Barbara Rossing: The Raptured Exposed

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As we wrap up Season 1 of The Phoenix Journal, we offer you an interview with Rev. Dr. Barbara Rossing, Professor of New Testament at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and author of The Raptured Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation.

Speaking with Dr. Rossing is Eric Elnes, author of The Phoenix Affirmations: A New Vision for the Future of Christianity, and former guest with us here on The Phoenix Journal. This interview was originally used as a part of his old podcast at Crosswalk America.

This is a fascinating interview which drags us into the reality that the rapture is not a biblical concept and that holding a "rapture theology" is dangerous for how we live and move in the world.

This episode will be the final episode of Season 1. Please send us some feedback at landon (at) thephoenixournal (dot) org, and stay tuned. We're already at work trying to get Season 2 up for you!

Grace and Peace,
Landon

This week's episode is delayed.

Sorry for the delay on this week's episode. We hit a snag and are feverishly trying to get something up for you. Thanks for your patience.

Landon

Angela Sims: Nuancing a Black Theology of Liberation

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Given all the media attention to Rev. Jeremiah Wright (wikipedia entry) a few weeks ago, I though it might be a good idea to survey what some regard as one of the most potent theological traditions in America - Black Liberation Theology.

Like all liberation theologies, Black Theology has its starting point in the lived experienced of a group of people - a people who are dispossessed. It has been no surprise to myself and others who are familiar with the tradition, that most "white" commentators (listen to the show for a definition) have struggled to find the beauty in Rev. Wright's words.

I also find it not surprising, now that polls have shown Sen. Obama to be well on the other side of this "scandal", that we have heard increasingly little about Rev. Wright. I suppose that if a black guy isn't playing his assigned role of scapegoat, then we don't need to pay attention to him. How sad.

I think you will really enjoy this interview with Angela Sims. She is extremely intelligent and personable, and very humble considering her obviously strong grasp on the subject matter. I found that talking with her was very similar to conversations with my mentor from seminary, the Rev. Dr. Stephen G. Ray. There seemed to be a depth of wisdom in what she said that I longed to know myself. I am grateful that she was so willing to be a part of this experience, and to help us come to better terms with a theological tradition that has eluded many in the recent weeks.

For those who don't know, the song being played on the piano during the show is "Lift Every Voice and Sing" - the black national anthem. The YouTube video the audio was taken from can be found here.

Landon

0:01: Intro
2:30: Introduction to interview with Angela Sims
5:08: The origins of "liberation theology"; Gustazo Guteriz and "preferential option for the poor"; from orthopraxis to orthodoxy;
10:27: The impact of liberation theology on the world or theology; emergence of James Cone, Mary Daly, Katie Geneva Cannon, Kwok Pui-lin (Off The Menu); "all theology is local"
13:10: "Systematic theology" is assumed to be "white"
14:00: Characteristics of liberation theology; "the master's tools can never be used to dismantle the master's house"
15:47: James Cone and the emergence of Black Theology
17:15: Definitions of "black" and "white" in Black Theology; Kelly Brown Douglas
20:10: The "blackness" of Trinity United Church of Christ
21:40: James Cone's orginal project critiqued for its Barthian flavor
24:00: The source of Black Theology is the lived experience of the black community; "to sides of a shared story"
27:30: The experience of suffering the black and white communities
28:44: Sims on the media's commentary of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright; "racial language"
34:28: Sims on the Obama/Wright relationship
40:38: "An Open Letter to America regarding Rev. Jeremiah Wright" by Rev. James McLeod
46:27: Outro