Black Christians: What do you believe?

Bonhoffer · #1 19th October 2005, 05:51 AM

This question is for Christians with dark skin who originate from Africa, ONLY!

ebia · #2 20th October 2005, 04:38 AM

Originally Posted by Bonhoffer

This question is for Christians with dark skin who originate from Africa, ONLY!

oops.

theFijian · #3 20th October 2005, 10:32 AM

I shudder to think where this poll is leading.

Bonhoffer · #4 20th October 2005, 01:58 PM

I was just interested to see if the view of black Christians was any different from their white brothers and sisters.

In my experience black Christians tend to lean more towards the conservative side when it comes to theology and religious belief. To their credit they tend to have stronger faith than white people and black churches usually hold strongly to things such as the inerrancy of the Bible. I would guess they are more likely to reject 'modern' teaching such as theistic evolution. Perhaps partly because they might feel that evolution has been used to oppress them and to racially abuse them.(i have heard of a black anti-racist group trying to ban the teaching of evolution in a public school)

There is also the fact that relatively few black people have been involved with the secular sciences. I would imagine there are more black people studying religion and theology than science subjects. I believe this because I know of loads of black theologians,pastors,preachers,worship artists than I know of black scientists. (but maybe I'm wrong here!) Maybe in the past black people have felt rejected by secular science, i dont know. and im not saying all mainstream science is wrong either.
Its just that I havent seen atheism, humanism and theological liberalism have the same effect on black people and black culture that it has on white people and white culture.

So basically I am guessing that black Christians will tend to be young earth creationists because of (perhaps) the percieved racism of evolution, the firmness of conservatism in black culture and the lack of influence by secular humanism on black culture.
And im not calling humanists racist here. Its just that academic humanism in the past has tended to remain within university circles and in the past few black people had access to university education so therefore fewer black people than white people have been in situations where they could be exposed to liberal humanist thought. However historically a lot of black people have been exposed to conservative Christian beliefs through the church. Even uneducated black people from poor backgrounds would have been exposed to traditional Bible teaching because many poor blacks sought refuge in the church and saw Christianity as their only hope.
I hope I'm being understood here. I hope i havent upset anyone. I am basing this on nothing more than my own experiences and i could be wrong. But I believe that black people are more likely to be fundamentalists(in the bible-believing, not the religious right sense) rather than liberals. they are less likely to comprimise scripture(as I veiw theistic evolution to be)
put it this way: how many black humanists or atheists do you know of?
All the black people I have ever met are either Christians, pagans or Muslims.
I suppose there is that British black liberal theologian Robert Beckford who would undoubtly be a theistic evolutionist. (and I'm not saying theistic evolutionists or liberals are not Christians. I am just saying that both schools of thought have their roots in humanism)

I shudder to think where this poll is leading.

I did this poll just out of interest, not with any hidden agenda. People shouldnt be petrified just because I singled out black people for the question.
I've just got my own thoughts (mainly positive thoughts) about tendencies in black Christianity that i wanted to see if there was any basis in them.

Bonhoffer · #5 20th October 2005, 02:02 PM

My own veiw is that God is using the black Christian community in Britain as a balwark against humanism, atheism and liberalised theology.
Hes already used the black community to liven up the UK church with more exciting worship music than the ye olde english hymns.

random_guy · #6 20th October 2005, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by Bonhoffer

...
There is also the fact that relatively few black people have been involved with the secular sciences. I would imagine there are more black people studying religion and theology than science subjects. I believe this because I know of loads of black theologians,pastors,preachers,worship artists than I know of black scientists. (but maybe I'm wrong here!) Maybe in the past black people have felt rejected by secular science, i dont know. and im not saying all mainstream science is wrong either.
Its just that I havent seen atheism, humanism and theological liberalism have the same effect on black people and black culture that it has on white people and white culture.
...

If this is true, then it means that religious ideas are driving minorities away from science, which I find depressing. While evolution is not racist, nor should it be used to support racism, if minorities actually believe that it is, then it's less likely that they'll end up a scientist.

I wonder if part of the problem is that some religious people will stoop to any level, including making false statements about what evolution actually means to get people to turn away from science. We see that on this forum.

shernren · #7 21st October 2005, 06:42 AM

I believe this because I know of loads of black theologians,pastors,preachers,worship artists than I know of black scientists.

You must have let white supremacists lie to you. Off the top of my head, for example, there is George Washington Carver, who AFAIK pretty much developed chemurgy (the chemical application of agricultural products) singlehandedly, finding about 300 uses for the humble peanut plant.

You might as well ask the females here how many of them believe in YECism, since you probably don't know as many female scientists as male scientists - I know I don't.

theFijian · #8 21st October 2005, 09:14 AM

Well in my experience black Christians are more likely to be pentecostals espousing a health & wealth prosperity gospel which is utterly unbiblical, al á the footballer Marvin Andrews (charming guy though he is).

What does this prove? Not a lot.

Originally Posted by Bonhoffer