The Concept of God in James H. Cone's Black Liberation Theology
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APOLOGIA FOR BLACK LIBERATION: THE CONCEPT OF GOD IN JAMES H. CONE’S BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY AND WILLIAM R. JONES’ HUMANOCENTRIC THEISM By Brittany L. O’Neal A DISSERTATION Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of African American and African Studies - Doctor of Philosophy 2015 ABSTRACT APOLOGIA FOR BLACK LIBERATION: THE CONCEPT OF GOD IN JAMES H. CONE’S BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY AND WILLIAM R. JONES’ HUMANOCENTRIC THEISM By Brittany L. O’Neal During the formative years of Black Liberation Theology in the 1960s there was a collective understanding that Black liberation was necessary, however there was not much agreement on the optimal way for liberation to be actualized in the lived reality of African Americans. This dissertation explores two factions of Black Liberation Theology; the conventional views of Black Liberation Theology through the auspice of James H. Cone and the philosophical theology of Williams R. Jones' humanocentric theism. The former is an avid supporter of a Christian, biblical-focused theology and the latter fills a theological position aligned with philosophical tendencies. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the doctrinal shifts that have accompanied Black Liberation Theology (BLT) as a new conceptual position in Liberation Studies. This dissertation explores the dialectical dimensions of concepts of God and whether the respective theologies of Cone and Jones undergird a system of oppression. Black Liberation Theology needs to be reassessed for two reasons; because we need to (re)examine our value systems to ensure they are in fact working in our favor and to ensure Black Liberation Theology includes theological perspectives outside the traditional confines of Christian theology. Other forms of theism and nontheism; including secular humanism and atheism are considered as relevant religious perspectives for African Americans. !ii As a way to forward an ideology of liberation, this study examines the potentiality of a philosophical framework as a viable and sufficient method for African Americans Studies. Consequently, this dissertation is descriptive and corrective in it examination of two unique concepts of God associated with Black Liberation Theology. !iii Copyright by BRITTANY L. O’NEAL 2015 !iv To Bree, for the sacrifices you’ve made on my behalf and for giving me the motivation to follow my dreams. And to my parents for never giving up on me. I love you. !v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation has been part of a long and arduous journey. I have enjoyed researching and writing this dissertation, and the process has given me much appreciation for the scholarly work that I have had the benefit of examining and engaging in over the last decade while in graduate school. Given the scope and depth of this dissertation there are many people who I want to recognize for their supportive role in my graduate education. First, I would like to acknowledge my advisor, Dr. John H. McClendon, III, for his dedication and support throughout this process. I am especially grateful for our intellectually stimulating discussions about Dr. Jones, Black Philosophy, and Black Studies. He has challenged me with sharp and insightful criticism, provided personal encouragement, and offered opportunities to participate and present my research at national conferences. I am deeply grateful to Dr. McClendon for his unwavering support and endless dedication to his students and commitment to philosophy of the Black experience. I would like to also thank Dr. Rita Kiki Edozie for serving as my co-advisor on my dissertation committee and also for advocating on my behalf for funding resources and dissertation completion enhancements fellowships. Without your support and mentorship, the completion of this dissertation would have been unlikely. Special thanks to Dr. Gloria S. Smith for unequivocal personal encouragement and for sitting on my committee since its inception. I thank Dr. James Roper for graciously agreeing to be on my committee at such a late stage of the dissertation process. Your philosophical insights are invaluable. Each person on my committee has contributed to my personal growth and intellectual development, and for that I am extremely grateful. I would also like to thank Dr. Stephen Ferguson, from North Carolina A&T for reading an advanced copy of my dissertation. !vi In addition, there are several other people that have contributed towards my completion of graduate school. I would like to thank Dr. Victor Okafor from Eastern Michigan University, for the opportunity to teach in the Department of Africology and African American Studies at EMU. Working at Eastern Michigan has afforded to the opportunity to teach in Black Studies and to use the knowledge obtained in graduate school in a practical way. I would also like to thank Bikram Yoga Capital Area for teaching me how to stay focused and for the physical and mental strength to ‘stay with it’. This dissertation was partially funded by the African American and African Studies program, the College of Arts & Letters, and the Graduate School at Michigan State University, and I would like to thank those entities for their financial support for the completion of this project. My parents have been a constant source of emotional encouragement, financial support and practical guidance. Your support is insurmountable and as such, this dissertation is dedicated to you. I want to thank my dad for reading early drafts and for always listening to my arguments and offering critical insights to strengthen my position. I want to thank my mom for never giving up on me, despite my lengthy tenure as a graduate student. Finally, I would like to the thank my daughter, Bree O’Neal, for her loving support and endless sacrifice. I hope your journey in philosophy at The Ohio State University is as rewarding as it was for me. You are the best daughter a mother could ask for and I dedicate this dissertation to you. !vii PREFACE Several admonitions are necessary at this point. The language in this dissertation may appear to exclude a female qualifier. The words ‘man’ and ‘humanity’ are used interchangeable and both are inclusive of female participation and agency in the natural world. Both Cone and Jones employ this style of language in their respective writings, but I am certain that neither use these terms as a slight towards women. All attempts have been made to reference God as a gender neutral deity, but there a few instances where a gender signifier is attached to God. I do not think this creates a problem with the overall analysis. Additionally, the following initials are used as abbreviations in this dissertation: BLT, Black Liberation Theology; and ESP, Economic, Social, Political And the following initials are used as abbreviations for James H. Cone and William R. Jones’ books: BTBP, Black Theology and Black Power; BTL, Black Theology of Liberation; and IGWR?, Is God a White Racist? !viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1: Introduction........................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Scope...................................................................................................... 1 Thesis........................................................................................................................ 32 Methodology: External Criticism............................................................................. 33 Historical Contextualizations of Black Liberation Theology................................... 40 Contributions to African American Studies.............................................................. 44 Overview of Chapters............................................................................................... 46 Chapter 2: Contextualizations: Methodological Objectives in the Black Liberation Theologies of James H. Cone and William R. Jones............. 52 Defining Black Liberation Theology: Boundaries and Borders............................... 52 Methodological Considerations................................................................................ 65 Cone’s Biblical Criticism: Problems and Prospects................................................. 67 Jones’ View of Biblical Scripture as Historical Text: Is God A White Racist?................................................................................... 79 Beyond the Bible: Jones’ Break with Conventional Black Liberation Theology................................................................................................. 87 Chapter 3: A Criticism of Selected Critics: Transgressing Conventional Themes and Normative Boundaries..............................................92 Exploring Conventional Themes in Black Liberation Theology............................ 110 Canon...................................................................................................................... 111 Creed.......................................................................................................................113 Church..................................................................................................................... 123 Culture.....................................................................................................................131 Chapter 4: Theology and Meta-Theological Considerations in James H. Cone’s Black Liberation Theology..................................................... 134 Biographical Background Contextualizations.......................................................