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236 reviews for:
Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope
Esau McCaulley
4.44 AVERAGE
236 reviews for:
Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope
Esau McCaulley
4.44 AVERAGE
This book is a must read. Dr. McCaulley provides an excellent exegetical analysis of some of the most pressing questions of Black Christians. He touches on what the Bible has to say about policing, political witness, justice, black identity, black anger, and slavery. It was refreshing to hear these questions wrestled with through a black lens. He treats each question seriously and honestly, even to the point of suggesting the answer might not be found before the return of Jesus. I am thankful for his witness, that has helped me grow in my understanding of the scriptures and how they impact and are interpreted by black communities in the U.S.
What does it mean to read the Bible as an African American? How does that impact your understanding and what insight does that bring to other, non-African American readers in Christian community? Is it even appropriate to have such a distinct lens through which you read, interpret, and apply scripture?
McCauley answers all these questions and more in great detail and with thorough research and with faithful reading of the Biblical text. It is a scholarly work that is immediately accessible and practical so that any reader can enjoy the book and learn from it.
I was challenged to consider the ways in which I read the Bible through a cultural lens and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It simply is - none of us can escape it. You’re reading this review right now through a particular cultural lens and making interpretations based upon that. I would challenge anyone who reads this book to simply start with that basic assumption - and then go forward with reading scripture, holding your various perspectives loosely in one hand. And as we see both our own and others’ perspectives, we begin to more clearly see how scripture is reveal not only our culture, but our biases and blind spots. If we’re willing, we can be sanctified all the more deeply by recognizing and learning from these perspectives as we study the scriptures in community. If we’re willing.
McCauley answers all these questions and more in great detail and with thorough research and with faithful reading of the Biblical text. It is a scholarly work that is immediately accessible and practical so that any reader can enjoy the book and learn from it.
I was challenged to consider the ways in which I read the Bible through a cultural lens and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It simply is - none of us can escape it. You’re reading this review right now through a particular cultural lens and making interpretations based upon that. I would challenge anyone who reads this book to simply start with that basic assumption - and then go forward with reading scripture, holding your various perspectives loosely in one hand. And as we see both our own and others’ perspectives, we begin to more clearly see how scripture is reveal not only our culture, but our biases and blind spots. If we’re willing, we can be sanctified all the more deeply by recognizing and learning from these perspectives as we study the scriptures in community. If we’re willing.
Really interesting look at and argument for the existence of a mostly overlooked tradition of interpretation/exegesis. Well worth reading.
Insightful. For those who are white, this book provides a helpful look into not only a black reading of Scripture but being a black Christian.
McCaulley's book is an important voice in discussions of biblical interpretation and racial (in)justice in the 21st century. The book is surprisingly lucid for a book on biblical interpretation, but McCaulley does not skimp on the biblical or academic references. He uses both judiciously to make his points. I appreciated his easy integration of more abstract exegesis debates with concrete praxis related to political turmoil in the 21st century. He strikes an admirable third-way between mainstream, progressive Christianity that neglects biblical orthodoxy and traditional, evangelical Christianity that typically sidelines biblical orthopraxy, especially related to race. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in racial justice, biblical interpretation, Black church history, and/or the relevance of the biblical text to US society in the 21st century.
I am always humbled to read from brilliant minds and compassionate hearts such as Esau McCaulley. This book is both informative and compelling. I learned so much not only from McCaulley’s owen experience but from his thorough and thoughtful analysis of scripture, church history, and society. I cannot recommend this book enough. A needed reading for white Christians, and I imagine a healing one for our Black sisters and brothers.
I thoroughly enjoyed Esau’s teachings in this books. I loved his nods to black cultural and how that tied into his interpretations. The issues of slavery, policing and justice are things that black Christians struggle with and it was refreshing to read how Esau interpreting these things.
HOWEVER, the next time I read this I will read a paper copy, I fault the publisher for not editing the audiobook well. The sound quality and editing should have been better, at times it took away from the content.
HOWEVER, the next time I read this I will read a paper copy, I fault the publisher for not editing the audiobook well. The sound quality and editing should have been better, at times it took away from the content.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This book lays to rest the mischaracterization that the black church is somehow deficient in its theology. If my brothers and sisters have held onto their faith after the Bible has been twisted to keep them in bondage, then they are worth learning from.
