Customer Reviews

Righteous Riches: The Word of Faith Movement in Contemporary African American Religion

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Professor Harrison has penned a reader-friendly book filled with insights into the wonders of the Word of Faith Movement. I truly appreciated this expose on an under exposed African American religious movement. While the subject matter, particularly the interviewee's points of view, may be quizzical and perplexing (perhaps even unintentionally comical) at times, Harrison's text remains gripping and enthralling, causing me as a reader to want more. As an average "lay person" having no theological/seminary background or training, I appreciated being able to read this book on a religious/faith-based phenomenon without being indundated with undecipherable jargon. Though Harrison's scholarly intelligence is apparent he, again, does not throw his intellectual prowess about and intimidate the reader. I could have used a dictionary once or twice (and I consider that a good challenge), but again the writer (unlike some other lofty authors) skillfully engaged me without making it necessary for me the reader to possess an advanced degree just to understand and appreciate the text. I also enjoyed the fact that Dr. Harrison was somehow able to remain neutral, neither scathing nor approving , regarding the word of faith and just allow the interviewee's and historical facts/comparisons to speak for themselves. Good work, Professor Harrison! I look forward to more.

I'd like to begin responding to the review by Publisher Weekly (above). First, I agree with his or her statement that Harrison's work "is an engaging ethnographic account of the Word of Faith Movement," and that his clear approach "is refreshing and will appeal to a wide audience." But I strongly disagree with this part of the review:

"Not as illuminating are Harrison's analyses, which often feel as though they could apply to any conservative religious movement. . .and, most regrettably, largely neglects its relationship to the African-American community."

Harrison's analyses are fascinating. He delineates how congregants are active interpreters of their pastor's teachings, the creative ways they apply faith teachings to their individual experiences, and how they skillfully filter some ideas and embrace others. He provides an "illuminating" discussion on the distinct influences of black Word of faith theology including precursors like Johnnie Coleman and Rev. Ike (important leaders who have gone virtually unexplored until now). He also dabbles into aspects of contemporary black culture and economics that have black churches strategically situated for prosperity theology. I could go on and on about the various insights that Harrison provides concerning the historical development of black Word churches and the dialectical tension they create with their more traditional counterparts.

Righteous Riches is a long-overdue study of a black Word church. I urge anyone interested in the black church to read this important work. The fact that it took this long for such a study demonstrates neglect on the part of scholars of religion, which isn't surprising being that academics generally are the last to know about developments in pop culture. With this effort Milmon Harrison is part of a growing group of young social scientists (Omar McRoberts, Mary Pattillo, Shayne Lee, Marla Frederick, to name a few) that is unraveling contemporary developments in the black church. Hopefully others will build on Harrison's study with more ethnographic work on Word Churches. I.V. Hilliard, Creflo Dollar, T.D. Jakes, Keith Butler, and many more superstar prosperity preachers are huge in the black church and community and so scholars should take Harrison's lead and study the implications of their prominence.

Point by point:

1. A sociological look at the Word of Faith movement, focusing in on a church in California that the author was a member of.

2. Title is a little deceiving because the book, though looking at how the Word of Faith effects the Black Church and community, is more or less a look at the Word of Faith movement period, whether white or black.

3. Because this is from a sociological stand point the author does a lot of interviews instead of interacting with the printed material of the pastor and church in question. This is both good and bad. Good because you get a look at the pew level and hear from the people. Bad because the interviews are almost word for word and it made for VERY rough reading. The word "like" was over used by the interviewees as well as several other grammatical errors that made me re-read several sections just to get the gist of what was being said.

4. The author does a good explaining the huge difference between Classic Pentecostalism and the Word of Faith movement. In a day when people think all Pentecostals watch TBN and like Creflo Dollar, the author shows that there is a huge difference between the two.

5. The author does a good job of showing the connection between New Thought and the Word of Faith movement and how New Thought influences the movement more than Pentecostalism.

In Righteous Riches..., Milmon Harrison presents a thought provoking, even tempered, examination of the Word of Faith movement from an African American perspective. While Mr. Harrison stops short of painting the movement with a negative brushstroke, his interviews are hard hitting and force one to "examine one's faith". He intricately weaves history and the present, to produce a veritable fundametal understanding of the movement, its ups, its down, and its questions. This book should be recommended for anyone entering the doors of a "Word of Faith" church or for that matter, anyone who knows anyone who attends a "Word of Faith" church, which judging from their growth, is just about every adult in America (and the world!) Great effort by Mr. Harrison!