-PDF Download- Defending Black Faith EBOOK

Defending Black Faith

Author: Craig S. Keener

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Published: 2009-09-20

Total Pages: 308

ISBN-13: 9780830874897

Craig Keener and Glenn Usry's highly acclaimed Black Man's Religion showed in impressive detail that Christianity and Afrocentricity can go together. Now they turn to specific, nitty-gritty questions put to the black church by non-Christians: Is everything good in Christianity plagiarized from traditional African religions? Isn't it intolerant to say Christ is the only way to God? Is the Bible reliable? What about criticisms of Christianity made by the Nation of Islam? Keener and Usry meet these and other important questions head-on, providing responses relevant to and especially for black men and women.

Defending Your Faith

Author: R. C. Sproul

Publisher:

Published: 2018-05-31

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781433563782

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

R. C. Sproul surveys the history and fundamentals of apologetics to show that reason and scientific inquiry can be strong allies in defending the existence of God and the authority of the Bible.

Defending American Religious Neutrality

Author: Andrew Koppelman

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Published: 2013-01-01

Total Pages: 316

ISBN-13: 0674071077

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Although it is often charged with hostility toward religion, First Amendment doctrine in fact treats religion as a distinctive human good. It insists, however, that this good be understood abstractly, without the state taking sides on any theological question. Here, a leading scholar of constitutional law explains the logic of this uniquely American form of neutrality—more religion-centered than liberal theorists propose, and less overtly theistic than conservatives advocate. The First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of religion is under threat. Growing numbers of critics, including a near-majority of the Supreme Court, seem ready to cast aside the ideal of American religious neutrality. Andrew Koppelman defends that ideal and explains why protecting religion from political manipulation is imperative in an America of growing religious diversity. Understanding American religious neutrality, Koppelman shows, can explain some familiar puzzles. How can Bible reading in public schools be impermissible while legislative sessions begin with prayers, Christmas is an official holiday, and the words “under God” appear in the Pledge of Allegiance? Are faith-based social services, public financing of religious schools, or the teaching of intelligent design constitutional? Combining legal, historical, and philosophical analysis, Koppelman shows how law coherently navigates these conundrums. He explains why laws must have a secular legislative purpose, why old, but not new, ceremonial acknowledgments of religion are permitted, and why it is fair to give religion special treatment.

Urban Apologetics

Author: Eric Mason

Publisher: Zondervan

Published: 2021-04-06

Total Pages: 299

ISBN-13: 031010095X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Urban Apologetics examines the legitimate issues that Black communities have with Western Christianity and shows how the gospel of Jesus Christ—rather than popular, socioreligious alternatives—restores our identity. African Americans have long confronted the challenge of dignity destruction caused by white supremacy. While many have found meaning and restoration of dignity in the black church, others have found it in ethnocentric socioreligious groups and philosophies. These ideologies have grown and developed deep traction in the black community and beyond. Revisionist history, conspiracy theories, and misinformation about Jesus and Christianity are the order of the day. Many young African Americans are disinterested in Christianity and others are leaving the church in search of what these false religious ideas appear to offer, a spirituality more indigenous to their history and ethnicity. Edited by Dr. Eric Mason and featuring a top-notch lineup of contributors, Urban Apologetics is the first book focused entirely on cults, religious groups, and ethnocentric ideologies prevalent in the black community. The book is divided into three main parts: Discussions on the unique context for urban apologetics so that you can better understand the cultural arguments against Christianity among the Black community. Detailed information on cults, religious groups, and ethnic identity groups that many urban evangelists encounter—such as the Nation of Islam, Kemetic spirituality, African mysticism, Hebrew Israelites, Black nationalism, and atheism. Specific tools for urban apologetics and community outreach. Ultimately, Urban Apologetics applies the gospel to black identity to show that Jesus is the only one who can restore it. This is an essential resource to equip those doing the work of ministry and apology in urban communities with the best available information.

Stand Your Ground

Author: Douglas Brown, Kelly

Publisher: Orbis Books

Published: 2015-05-05

Total Pages: 306

ISBN-13: 1608335402

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

"The 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin, an African-American teenager in Florida, and the subsequent acquittal of his killer, brought public attention to controversial "Stand Your Ground" laws. The verdict, as much as the killing, sent shock waves through the African-American community, recalling a history of similar deaths, and the long struggle for justice. On the Sunday morning following the verdict, black preachers around the country addressed the question, "Where is the justice of God? What are we to hope for?" This book is an attempt to take seriously social and theological questions raised by this and similar stories, and to answer black church people's questions of justice and faith in response to the call of God. But Kelly Brown Douglas also brings another significant interpretative lens to this text: that of a mother. "There has been no story in the news that has troubled me more than that of Trayvon Martin's slaying. President Obama said that if he had a son his son would look like Trayvon. I do have a son and he does look like Trayvon." Her book will also affirm the "truth" of a black mother's faith in these times of stand your ground."--

