OFF THE SHELF Liberating Black Theology By Anthony B. Bradley Crossway Books Reviewed by Vincent Bacote When members of the media attempted to understand the Reverend Dr. Jeremiah Wright’s comments during the last presidential campaign, the topic of black theology emerged as a focal point for understanding Wright’s homiletical rhetoric. In Liberating Black Theology:The Bible and the Black Experience in America, Anthony B. Bradley presents an analysis and critique of this contextual theology, with a specific focus on the version constructed by James Cone of Union Theological Seminary. The emphasis is on Cone (and his legacy) because his version of black theology had the greatest resonance and impact when it emerged and because it has remained the primary point of reference ever since. Bradley’s central thesis is that Cone’s version of liberation theology is ultimately unhelpful because “it views peo-
ple perpetually as victims.” In six chapters Bradley introduces us to conditions which produced black theology, summarizes Cone’s background and theological method, intriguingly engages the form of Marxism advocated by Cone and others, surveys biblical interpretation in light of the black experience, and finally presents a wide range of critiques from liberal to conservative, while recasting a vision for a more historically orthodox black theology that is centered on God’s redemptive mission as opposed to a victimized black identity. Bradley’s book helps us to see the very real concerns that led James Cone to be critical of the liberal and conservative theologies in the predominantly white academy. Because the concerns of blacks were largely ignored, Cone set out to construct a theology that directly addressed the crises facing blacks, particularly the multifaceted legacy of racism. Bradley argues that while Cone rightly observed a crisis in theology, the efficacy of his theological vision was hampered from the start by making the context of black oppression the controlling principle. He questions how this approach can be helpful when you have the emergence of a successful black middle class and whether it is necessary to jettison historically orthodox theological emphases because of their misuse by white oppressors. The strength in Bradley’s book lies in the fact that it is critical of black theology while maintaining that it is vital to address the crises which catalyzed Cone’s project. The trajectory of Cone’s work should not surprise anyone familiar with his theological training in liberal Protestant institutions. Liberalism places greater authority on human experience and historical context than on the Bible, and one result is that any theology that emerges risks being limited to or confined by a central focus on experiences
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such as victimization. Cone’s theology is the result of his own theological imagination but is built with equipment from the toolbox of liberalism. I had a couple of quibbles with Bradley. One, he labels Cornel West and Cheryl Sanders liberation theologians. Though familiar with the topic, neither would own the label. Second, perhaps the term “victim” is overplayed in Bradley’s critique. Maybe it is better to say that Cone’s work suffers from slavery to its context (which includes the emphasis on “victims”). Aside from these flaws, this introduction to black theology is helpful and worth reading. It is well researched and can help evangelicals move forward in an area we have mostly neglected. n Vincent Bacote is an associate professor of theology and the director of the Center for Applied Christian Ethics at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill. He is the author of The Spirit in Public Theology: Appropriating the Legacy of Abraham Kuyper (Baker Academic, 2005).
The Wisdom of Stability By Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove Paraclete Press Reviewed by Rachel Parker In the introduction to The Wisdom of Stability: Rooting Faith in a Mobile Culture, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove writes, “This is a book about staying put and paying attention. In a culture that is characterized by unprecedented mobility and speed, I am convinced that the most important thing most of us can do spiritually is to stay in the place where we are.”Tough words for my generation, which is drawn to the possibilities that
technology and transportation have to offer and often employs them to pursue God’s call. We would rather “follow Jesus anywhere, so long as we don’t have to stay put.” Wilson-Hartgrove draws extensively from the monastic tradition, in which men and women take vows committing themselves to a particular community for life. He tells of a friend who left a fast-paced urban job in order to work on a remote Benedictine campus and, after being there a while, told the author, “I’m learning from these guys that God can change us if we’ll settle down in one place. So I’ve given up my spiritual journey. I’m going to just stay with God here and see how I can grow.” It’s easier to jump from one spiritual experience to the next, concludes the author, than it is to stay still in one place long enough to listen to God. Maintaining relationships 21stcentury style takes very little effort; we just tap into the technological device of choice and communicate with people around the globe — in seconds and for just pennies. But Christ invites us into deeper and more costly relationships that go beyond communication. When we make the choice to invest in a place and its people for the long haul “and not easily leave,” we learn to practice the “daily tasks of life with other people,” which Wilson-Hartgrove defines as hospitality, listening, forgiveness, and reconciliation. He speaks of both Cistercians and Benedictines, who recognize their community not only as places of grace but also of responsibility and mission. Brothers are responsible to and for each other and the world, not just to themselves. Likewise, when we accept the responsibility that comes with long-term, face-to-face relationships, we also accept the gift of rich, mutual interdependence in which we care for and are cared for by others. The Wisdom of Stability is a delight-
fully readable book that offers a biblical defense of stability woven together with plenty of personal encounters richly recounted in the “Front Porch” sections that follow each chapter. In these days of globalism and instant everything, Wilson-Hartgrove offers readers a convincing argument for the merits of faithful localism. n Rachel Parker has been invested in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston for eight years. She walks to church, participates in a community garden on her street, and, along with her preschool-age daughters, loves inviting neighbors over to play in the yard.
