ReligionDispatches - Anthea Butler

Updated with Response: The Black Church is Dead—Long Live the Black Church

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:00:01 PST

What is the black church and what does it mean to say that the black church is dead? A provocative assertion and prophetic challenge by a prominent interpreter of African-American religion occasions a lively and varied set of responses. Updated with a response to those responses by Eddie Glaude, Jr., whose article sparked the discussion.

Fear of a Black President

Jonathan L. Walton — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:00:01 PDT

The president reminds Glenn Beck, and those who identify with his neo-white nationalism, of the lie of their own professed superiority. The pride with which this segment of society has rallied the troops around its shared sense of whiteness reveals that their skin color is the one true object of pledged allegiance and determinant of professed patriotism.

Remembering the Legacy of America’s “Green Preacher,” Rev. Ike

Jonathan L. Walton — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:01 PDT

The charismatic preacher, Rev. Ike, famous for saying “the best thing you can do for the poor is not be one of them,” broke ground for televangelists of all races.

“God Needs You To Get Out of the Bubble”: Riverside Controversy Exposes Theological, Racial Fault Lines of the Christian Progressive Movement

Jonathan L. Walton, Peter Laarman — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:00:01 PDT

What does it mean that Rhodes Scholar and Progressive Evangelical Brad Braxton resigned as senior pastor of the influential Riverside Church? In this discussion over the implications, a reverend and a scholar ask whether multiracial churches require making white people comfortable, why God needs liberal protestants to get out of the bubble, and what the future holds for the mainline church as a whole.

RDQuiz: Prosperity Gospel Self-Examination

Jonathan L. Walton — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:01 PDT

Does your pastor regard the current economic crisis as a “test from God”? 5 points. And you might want to protect your social security number.

Hitching a Freedom Ride: Gay Ain’t the New Black…

Jonathan L. Walton — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:00:01 PDT

Due to the widespread acceptance of black civil rights, some members and friends of the LGBTQ community have hitched their conceptual wagons to the black freedom struggle of the 20th century. While gay rights are no trifling matter, those eager to make comparisons may want to hold their horses.

RD10Q: Watch This! The Ethics and Aesthetics of Black Televangelism

Jonathan L. Walton — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:01 PST

Televangelism is not the sole domain of the white religious right. In his new book, Jonathan Walton looks at the cultural creativity and impact of black religious broadcasting.

MLK SPECIAL: Awake From Dreaming—King to Obama

Jonathan L. Walton — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:00:01 PST

In a series of short essays, special to Religion Dispatches, religious historians, philosophers, and ethicists celebrate Obama’s place in American history while heeding Dr. King’s continued prophetic challenge for our nation.

Don't Blame Black Voters: The Obama Non-Effect

Jonathan L. Walton — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:01 PST

It has become common to blame the black community for the passage of California's same-sex marriage ban. A look at the statistics and logic put the lie to this seductive and simplistic narrative.

Impossible Possibilities: Obama and Power

Jonathan L. Walton — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:01 PST

Is President Obama destined to disappoint progressives? Our columnist channels theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, reminding us of the human potential for both good and evil, and offering a pragmatic approach...

Response: What Black Prophetic Politics?

Jonathan L. Walton — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:01 PDT

A colleague suggests, in response to Andre Wills' recent RD article, that being evangelical is no more antithetical to the prophetic strand of the black church than R&B is to gospel music...

Belated July 4th Video: The Greatest Speech of the (19th) Century

Jonathan L. Walton, Religion Dispatches — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:00:01 PDT

“What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” illumines the hypocrisy of a nation unable to check and challenge itself concerning its own moral hubris.

Obama Criticizes Black Fatherhood

Jonathan L. Walton, Religion Dispatches — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:00:01 PDT

Senator Obama has contributed to a conception of responsible African American fatherhood as the shocking exception as opposed to the standard norm.

Swiftboating Obama: The Brown Blob of Black Radicalism

Jonathan L. Walton, Religion Dispatches — Thu, 01 May 2008 10:00:01 PDT

Obama supporters should “chill out” in the face of this swiftboating via the conflation of Obama and Wright into an undifferentiated brown blob of black radicalism broadcast together in a twenty-four hour news cycle.

Reflections on an Ineffective Negro Leader

Jonathan L. Walton, Religion Dispatches — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:00:01 PDT

Despite our annual effort to remember it differently, Dr. King was universally criticized for his refusal to be a good “Negro leader”.

Obama’s Pastor and the Politics of Patriotic Treason

Jonathan L. Walton, Religion Dispatches — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:00:01 PDT

It’s inappropriate to compare Wright with Falwell, Robertson, or Hagee, who lay the ills of society at the door of America’s “usual suspects.”

Rebels Without a Cause

Jonathan L. Walton, Religion Dispatches — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:00:01 PDT

The enduring popularity of the Confederate flag has to do with faith and honor, not facts and history.

Publish or Parish

Jonathan L. Walton, Religion Dispatches — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:00:01 PST

The dilemma of the believing theologian...

Does Barack need the Black Church?

Jonathan L. Walton, Religion Dispatches — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:00:01 PST

It is simply assumed that black politicians live or die by the support of black preachers—but is it true?