The Oxford Handbook of African American Theology

Edited by Katie G. Cannon and Anthony B. Pinn

Oxford Handbooks

Includes previously unpublished essays by leading figures in the study of African American religion
Places black and womanist theologies into critical conversation in new ways
Gives detailed attention to both systematic and constructive dimensions of African American theology

The Oxford Handbook of African American Theology

Edited by Katie G. Cannon and Anthony B. Pinn

Description

Named an Honor Book for Nonfiction by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association

African American theology has a long and important history. With modern roots in the civil rights movements of the 1960s, African American theology has gone beyond issues of justice and social transformation to participate in broader dialogues of theological inquiry. The Oxford Handbook of African American Theology brings together leading scholars in the field to offer a critical and comprehensive analysis of this theological tradition in its many forms and contexts. Using an interdisciplinary approach, this Oxford Handbook examines the nature, structures, and functions of African American Theology. The volume surveys the field by highlighting its sources, doctrines, internal debates, current challenges, and future prospects in order to present key topics related to the wider palette of Black Religion in a sustained scholarly format. This formative collection presents current scholarship on African American Theology and scripture, eschatology, Christology, womanist theology, sexuality, ontology, the global economy, and much more. The contributors represent a diverse set of faith perspectives, adding to the layered discourses within the volume. These essays further important discussions on the pressing debates and challenges that shape black and womanist theologies.

The Oxford Handbook of African American Theology

Edited by Katie G. Cannon and Anthony B. Pinn

Oxford Handbooks

Introduction
Anthony B. Pinn and Katie G. Cannon

Section One: Sources

Chapter One - African American History and African American Theology - Stephen C. Finley

Chapter Two - Reading and Using Scripture in the African American Tradition - Allen Callahan

Chapter Three - African American Religious Experience - M. Shawn Copeland
Chapter Four - The African American Christian Tradition - Sylvester Johnson

Chapter Five - Culture/Cultural Production and African American Theology - Clarence E. Hardy, III

Chapter Six - Reason in African American Theology - Terrence L. Johnson

Chapter Seven - Theoretical Commitments in African American Theology - Edward P. Antonio

Chapter Eight - Methodologies in African American Theology - Frederick L. Ware

Section Two: Doctrines

Chapter Nine - Doctrine of God in African American Theology - Keri Day

Chapter Ten - Christology in African American Theology - Diane L. Hayes

Chapter Eleven - Holy Spirit in African American Theology - James H. Evans, Jr.

Chapter Twelve - Humanity in African American Theology - J. Cameron Carter

Chapter Thirteen - World/Creation in African American Theology - Torin Alexander

Chapter Fourteen - Liberation in African American Theology - Juan Floyd-Thomas

Chapter Fifteen - Evil and Sin in African American Theology - Larry Murphy

Chapter Sixteen - Church in African American Theology - R. Drew Smith

Chapter Seventeen - Eschatology in African American Theology - Derek S. Hicks

Chapter Eighteen - Heaven and Hell in African American Theology - Eboni Marshall Turman

Section Three: Internal Debates

Chapter Nineteen - Womanist Theology as Corrective to African American Theology - Cheryl Kirk-Duggan

Chapter Twenty - Humanism in African American Theology - Anthony B. Pinn

Chapter Twenty-One - Audiences of Accountability in African American Theology - Dennis W. Wiley

Chapter Twenty-Two - Embodiment in African American Theology - Stephanie Y. Mitchem

Chapter Twenty-Three - Pedagogical Praxis in African American Theology - Katie G. Cannon

Chapter Twenty-Four - Religious Pluralism and African American Theology - Dianne Diakite

Chapter Twenty-Five - Sexuality in African American Theology - Horace Griffin

Section Four: Ongoing Challenges

Chapter Twenty-Six - The Problem of History in African American Theology - Lewis R. Gordon

Chapter Twenty-Seven - Social Theory and African American Theology - Corey D. B. Walker

Chapter Twenty-Eight - Black Ontology and Theology - Victor Anderson

Chapter Twenty-Nine - African American Theology and the Global Economy - Anthony G. Reddie

Chapter Thirty - African American Theology and the American Hemisphere - Josef Sorett

Chapter Thirty-One - The African in African American Theology - Peter J. Paris

Section Five: Prospects for the Future

Chapter Thirty-Two - Prosperity Gospel and African American Theology - Jonathan L. Walton

Chapter Thirty-Three - African American Theology and the Public Imaginary - Willie Jennings

Chapter Thirty-Four - Cultural Boundaries and African American Theology - Emilie M. Townes

The Oxford Handbook of African American Theology

Edited by Katie G. Cannon and Anthony B. Pinn

Oxford Handbooks

Author Information

Katie G. Cannon is Annie Scales Rogers Professor of Christian Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education.

