Works of James Cone
There are those on the political right that make rational, consistent arguments; Glenn Beck is not one of them. If there is anything consistent about him, it is that he consistently preys on the worst fears of humanity – a consistency that certainly cannot be applauded.
This last week he took aim at Union’s own James Cone and the tradition of Liberation Theology. It was a surreal moment for those of us that saw it and are close to Dr. Cone. I respect and admire the influence of Liberation Theology, but most of us that study Liberation Theology recognize that it is not as prominent as it once was. It’s emphasis was destabilized by neo-liberal and post-modern theological critiques. Liberation theology was born out of the liberal school, pointing up the importance of experience and particularity as sources of spirituality that remain relevant to Christianity. After that, particularity continued on and on ’til metaphysical normativity became a passe thought of the Western world. All was finally contextual (as it always was), and universal truths had to be written in the ink of their historical, cultural and personal particularity. Most of us understand that Christianity and any religious expression comes into contact with historical contexts. Glenn Beck doesn’t.
I won’t spend this time arguing with his simplified, antiquated form of Christianity he learned from the Acton Institue and its Anthony Bradly. What I will say, as I have before to Mr. Beck, is THANK YOU. Thank you for introducing Dr. James Cone to his widest audience ever. Dr. Cone is an amazing theologian, and there is a sadness that he had to be introduced to such a wide audience by the likes of Glenn Beck in such a crude fashion; but what’s done is done. We can’t go back or shove the misguided, vitriolic words back in Beck’s mouth.
We can only hope and pray that Beck lives [some of] the words he spoke. Chrisitanity is about a change of heart, he said. “Works are a demonstration of our faith…” Then he stopped, realizing what he was saying, his polemic falling to pieces around him. You could see the wheels turning. “Does that mean I should change my heart about poverty, immigration or health care? Should I work toward the well-being of all God’s creatures rather than simply my vested interests?…” Time stood still for a moment. His heart beat grew faster, but not larger. That was only reserved for the Grinch’s redemption. Unfortunately, Beck’s remained ice cold and two sizes too small.
“We want to concentrate on Liberation Theology…” he started over, regaining his composure. I don’t know what I was expecting, maybe God’s grace and intervention. God was probably too busy weeping, though – as many of us were. Not for Beck’s sewage. I don’t know about you, but I’ve grown accustomed to it popping up in news feeds here and there. What we cried for was for the number of people that listen to his opinions for direction. His words are fingers pointing toward dead-ends, which only lead to anger and more polemic. Those that know the heart of the Gospel, like James Cone, know about compassion and grace. May Beck also have that conversion.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Daniel Ervin, Daniel Ervin. Daniel Ervin said: Union responds to Glen Beck about James Cone and Liberation Theology. http://bit.ly/cPMyjJ [...]
Liberation Theology lives on in the ways it infuses other theology statements.
RECLAIMING CHURCH
http://dmergent.org/2010/06/03/reclaiming-church/
GOD IS…
http://dmergent.org/2010/07/02/god-is-3/
RECLAIMING GOD
http://dmergent.org/2010/07/15/reclaiming-god/
This is one proper way to respond, Preston.
Here’s another: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW32YEygri8
I do not understand the comment about liberation theology not being “as prominent as it once was.” Nor that “it’s [sic] emphasis was destabilized by neo-liberal and post-modern theological critiques.” Nor that it was “born out of the liberal school.”
To the first point, liberation theology is still prominent to me and to many of my friends. And since the rest of your paragraph goes on to speak of the importance of particularity, that seems to negate any declaration about its waning prominence. If it is in such decline, why would Beck be bothering to attack it?
To the second point, do you really intend to put neo-liberal and postmodern together as if they were similar? In that postmodernism lifts up experience and particularity as valid sources of spiritual authority and that liberation theology critiques classical theology as being presented as if it is monolithic, liberation theology IS postmodern. Just because subsequent authors have in turn critiqued earlier authors of liberation theology for their own blindnesses to particularities does not mean that its influence has waned. If anything, it means that it has become deeply ingrained.
And lastly, related to that, the first thing I ever read of liberation theology (from Latin America) was a critique of liberal theology – because liberalism, like conservatism, ultimately upholds the white middle-to-upper class perspective. Liberation theology was not born out of the liberal school, unless by that the author means that it was born out of reaction against the liberal school.
Just as serious as his criticism of Liberation Theology – if not more so – is Glenn’s dismissive attitude towards World Cup. He is not the only one. See:
http://rbc-in-md4.blogspot.com/2010/06/glenn-beck-we-dont-want-world-cup-we.html
Hope we can straighten Beck out about all this, now that Steinbrinner is dead and Thierry Henry is playing for the Red Bulls.
PS. Back in the day, Dr Cone wore a dashiki, and I mean a dress, not a shirt. Does he still do that? Freaked out all us Southern White Boyz but we got used to it.
RBC
UTS 1970
Beck is a person who is afraid to face the truth, but, it doesn’t really matter to him, he just wants the pay check. I too want to thank him for giving way to a bigger audience dealing with Black Liberation Theology. I don’t think he really realizes what he’s actually done. More interest will be sparked to those who have dismissed liberation theology. It will peak curiosity and cause people to delve into the subject more without brushing it to the side or under the rug. Our society needs to face the truth about the Bible and it’s dealing with liberation theology.
Americans need to wake up the fact that Beck is simply another opinion pushing charlatan who is a product of mormon cult theology. He does not possess a single ounce of journalistic integrity, he has no qualifications and he is definitely not a true conservative. But then, what can anyone expect from someone who can’t find anything filthier than their own personal reflection. Since people like Beck cannot exist on the basis of any personal merits, they survive by puting others down with lies and half truths in order to feel good about themselves. The truth about Beck is that he a dry mormon alcoholic who never got the counseling required by alcoholics. He flippantly throws around Christian terms like “God”, “Jesus”, “Holy Spirit” as well as voices of other so called “Spirit Powers” on his radio talk show. Beck is a mormon in active standing with the mormon church and is not a Christian. Mormonism teaches many gods, that the god of the earth was once a man who attained godhood status, there is no trinity, the cross of Christ means nothing and that Jesus Christ and Satan were brothers. Because Beck does not possess a single ounce of journalistic integrity, he is the perfect abortion poster child for Fox Network. The people who love what Beck says are no different than the impressionable sheep who loved every speech made by Adolph Hitler in his early years when he brought Germany into an era of economic prosperity. These same sheep (like the ones who listen to and believe the lies of Beck) also blindly followed Hitler into one of the darkest chapters of world history. Beck and the Fox Network both cater to the same lowest common denominator of demagogery. The man would not know the first thing about God as he is a mormon. Someone should ask him which of the many mormon gods he kept talking about during his argument with himself on Saturday. Unfortunately, these teabaggers out there do not realize that Beck is talking about a different god than that of Christianity, Judaism or Islam.
Clicked because I recognized someone from class this week. Well said. Thank you for giving it a productive spin – we can build, “round-abouts,” as they say in the UK, at Beck’s dead-ends.