God of the Oppressed (Paperback)

by James H. Cone (Author) "I was born in Fordyce, Arkansas, a small town about sixty miles southwest of Little Rock..." (more)
Key Phrases: Jesus Christ, Black Theology, New Testament (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In his reflections on God, Jesus, suffering, and liberation, James H. Cone relates the gospel message to the experience of the black community. But a wider theme of the book is the role that social and historical context plays in framing the questions we address to God as well as the mode of the answers provided.

Product Details

• Paperback: 257 pages
• Publisher: Orbis Books; Rev Sub edition (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570751587
• ISBN-13: 978-1570751585
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #165,124 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #9 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Theology > Black Theology
  #13 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Theology > Liberation Theology
  #60 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Practices > African American

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mandatory Reading for Those Who Believe That Real Christians Do Not Suffer, March 16, 2007

By	Frederick A. Hanna "tru2ak" (Neptune, NJ United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

James Cone develops a perspective on Black Theology in God of the Oppressed, by looking directly through the lens of Liberation Theology. He formulates an argument against the oppression of the poor by virtue of "divine love or divine power," which is heavily influenced by the Bible. The question of God's presence in the face of racism, oppression, depravity of social and economic power and the perpetual suffering experienced by many blacks throughout the Diaspora is raised. If the Christian God is truly the one who liberated Israel from the Egyptians, if this is the same Jesus who had compassion for the poor and the marginalized in the world, then we need to know why God does not act to eliminate the suffering, especially amongst black people. Some might be willing to deny God's benevolence and God's sovereignty, but Cone declares that to do this would deny an essential element of black faith. "It is a violation of black faith to weaken either divine love or divine power;" therefore, there must be an alternative. This is consistent with a view of God as the Creator who loves and cares for that which God created.

The bible is of primary importance to James Cone's perspective on suffering. He utilizes scripture to reconcile the suffering of the "innocent and weak" with the Bible's claims that God is a liberator of the poor and a protector of the weak. In God's relationship with the Hebrew slaves, we see God's preferential option for the poor being exercised. It is God who tells Moses that he should go to Pharaoh and declare, "Let my people go." It is Israel's story of faithfulness to a faithful God in spite of their oppression that leads to the liberation of the Hebrew slaves. It is God's love for the people of God that serves as the motivation to free Israel. Still, intertwined in this liberating and loving God, there was always suffering. Cone affirms that evil (suffering) exists. Noted theologians like Calvin attest to this as well, but without the purpose that Cone attaches to it. There are precious many Psalms of lament. Psalms that speak both of the great, benevolent, loving God and at the same time lament the treatment of the orphan and the widow who are slain at the hand of the wicked. "O Lord, how long shall the wicked, How long shall the wicked exult?" (Psalm 94:3 RSV) The problem, according to Cone, is not the presence of suffering in Scripture, but the distribution of suffering.

I could say more, but you ought to read this book for yourself... Grace and Peace

16 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Challenging Perspective, May 20, 2000

By	rob (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

This book is a must read for those who come from a conservative anglo-american background. It helped me to realize the way that my culture has often distorted my understanding of God's work, and it opened my eyes to new ways of viewing God that are challenging but refreshing. As racial reconciliation becomes a larger issue in the church today, this book is important for all laypeople who are serious about reconciling.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Scholarly review, November 29, 2006

By	Darrell W. Pone (New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have just finished rerading Dr Cone's "God of the Oppresseed" It is a very good book because he parallels the Exodus from Egypt to Israel, the land of milk and honey; with the Exodus of Black Americans from slavery. He understands that "The least of these" relates to Black of Americans.
Dr Cone reviews the signifiance of the black church and spirituals with the survivals of blacks.

He very astututely points out the errors when white theologians do not consider Black Americans when they speeak of the oppressed.

Dr. Cone shows the real meaning of the crucifixtion and resurrection and how it relats to blacks.

Darrell Pone,MD
Old Westbury, NY