Half the Sky By Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn Vintage Reviewed by Tania DoCarmo Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide tells the stories of individual women and girls across Asia and Africa who fight for
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equality and freedom against all odds. Through a variety of personal accounts based on journalistic interviews, the authors depict the horrors of everything from sex trafficking to honor killings to female genital mutilation in countries as diverse as Zimbabwe, Cambodia, and Pakistan. Kristof and WuDunn call upon their readers to take action, calling us to improve education for girls, empower women financially through microfinance, and donate to specific movements such as the Worldwide Fistula Fund. While I don’t doubt the authors have good intentions and that this book has raised the consciousness of those who have made it a national best seller, Half the Sky fails to reach its potential and is, in fact, ultimately damaging to its cause. Because Kristof and WuDunn base information on their experiences as journalists and not researchers or practitioners on the ground, their work is scattered, under-researched, and lacking adequate depth and accuracy.This results in some major problems: Their “investigation” is based on their own interpretation of a myriad of detached journalistic stories rather than facts; they partially blame women for their own oppression; and their recommendations for change, while plausible, completely miss the mark. Kristof and WuDunn unfortunately fail to see the complexity of the issues they raise, passing inaccurate analysis off as “fact.”Take their chapters on sex trafficking and prostitution. While globalization, AIDS, and the collapse of communism are likely no help in slowing the global sex industry, they are by no means “the cause” of sexual slavery. Sex trafficking is fueled by the demand for commercial sex. This demand is driven not only by sex tourists, pedophiles, and the “John” next door but also systematically by glorification of the porn industry, the sexualization of youth, and sensationalized sex in mainstream culture. As long as there is money to be
made, pimps and traffickers will continue to “recruit” a supply of bodies to meet the demand. To miss this point is detrimental to the anti-trafficking movement. Perhaps worse, Half the Sky goes as far as blaming women for their own oppression. “One of the reasons that so many women and girls are kidnapped, trafficked, raped, and otherwise abused is that they grin and bear it,” write the authors, suggesting that if girls would just scream, protest, or run away, the abuse would stop and sex trafficking would be “undermined.” This kind of thinking dismisses the very real power of systematic oppression, turns a blind eye to the abuser/buyer, and suggests that those who are oppressed have a choice in the matter. “Oppression” denotes being under the merciless control of a greater power, and choice is a notion of privilege that many of us take for granted. For these victims “choice” does not exist. Most have been forced and coerced into their situation, and it is counterproductive (not to mention cruel) to suggest otherwise. I certainly resonate with the authors’ vision to empower women by encouraging them to speak out and seek change.
However, to publish the real names, faces, and even exact locations of victims is not only unnecessary but also thoroughly unethical and voyeuristic, serving only to increase the vulnerability of already victimized, vulnerable people. We should be protecting and empowering survivors of torture and crime, not subjecting them to pity or further exploitation. Nor is throwing money at schools and microfinance the overriding solution. Gender oppression is not limited to impoverished nations. Sex trafficking and gender-based violence are global issues, and money alone won’t fix them. In a movement where community education and activism are essential to change, we cannot afford to relay messages that further oppress the very women we advocate for. Instead, it’s crucial we take time to understand the systematic complexities of gender oppression and come up with ways to generate awareness, challenge the status quo, and call for social responsibility among our leaders and peers. n Tania DoCarmo is director of Chab Dai USA, a Christian nonprofit dedicated to combating human trafficking across the globe through collaboration-building, prevention, and advocacy. She has lived in Cambodia and Brazil and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in applied anthropology.
Making a Difference continued from page 7. lead their peers into effective responses to their country’s problems. “As church members take up roles of leadership,” he predicts, “people will begin to say, ‘We want what you have.’That really is the best advertisement a church can have.” n Dr. Amy L. Sherman is director of the Center on Faith in Communities at Sagamore Institute and a senior fellow with International Justice Mission. PRISM 2 0 1 0
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Must-Read Books by Ron Sider Here’s a list of books that I am currently reading or have recently read and can heartily recommend. To Change the World by James Davidson Hunter. I’m partway through this important book. The Historical Jesus of the Gospels by Craig S. Keener. Superb scholarship on a crucial topic. How on Earth Did Jesus Become a God? by Larry W. Hurtado. This great book demonstrates the enormously important fact that monotheistic Jews almost immediately started worshiping the Carpenter from Nazareth. Excellent presentation of the historical data. Four Gifts of the King by R. Scott Rodin. A great first novel. Worshiping with the Church Fathers by Christopher A. Hall. A specialist on the early church, Hall provides an excellent, readable overview of the worship of the early church. Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright. If you have not yet read this superb book, put it at the top of your to-read list. Sex and the iWorld by Dale S. Kuehne. An important new book. A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson. Yes, I know this came out seven years ago, but I’m just now reading it, and it is fascinating and informative.