Prophetic Fragments

Cornel West

Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1988 - Religion - 294 pages

This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable.

The crisis of religion in America, says Cornel West, is profound and pervasive: profound in that it deepens as Americans turn more desperately toward religion; pervasive in that it affects every form of religion in America, from Christianity to Buddhism, from reform Judaism to Islam. The rise of the religious right, the decline of liberal Christianity, and the challenge of liberation theology are all symptoms of this crisis.

In this book Cornel West explores the landscape of this crisis in essays, articles, reviews, and even fiction. The selections outline the contours of a "principled prophetism" -- a prophetic religion that incorporates the best of modernity and secularity (tolerance, fallibilism, criticism), yet brings prophetic critique to bear upon the idols of modernity and secularity (science, technology, and wealth).

Touching on various aspects of Christian thought and action in our post-modern times, the essays in this book are informed by a revolutionary Christian vision that is so often absent from American religious life. They display the intellectual rigor that has made Cornel West a highly respected author and thinker -- one who is not only a perceptive surveyor of contemporary Christian thought, but also a gifted shaper of that thought.

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Prophetic fragments

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This volume collects over 50 articles, book reviews, and addresses by a Union Seminary theologian, almost all previously published. The disparate brief pieces are partially connected by West's ...

Contents

• Prophetic Christian as Organic: 3
• Religion and the Left: 13
• Religion Politics Language: 22
• A Black Socialist Christian Critique: 30
• The Prophetic Tradition in AfroAmerica: 38
• Contemporary AfroAmerican Social Thought: 50
• On Manning Marables How Capitalism Underdeveloped Black: 64
• AntiImperialist Struggle and Black Americans: 74
• On Stanley Aronowitzs The Crisis in Historical Materialism: 82
• On Mark Naisons Communists in Harlem During the Depression: 90
• Toward a Socialist Theory of Racism: 97
• On Visiting South Africa: 109
• A Christian: 124
• Left Strategies Today: 137
• Christian Realism as Religious Insights and Europeanist: 144
• Sex and Suicide: 155
• Subversive Joy and Revolutionary Patience in Black: 161
• Postmodernity and AfroAmerica: 168
• In Memory of Marvin Gaye: 174
• On Fox and Learss The Culture of Consumption: 188
• Christian Theological Mediocrity: 195
• On Franz Hinkelammerts The Ideological Weapons of Death: 203
• On Harvey Coxs Religion in the Secular City: 212
• On Nicholas Lashs A Matter of Hope: 222
• On Pascals Significance: 234
• On George Stroups The Promise of Narrative Theology: 240
• Winter in the West: 246
• Martin Luther as Prophet: 257
• Dispensing with Metaphysics in Religious Thought: 267
• The Crisis in Theological Education: 273
• Sing a Song: 281

Popular passages

Page 3 - I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

Page 9 - In so far as Marx posited a metaphysical materialism, an ethical relativism, and a strangulating totalitarianism, I responded with an unambiguous "no"; but in so far as he pointed to weaknesses of traditional capitalism, contributed to the growth of a definite self-consciousness in the masses, and challenged the social conscience of the Christian churches, I responded with a definite "yes.

Page ii - Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

About the author

Cornel West is professor of philosophy and Christian practice at Union Theological Seminary, New York City, and professor emeritus at Princeton University. A self-styled "intellectual freedom fighter," he has written several noted books, including Race Matters, Democracy Matters, and Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Prophetic Fragments; Prophetic Fragments, Cornel West
• Author: Cornel West
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1988
• ISBN: 0802807216, 9780802807212
• Length: 294 pages
• Subjects: Religion / Theology; Social Science / Sociology of Religion