Speaking the Truth: Ecumenism, Liberation, and Black Theology

  With a New Introduction by Dennis W. Wiley “Preaching the Gospel is not easy in a church defined by the denominational interests of status-seeking clergy and laypersons. Doing Christian theology is difficult in a seminary or university determined by the academic interests of privileged professors and students. Speaking the truth can be politically dangerous in a society defined according to the socio-economic interests of the rich. Preaching the gospel, doing Christian theology, and speaking the truth are interrelated, and neither can be correctly understood apart from the liberation struggles of the poor and marginalized.”   With these words, James Cone introduces the theme of this collection of essays first published in 1986 and now in print again. In Speaking the Truth, he addresses topics of Black theology and its relationship to other Christian theologies (especially liberation theology) and secular ideologies, the role of the Black churches in American history, Christian faith