Religion 50, Liberation and 20th Century Christian Thought

Spring 2011

Reading questions for James Cone, God of the Oppressed

1)	Where does Cone look for information about black experience?  What kind of work do historical sources of black experience do within his theological project?	

2)	Is revolutionary violence a legitimate political tool, according to Cone?  What does he make of the ideology of Christian pacifism?

3)	What is at stake, for Cone, in his disagreement with Preston Williams (pp. 203ff.)?  How is his response to Williams connected to his idea of the distinctiveness of black experience?

4)	What is Cone’s objection to talk of the importance of ‘reconciliation’ within the struggle for black liberation?  How does he propose to re-define reconciliation, and what does he say the word should mean within the context of this struggle?