Anthony B. Pinn is Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and Professor of Religious Studies at Rice University.

Contributors:

Torin Alexander is assistant professor of religion at St. Olaf College.

Victor Anderson is Oberlin Theological School Professor of Ehtics and Society at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. He is also professor and director of the Program in African American and Disapora Studies.

Edward P. Antonio is Harvey H. Potthoff Associate Professor of Christian Theology and Social Theory, and also Associate Dean of Diversities and Directof Justice and Peace Programs at Iliff School of Theology.

Allen Callahan is a writer, translator and independent scholar living and working in Brasil.

Katie G. Cannon is Annie Scales Rogers Professor of Christian Ethics and director of the Womanist Institute at Union Presbyterian Seminary.

J. Cameron Carter is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Black Church Studies at Duke University Divinity School.

M. Shawn Copeland is Professor of Theology at Boston College.

Keri Day is Assistant Professor of Theological and Social Ethics and Black Church Studies at Brite Divinity School.

Dianne Diakite is Associate Professor of Religion at Emory University.

James H. Evans, Jr. is Robert K. Davies Professor of Systematic Theology at Colgate Rochester Divinity School.

Stephen C. Finley is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and African American Studies at Louisiana State University.

Juan Floyd-Thomas is Associate Professor of Black Church Studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School.

Lewis R. Gordon teaches in the Department of Philosophy, the Africana Studies Institute, and the Center for Judaic Studies and Jewish Life at the University of Connecticut at Storrs.

Horace Griffin is Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology at Pacific School of Religion.

Diane L. Hayes is Emerita Professor of Systematic Theology at Georgetown University.

Clarence E. Hardy, III is Assistant Professor of the History of American Christianity at Yale University Divinity School.

Derek S. Hicks is Assistant Professor of Religion and Culture at Wake Forest University Divinity School.

Willie Jennings is Associate Professor of Theology and Black Church Studies at Duke University Divinity School.

Sylvester Johnson is Associate Professor of African American Studies and Religious Studies at Northwestern University.

Terrence L. Johnson is Associate Professor of Religion at Haverford College.

Cheryl Kirk-Duggan is Professor of Theology and Women's Studies at Shaw University Divinity School.

Eboni Marshall Turman is Director of the Office of Black Church Studies and Assistant Research Professor of Black Church Studies at Duke Divinity University Divinity School.

Stephanie Y. Mitchem is Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Religious Studies Department at University of South Carolina.

Larry Murphy is Professor of the History of Christianity at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.

Peter J. Paris is Elmer G. Homrighausen Professor of Christian Social Ethcis, Emeritus at Princeton Theological Seminary.

Anthony B. Pinn is Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and Professor of Religious Studies at Rice University.

Anthony G. Reddie is Visiting Research Fellow at Aston University (UK).

R. Drew Smith is Professor of Urban Ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Josef Sorett is Assistant Professor of Religion and African American Studies at Columbia University.

Emilie M. Townes is Dean and E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Womanist Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt Divinity School.

Corey D. B. Walker is Dean of Arts and Sciences and John W. and Anna Hodgin Hanes Professor of the Social Sciences at Winston-Salem State University.

Jonathan L. Walton is Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church and Professor of Religion and Society at Harvard University and Harvard Divinity School.

Frederick L. Ware is Associate Professor of Theology at Howard University Divinity School.

Dennis W. Wiley is pastor of Covenant Baptist United Church in Washington, DC.

The Oxford Handbook of African American Theology

Edited by Katie G. Cannon and Anthony B. Pinn

Oxford Handbooks

Reviews and Awards

Named an Honor Book for Nonfiction by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association

"There is much to explore and celebrate about this long overdue update to the vast scope of African American theology, past and future. To be sure, this volume is for scholars and serious students as it offers an important, valid and expanded view of doctrines, internal debates and on-going challenges. To this end, the handbook's strength lies in its structure and in its use of womanist scholarship as more than an addendum, but rather as valuable and necessary contributors to African American theology."--Clemette Haskins, Anglican and Episcopal History

"Cannon and Pinn have assembled a who's who of contemporary African-American theology in a substantial volume, tracing its themes, debates, and future prospects. A wonderful resource to dip into or read straight through."--Christian Century

"In this monumental collection, Cannon (Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education) and Pinn (Rice Univ.) provide an assessment of the current state of African American theology, looking at it from an interdisciplinary and multi-faith perspective... Because of the breadth of the topics and the quality of the essays, this volume is destined to be a classic work in the field... Essential." --CHOICE