bell hooks tells that MLK warned against the conservatism of the Christian Church, as it would be dangerous for freedom. In her book, Rock My Soul: Black People and Self-Esteem,, she records his statement that:
"Nowehere is the tragic tendency to conform more evident than in church, an institution which has often served to crystallize, conserve,and even bless the patterns of majority opinion. The erstwhile sanction by the church of slavery, racial sgregation, war, and economic exploitation is testimony to the fact that the church has hearkened more to the authority of the world than to the authority of God. Called to be the moral guardian of the community, the church at times has preserved that which is immoral and unethical."
2 comments:
Brandon,
What would be wonderful is for her writings on the conservatism of the church and the danger it poses to freedom to be juxtaposed with the existence of so many christian feminists, political people of color and Black gays and lesbians.
The picture, when the sets of information are layered on top of each other has some really chilling insights to offer about the future and efficacy of radical/progressive/liberal movements for change in the 21 century
This is very true. I think that Christianity does have liberatory potential--when all of the dogma and hegemony is taken away. I find Jane Fonda's new Christian lifestyle to be very inspiring. I myself, am a spiritual person(not religious).
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