The Burden of Black Religion

Author: Curtis J. Evans

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2008-04-17

Total Pages: 586

ISBN-13: 019988692X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Religion has always been a focal element in the long and tortured history of American ideas about race. In The Burden of Black Religion, Curtis Evans traces ideas about African American religion from the antebellum period to the middle of the twentieth century. Central to the story, he argues, was the deep-rooted notion that blacks were somehow "naturally" religious. At first, this assumed natural impulse toward religion served as a signal trait of black people's humanity -- potentially their unique contribution to American culture. Abolitionists seized on this point, linking black religion to the black capacity for freedom. Soon, however, these first halting steps toward a multiracial democracy were reversed. As Americans began to value reason, rationality, and science over religious piety, the idea of an innate black religiosity was used to justify preserving the inequalities of the status quo. Later, social scientists -- both black and white -- sought to reverse the damage caused by these racist ideas and in the process proved that blacks were in fact fully capable of incorporation into white American culture. This important work reveals how interpretations of black religion played a crucial role in shaping broader views of African Americans and had real consequences in their lives. In the process, Evans offers an intellectual and cultural history of race in a crucial period of American history.

What's Faith Got to Do with It?

Author: Kelly Brown Douglas

Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 276

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

This book was inspired by a challenge from one of Douglas's students: "How could you, a black woman, possibly be a Christian?" Reflection on the historical sins of Christians, particularly the role of white Christians in countenancing the lynching of African Americans, led her to broader questions: What is it about Christianity that could lend itself to racism and its violent abuses? What is it about Christianity that has allowed it to be both a bane and a blessing for black people? Douglas examines the various "distortions" in early Christianity--particularly the influence of platonic dualism, with its denigration of the body, and the alliance with imperial power. She shows how this later helped support white racism, just as it later fed homophobia and other distortions in the black church. Nevertheless, she ends by sharing an inspiring account of her own Christian faith, and why she is still a Christian.

Black Man's Religion

Author: Glenn Usry

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Published: 2009-09-20

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 9780830874576

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Some say Christianity is white man's religion. . . . And it is true that there is a long and ugly history of abuse of African-Americans at the hands of Anglo Christians. Afrocentric interpretations of history often point to slavery, lynchings and the like as proof that Christianity is inherently antiblack. But Craig Keener and Glen Usry contend that Christianity can be Afrocentric. In this massively researched book, they show that racism is not unique to Christianity. More important, they show how "world history is also our history and the Bible is also our book." Black Man's Religion is one of the first of its kind, a pro-Christian reading of religion and history from a black perspective. Fascinating and compelling, it is must reading for all concerned for African-American culture and issues of faith.

Spiritual Self Defense

Author: Dwight Clough

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2016-08-18

Total Pages: 290

ISBN-13: 9781537095035

DOWNLOAD EBOOK →

Find inner strength and unexplainable peace. Overcome a painful past. Melt away anger and anxiety. Forgive others easily. Become addiction resistant and stress free. Walk away from Try Hard Christianity into a beautiful friendship with Jesus. On September 13, 2001 our lives changed. Yours can too. This book will show you how. "Mr. Clough takes us into the heart of a seasoned spiritual leader and shares with us his secret to spiritual victory...a must read book..." Dr. Dwight A. Perry, Regional President/Executive Minister, Converge Great Lakes ..".practical tactics and strategies for dealing with temptation and suffering...Dwight challenged my own notions about how to address spiritual issues..." Dr. Joseph Towles, University of Wisconsin-Madison ..".an easy to understand path to freedom... Once I started reading I couldn't put the book down and really recommend reading this with a friend or group to get the full effect..." Jennifer Thorn, Anything is Possible Inspirational Blog, JennThorn.blogspot.com ..".a winning strategy that will take you to a whole new level in your relationship with God and bring peace and joy into your life." Tom E. Smith, Author, Captured by Sacred Love, ChristAdventures.com ..".easy to follow...a work long needed in the life of the Church... You'll instantly feel like Dwight is a friend..." Rev. Steve Freitag, Director, CrossCounsel International Ministries, CrossCounsel.com "Jesus shows up in these pages. ...Dwight makes complex ideas approachable, understandable and fun." David Schrank, Nurse, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin ..".a fresh perspective to the greatest spiritual self defense of all. ...Spiritual Self Defense changes everything..." J.P. Olson, Journey Into the Word with J.P. Olson, TheWordwithJPOlson.com "If you are...too honest with yourself to settle for fluffy inauthenticity, this book is for you. ...easy-to-read articulation of deep concepts..." Ryan Roling, Instructor, Madison College Features: 100+ learning aids including diagrams, illustrations, tables, sidebars, memes 125+ discussion questions, 30 journal prompts 90 comprehension questions with answer key glossary, index & detailed table of contents 10 decision maps 130+ photos 290 pages Note: The book contains links which will be activated late summer 2016 This book contains a black & white (grayscale) interior. If you prefer the full color version, please visit https: //www.createspace.com/6014519