The Chapter main objective is the study of African American religion. The writer proposes relational centralism as the best method of studying African American religion. African American religion is brought about as a creative and bold wrestling with history rather than a trans- historical mode of reality whereby Africans American are using this religion so as to place themselves in healthier spaces where opportunities and possibilities are in abundance. Through a reassessment of African American religion’s meaning and nature, we may come to discover that African American religion in fundamental terms feel much more familiar than anticipated and seems much closer than one might want to believe. African American religion is argued to have originated and evolved as a result of dehumanization-no dehumanization, no need for liberation. They wanted to exercise their rights and freedom, and this goal could only be achievable through the formation of African American religion. The chapter generously covers the content of African American religion leaving no room for reviewer-African American religion is deeply studied.
African American religion is well covered since the writer does not want to leave any information in the dark. This makes me collaborate with him.
Religious experience is a term that was new to me as far as this chapter is concerned. The writer suggests that one might think and define religious experience as any encounter that the person involved considers religious or that which cannot be reduced to natural occurrences or explanation in that it entails an encounter with the sacred-something outside the realm of human understanding. The writer completely rejects these definitions since he see them lack a necessary critical component if it handcuffs discussion by and critique from others.
The writer defines this phrase religious experience in the context of African American, as the recognition of and response to the elemental feeling for complex subjectivity and the accompanying transformation of consciousness that allows for the historically manifest battle against the terror of fixed identity.
Relational centralism is another term that I was not familiar with. From the chapter coverage, it predestined an interdisciplinary method of study combining insights from psychology of religions, sociology of religion, theological analysis, and art criticism through which the relationship or resemblance between modes of African American religion is explored in terms of their shared referent. This approach fosters recognition of deep commonality between groups-it also recognizes the important differences between various religious traditions.
Relational centralism is also defined in the chapter as the distinctive manner in which we observe a healthy tension where the religion operates within particular historical moments and the common impulse undergirding all historical manifestations of African American religion.
Relational centralism relate overall into black religion in America as an approach to the study of African American religion, operates based on a set of theoretical assumptions.
African American religion came into existence as a result of dehumanizing acts that were being practiced by the whites on Africa. I totally agree with this information-the African American wanted to be recognized economically, socially, and politically. This transformation could only be realized by coming up with an institution (African American religion) that could unite them all so as to speak in one voice-unity is strength.
African American religion is described as involving destructive behaviors and practices. I totally disagree with this statement because African American was totally harassed, mistreated, and many opportunities were taken from them. It was then necessary for them to come up together and form the African American religion so as to air their rights as a unit .it is therefore, not fair to consider them as being destructive and brutal.
African American Christians recognizes the fact of being followers of Christ. While the Islam embrace the model of agency presented by the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.
I have generated the following questions after reading the chapter that need to be answered. Why form a tribal religion? Does an institute based on tribalism solve or worsen the situation? Should we come up with a religion that would unite all walks of life? These are the questions (according to my understanding) that need to be addressed so that we can all speak in one voice-have a common religion that will unite the entire world.
Works cited
Chapter five African American religions
