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Beyond Christianity: African Americans in a New Thought Church
Contributor(s): Martin, Darnise C. (Author)
ISBN: 081475693X     ISBN-13: 9780814756935
Publisher: New York University Press
OUR PRICE:   $47.50  
Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats
Published: March 2005
Qty:
Annotation: ocirc; Explores a neglected area of American Religious study: Religious Science-- or New Thought-- among African Americans. Illuminating, insightful, well-researched, and clearly written, this indispensable work adds immensely to our understanding of the variety of black religious experience in the U.S.ouml; -- Sandy Dwayne Martin, author ofBlack Baptists and African Missions ocirc; An important and intriguing critique of narrow understandings of what it means to be Black and religious. This captivating journey through the religious sensibilities and insights of the East Bay Church of Religious Science will challenge and inspire. I highly recommend it.ouml; -- Anthony Pinn, Rice University Beyond Christianitydraws on rich ethnographic work in a Religious Science church in Oakland, California, to illuminate the ways a group of African Americans has adapted a religion typically thought of as white to fit their needs and circumstances. This predominantly African American congregation is an anomalous phenomenon for both Religious Science and African American religious studies. It stands at the intersection of New Thought doctrine, characterized by personal empowerment teachings, and a culturally familiar liturgical style reminiscent of Black Pentecostals and Black Spiritualists. This group challenges oversimplified concepts of the Black church experience and broadens the concept of Black religion outside the boundaries of Christianity-- raising questions about what it means to be an African American congregation, and about the nature of blackness itself.Beyond Christianityadds a new dimension to the scholarship on Black religion.
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Social Science | Ethnic Studies - African American Studies
- Religion | Christianity - Christian Science
- Literary Criticism | American - Asian American
Dewey: 299.93
LCCN: 2004019292
Series: Religion, Race, and Ethnicity
Physical Information: 0.74" H x 6.44" W x 9.06" (0.85 lbs) 182 pages
Themes:
- Ethnic Orientation - African American
- Religious Orientation - Christian
- Ethnic Orientation - Asian
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:

Beyond Christianity draws on rich ethnographic work in a Religious Science church in Oakland, California, to illuminate the ways a group of African Americans has adapted a religion typically thought of as white to fit their needs and circumstances.
This predominantly African American congregation is an anomalous phenomenon for both Religious Science and African American religious studies. It stands at the intersection of New Thought doctrine, characterized by personal empowerment teachings, and a culturally familiar liturgical style reminiscent of Black Pentecostals and Black Spiritualists. This group challenges oversimplified concepts of the Black church experience and broadens the concept of Black religion outside the boundaries of Christianity--raising questions about what it means to be an African American congregation, and about the nature of blackness itself. Beyond Christianity adds a new dimension to the scholarship on Black religion.

Contributor Bio(s): Martin, Darnise C.: - Darnise C. Martin earned a Ph.D. in cultural and historical studies from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. She is a fellow of the Fund for Theological Education.