label Douglass a liberation thinker not because he constructed a systemic theology, but because in his speeches, writings and actions he hit upon parallel patterns of thought of liberation theology. Moreover, Douglass lived his theology. His life was a prime example of what the oppressed can do to gain and secure freedom. His was a carefully considered and philosophically (and theologically) sound program of argument and action for emancipation. Douglass formulated the idea that liberation could not be left to chance or 'miracle'- it was something that his oppressed people must strive for - for themselves. This would be a very significant insight, for it is part of this insight that forms the foundation of liberation theology... Douglass criticized main-stream Euro-Christian denominations, which were linked to preserving the system of white supremacy. Douglass maintained that liberation must begin with the oppressed liberating their own minds from the ideas of their oppressors. This meant rejecting the prevailing interpretation of the {slave-oriented Euro}Christianity of his time and reinterpreting theology based on a fundamental committment to the liberation of the oppressed. Like a true liberation theologian, Douglass rejects any interpretation of faith that justifies oppression. Douglass also stirred the masses into action by rejecting a "pie in the sky after you die" mentality; he maintained that the oppressed must be ready to struggle for their liberation. Nevertheless, Douglass maintained a deep faith in the Biblical call to 'Set the Captives Free' {that's one of the main verses of Bob Marley's 'Exodus'}... " <]
Thus, as Reginald Davis deduces, Douglass should more properly be viewed as a forerunner to Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X [aka Minister Malik al-Hajj Shabazz], Rev Dr ML King, Bob Marley, etc... who used their belief in God to inspire them to take a valiant stand for the liberation of their people! And though they may have rejected slave-orientated Euro-Christianity - that is NOT the same as rejecting the GOD IDEA! - IMO: One can not find any Afro-centric scholar, institution &/or society prior to 1500 ACE- IE: before the beginning of Europe's all out assault on the indigenous peoples of Africa, Asia, & the Americas, Australia, etc- [and would be hard pressed to find any prior to 1900 ACE] that espoused atheism / non-theism. IMO: atheism is basically as Euro-centric as Catholicism / Euro-Christianity - it's just one claims to be scientific & logic based while the other claims to be faith-based!
Of course there are these Douglass quotes: 'I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.' [Which is same vane as what the old folks use to always say- 'God helps those that help themselves' & 'If you make one step God will take 2 extra steps for you'.]
And Also: 'I can see no reason, but the most decietful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, the grossest of all libels... - I assert most unhesitatingly, that the religion of the South is a mere covering for the most horrid crimes-- a justifier of the most appalling barbarity, a sanctifier of the most hateful frauds, and a dark shelter under which the darkest, foulest, grossest, and most infernal deeds of slaveholders find the strongest protection. Where I to be again reduced to the chains of slavery, next to that enslavement, I should regard being the slave of a religious master the greatest calamity that could befall me...I...hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land.'
Yet this does NOT confirm that Frederick Douglass was an atheist - just that he critiqued in no uncertain terms white racist slave oriented Euro-Christianity [or Christianity as practiced by white racists- enslavers & oppressors]. IMO: 'Frederick Douglass: A Precursor to Liberation Theology'- by Reginald F Davis, hits the nail on right the head:
[> Liberation theology is a major theological school of the 20th century. However, such theological developments do not occur in a vacuum, thus one should be able to look back into the past and see evidence of such thinking and acting among people of the past. Such as the case of Frederick Douglass. We label Douglass a liberation thinker not because he constructed a systemic theology, but because in his speeches, writings and actions he hit upon parallel patterns of thought of liberation theology. Moreover, Douglass lived his theology. His life was a prime example of what the oppressed can do to gain and secure freedom. His was a carefully considered and philosophically (and theologically) sound program of argument and action for emancipation. Douglass formulated the idea that liberation could not be left to chance or 'miracle'- it was something that his oppressed people must strive for - for themselves. This would be a very significant insight, for it is part of this insight that forms the foundation of liberation theology... Douglass criticized main-stream Euro-Christian denominations, which were linked to preserving the system of white supremacy. Douglass maintained that liberation must begin with the oppressed liberating their own minds from the ideas of their oppressors. This meant rejecting the prevailing interpretation of the {slave-oriented Euro}Christianity of his time and reinterpreting theology based on a fundamental committment to the liberation of the oppressed. Like a true liberation theologian, Douglass rejects any interpretation of faith that justifies oppression. Douglass also stirred the masses into action by rejecting a "pie in the sky after you die" mentality; he maintained that the oppressed must be ready to struggle for their liberation. Nevertheless, Douglass maintained a deep faith in the Biblical call to 'Set the Captives Free' {that's one of the main verses of Bob Marley's 'Exodus'}... " <]
Thus, as Reginald Davis deduces, Douglass should more properly be viewed as a forerunner to Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X [aka Minister Malik al-Hajj Shabazz], Rev Dr ML King, Bob Marley, etc... who used their belief in God to inspire them to take a valiant stand for the liberation of their people! And though they may have rejected slave-orientated Euro-Christianity - that is NOT the same as rejecting the GOD IDEA! - IMO: One can not find any Afro-centric scholar, institution &/or society prior to 1500 ACE- IE: before the beginning of Europe's all out assault on the indigenous peoples of Africa, Asia, & the Americas, Australia, etc- [and would be hard pressed to find any prior to 1900 ACE] that espoused atheism / non-theism. IMO: atheism is basically as Euro-centric as Catholicism / Euro-Christianity - it's just one claims to be scientific & logic based while the other claims to be faith-based!
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