harry brown Posted November 29, 2013 Report Share Posted November 29, 2013 A BOOK CALLED SLAVE RELIGION,INVISIBLE INSTITUTION OF THE ANTEBELLUM SOUTH/BOOK IS ABOUT THE FORCED TRANSFORMATION OF THE CAPTIVE AFRICAN PLANTATION SLAVES,THEIR AFRICAN RELIGION TO WHITE AMERICAN PLANTATION CHRISTIAN RELIGION//SLAVES COULD NOT WORSHIP WITHOUT WHITE SUPERVISION....THIS GOES ON AS I SPEAK///BLACK CHURCHES CONTROLLED BY ,CAMOUFLAGED, WHITE POLITICIANS AND CLOAKED WHITE CHRISTIANS.BLACK PREACHERS ARE PLANTATION OVERSEER'S....BLACK PEOPLE REMAIN SPIRITUALLY ENSLAVED......IF THEY REALLY READ THE BIBLE IT DOES NOT SAY GOD AND CHRIST IS WHITE.//////DO BLACK PREACHERS SPEAK OF ANCIENT AFRICAN RELIGION., BESIDES HONORABLE MINISTER LOUIS FARRAKHAN/I DOUBT IT/////..///BOOK SLAVE RELIGION,INVISIBLE INSTITUITION OF THE ANTEBELLUM SOUTH,BU ALBERT J. RABOTEAU/// Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynique Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 You cannot reverse black people's attachment to Christianity. These god-forsaven people are grateful and beholden to it for providing them with something to cling to as they struggle to survive in a world that mistreats and abuses them. The idea that the "son of god" loves them, altho the bible helped to justify their being enslaved for centuries and devalued to this day, is what pacifies the faithful. And the empty promise that they will get their reward in the hereafter continues to sustain them. Similarly, Islam is just a haven for African Americans who overlook its slave trade history, and become black Muslims drawn to exotic names and the garb and ritual that distracts them from the idea that Allah don't give a damn about them either. But, - that's the function of religion. And it works because people need something to believe in and something to hope for. Black people refuse to take credit for the inner strength and guile which is what's really responsible for their ability to endure. They prefer to attribute this to an imaginary old man in the sky who they worship in spite of how "he" has never shown them any favoritism. The idea of "god" being an "impersonal almighty force of nature" is not something they can wrap their minds around. They need the impact of myth. So be it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troy Posted December 1, 2013 Report Share Posted December 1, 2013 Sure religion gives people something to believe in which sustains them, but that is not all. Religion, perhaps more importantly, gives people a code of ethics and standards of behavior which are crucial to the success of the individual, the family and our community. Now those standards of behavior are unlikely to be achieved by anyone, but they set a bar for which we strove. Today we really don't seem to have any code of ethics. Seemingly anything goes. We use any language we want anywhere, we dress any way we want and we don't seem to be able to form and maintain cohesive families. We struggle in terms of education, employment and business creation. Harry I believe your rants against religion are misdirected. Religion is not the problem. Evil, greedy people are they problem. They will pervert any an everything to enrich themselves. Religion and our culture are the casualties. The book you recommended is indeed a classic. Slave Religion: The "Invisible Institution" in the Antebellum South Originally Published 1978 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pages: 416 Twenty-five years after its original publication, Slave Religion remains a classic in the study of African American history and religion. In a new chapter in this anniversary edition, author Albert J. Raboteau reflects upon the origins of the book, the reactions to it over the past twenty-five years, and how he would write it differently today. Using a variety of first and second-hand sources-- some objective, some personal, all riveting-- Raboteau analyzes the transformation of the African religions into evangelical Christianity. He presents the narratives of the slaves themselves, as well as missionary reports, travel accounts, folklore, black autobiographies, and the journals of white observers to describe the day-to-day religious life in the slave communities. Slave Religion is a must-read for anyone wanting a full picture of this "invisible institution." I The African heritage 1 The African diaspora 2 Death of the gods II "The invisible institution" 3 Catechesis and conversion 4 The rule of gospel order 5 Religious life in the slave community 6 Religion, rebellion, and docility Conclusion: Canaan land Read a Free Preview Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xeon Posted December 29, 2013 Report Share Posted December 29, 2013 "But, - that's the function of religion. And it works because people need something to believe in and something to hope for. Black people refuse to take credit for the inner strength and guile which is what's really responsible for their ability to endure. They prefer to attribute this to an imaginary old man in the sky who they worship in spite of how "he" has never shown them any favoritism. The idea of "god" being an "impersonal almighty force of nature" is not something they can wrap their minds around. They need the impact of myth. So be it." This is so true. Negroes love to attribute anything positive to their invisible master and will blame anything bad on his evil nemesis (the devil). It's amazing how they cherry pick what god does and what he does not do. I respect and admire a number of things about Christianity but I feel these same things can be achieved and enacted minus the mysticism and the rationalization of, "...well...you just have to have faith and believe...". The subject of religion is an explosive one with pyrotechnic emotions and irrationality dominating the debate when discussed with those who fervently believe. It's a waste of time (especially with Negroes and hard core white Christian fundamentalists) and I side step it whenever possible. I feel no need to trample on someone’s fantasies and delusions. I knew of a black woman who told me God talks to her. She told me God told her to move from San Diego to Texas. Then he told her to move to Virginia. And now she is back in California. Go figure.... She also told me the devil made someone wreck her car. Why debate someone like this. It's pointless..... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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