Christianity and Vodou in Haiti (Part 3) (En Kreyol e Angle)
On Race Relations: We are Humans First!
In a recent research done by the Gallup, it is reported that “Americans’ Worries About Race Relations at Record High.” Race relations have deep roots in human relations. The pressing issue in our current time is this: how are you treating “other human beings”–not other races?
If we can improve “human relations” in our society, there won’t be any race problem. We must first begin with people, race is secondary.
We are human beings. Human dignity transcends the boundary of race. Americans should worry about how to cultivate healthy and constructive human relations.
On Racial Unity
If we want racial healing and unity, stop spiritualizing social issues. Treat them for what they are. Social issues have deep spiritual implications and ethical consequences in human relationships.
For example, racial segregation is/was a social problem and widely accepted in our nation…so was the interracial marriage between white and black Americans that was legally prohibited in this country. Often, in Christian communities, Christians would quickly characterize them simply as a “sin problem” because they do not want to work through the dilemma of resolving these social issues. Instead, they would just pray and refuse to participate in or work toward solving these issues. We spiritualize social problems when we believe and act in such a way that prayer is the only solution and refuse to work together to challenge policies and ideologies that created those social and political problems.
Alternating My Reading Habit: To Encounter and be Transformed by Great Men and Women of History
Alternating My Reading Habit: To Encounter and be Transformed by Great Men and Women of History
For the next four months–beginning in March to July 2017– I’m going to alternate my reading habit. I will be reading the following autobiographies and biographies in that order, and attempt two of them monthly:
1. March 2017:
“Born To Rebel: An Autobiography” by Benjamin E. Mays
“The Magnificent Mays: A Biography of Benjamin Elijah Mays” by John Herbert Roper, Sr.
2. April 2017:
“A Philip Randolph: A Biographical Portrait” by Jervis Anderson
“A. Philip Randolph: The Religious Journey of An African American Labor Leader” by Cynthia Taylor
3. May 2017:
“Sojourner Truth: A Life, A Symbol” by Nell Irvin Painter
“King: A Biography” by David L. Lewis
4. June 2017:
“Baldwin’s Harlem: A Biography of James Baldwin” by Herb Boyd
“Reinhold Niebuhr: A biography” by Richard Fox
5. July 2017:
“The Words: The Autobiography of Jean-Paul Sartre” by Jean-Paul Sartre
“Jean-Paul Sartre: A Life” by Annie Cohen- Solal
*Please keep me accountable to this commitment.
American Evangelicalism in Crisis!
American Evangelicalism in Crisis!
What is the crisis, you may ask?
Let me reiterate my basic claim: ” American Evangelicals have destroyed Christianity in America. They are Christianity’s worst enemy. In other words, the enemy is within.” As my friend said, “They also produce many atheists.”
Please read this important article, “Could Southern Baptist Russell Moore lose his job? Churches threaten to pull funds after months of Trump controversy,” published in The Washington Post
La Pensée du Jour: The Evangelical Mixed Allegiance: God or Caesar?
La Pensée du Jour: The Evangelical Mixed Allegiance: God or Caesar?
American Evangelicals have killed Christianity in America. They have also destroyed God. They’re more American than Christian. They have a mixed allegiance and passion: God or Caesar. In most cases, they’re more zealous about Caesar than God.
On Academic Integrity and Religious Commitment
On Academic Integrity and Religious Commitment
A person does not have to sacrifice or compromise his or her faith for the sake of scholarship or to attain academic fame/ prestige. One must not, however, undermine the evidence or the truth for the sake of safeguarding faith or religious conviction.
It is possible for maintain both intellectual (academic) integrity and religious commitment in the academia.
The Significance of Catholic Social Teaching
The Significance of Catholic Social Teaching
Last week during my sick days (I was sick for the entire week. I had the amazing flu that kept me in bed for six days, but I resurrected on the seven day:-)), I read the classic documents of universal Catholic Social teaching (CST), dating from 1891 to 2011. The body of Catholic Social Teaching articulates a rich intellectual and theological legacy of the Catholic Church, which Protestant Christianity is lacking.
The universal Catholic Social Teaching is divided in Seven major themes:
1. Life and Dignity of the Human Person
2. Call to Family, Community, and Participation
3. Rights and Responsibilities
4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
5. The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
6. Solidarity
7. Care for God’s Creation
*Perhaps, Protestant theologians, Christians, and churches would have fewer fights over vain doctrinal and theological issues if they had such a rich tradition such as Catholic Social Teaching. Also, there would have been fewer denominational congregations if Protestant Christianity would have preserved such a tradition similar to CST. No, the Patristic writings are not the same!
It is interesting how the Catholic Social Teaching has somewhat unified Catholic Christians of different theological persuasion over social concerns; for example, a Catholic christian would put greater emphasis on social outreach–such as aiding the poor , providing for the homeless, helping the immigrant to integrate in the American culture–than a Protestant Christian would… Because of the integration of Catholic Social Teaching in the life of Catholic Churches, it has kept the Catholic church vitally strong, anthropocentric, relational, and makes it more more humanized and socially progressive than Protestant churches. Promoting human dignity is more important than elevating human freedom. Human dignity, not freedom, is the most sacred and inalienable right of humanity. The Biblical Text does not promote human freedom as we do and are obsessed about individual or collective freedom in Western societies; the Bible does, however, accentuate the significance of human dignity in every facet of human existence and social interaction.
Here’s a link below to read this amazing body of work:
Writing in Translation and Translation in Writing
Writing in Translation and Translation in Writing
Those of you scholars, researchers, and writers who do not have to deal with the issue of translation in your scholarship I’m jealous of your privilege and luxury:-)
It has become an intellectual tradition for me whenever I have to write an essay or write a new book in English, I have to translate from the French to English. The majority of my interlocutors and conversation partners wrote exclusively in French (most of their writings are still not translated in English) and are from the Fracophone world including Francophone Caribbean and Africa.
With all honesty, I do not like to translate from one language to another. When I was doing my MA in French language and literature at the University of Louisville, I did not enjoy translating medieval French texts to contemporary French. One of the pivotal moments that marked my academic life happened when we as a class had to translate excerpts from the beautifully well-written poem “Roman de la Rose” (a 13th century French text) ( Romance of the Rose) to modern French. I was both happy and terrified: happy because the poem is beautifully narrated the intersections of the art of love, female sexuality, and gender dynamics; terrified because of the enormous task that was before me.:-)
We also translated Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech to contemporary French. I enjoyed that mental exercise.
Yes, Jesus saved me from my French Translation class. I passed it with an A and successful graduated with a Master’s degree in French Literature. And I left Louisville, Kentucky like a happy man. I do not miss the cold, but love the snowy season. LOL
drcelucienjoseph, "Thinking and Meditating" 