African influence on ancient Judaism
Imbibing the nectar at the Society for Pastoral Theology in Atlanta this week, where the theme of the annual conference is "Conjuring Liberation: African American Resistance to Racism and Oppression."A provocative thought from the Rev. Dr. Mark Lomax of Georgia's First African Presbyterian Church (unleashed during yesterday's opening plenary panel):
God's chosen people Israel were enslaved in Egypt--upper Africa--for 400 years, and it's impossible to imagine that their encounter with African culture, African philosophy, and African life-ways did not shape their faith.
The implication, of course, is that to incorporate an Afrocentric worldview into contemporary theology is to "hear into speech" a long subjugated voice that nonetheless shapes the root tradition of the Christian faith.
As Psalm 68 says: "Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God . . . ."
How did the African enculturation of Prime Minister Joseph shape Jewish thought and practice?
What ancient African spiritualities reverberate in today's synagogues and churches, a part of that cloud of witnesses that worshippers are hardly aware of?
What I'd really like is to listen in as Lomax and a rabbi chew on these ideas over Red Stripe beer with Bob Marley's "Redemption Song" playing in the background . . . .
.: Posted by Duane Bidwell on Friday, June 18, 2004
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