Professor Cone
Black Liberation Theology in Spotlight
Read the responses to Union
More from Alumni/ae & Friends
Tell Somebody!
| Union Community Responds to Glenn Beck
James Cone and Black Liberation Theology in the Spotlight
In a recent segment of his Fox news show, Glenn Beck took aim at Liberation Theology, especially that of Dr. James H. Cone, Union's Charles A. Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology. Several Union students, faculty, alumni/ae and administrators have reacted to the program, in news articles, blog posts and even a YouTube video. Several are highlighted below. Learn more about Prof. James Cone.
President Serene Jones in Huffington Post
"On your show, you said that social justice is not in the bible, anywhere. Oh my, Mr. Beck. At first we were so confused. We couldn't figure out how you could possibly miss this important theme. And then it hit us: maybe you don't have a bible to read. Let me assure you, this is nothing to be ashamed of. Many people live bible-less lives. But we want to help out. And so, as I write this, our students are collecting bibles from across the nation, packing them in boxes, and sending them to your offices." Read more.
Elijah Prewitt-Davis, 2nd Year MA Student
"...as the news and reaction to this show began to spill off the Facebook pages of James Cone's students into the halls of Union Theological Seminary, it quickly became apparent that erasing these chalk lines and pointing out the obvious—that Glenn Beck took Cone out of context, that he repeatedly contradicts himself, that he knows nothing about the Bible or liberation theology, and so on—was too easy, and even non-productive. While such statements are undoubtedly true, might we avoid his mudslinging and ask ourselves what we can learn from Glenn Beck and his appeal?" Read the interview.
Derrick McQueen, Ph.D. student
"One person's idea of reality can be so hurtful and damaging to another. And I must say, Mr. Beck, listening to your take on Liberation/Black/Theology (I lump them together because you did) I felt sucker punched. You have single handedly given millions of people permission to hate and distrust Black me simply because you seem to enjoy wanting the world to live in your reality." Read more.
Karyn Carlo, Ph.D. '09
"A 'gospel' that speaks only to 'conquerors'—like, say, Beck’s version—leaves out most of humanity. Some may object that black theology, by its very name, leaves out white people, but that too is a misconception. Cone has been talking to white people about black theology for over forty years now. Its call to repentance is for us. Of course, it would feel better if he skipped that part and went straight to grace and salvation, as Beck tries to do but, again, that would not be biblical. Both John the Baptist and Jesus made the call to repentance from both personal and social sin, a central part of their preaching. Without this repentance, there is no grace and no salvation." Read more.
David Horstkoetter, M.A. '08
"The central concern of Beck’s ideology, both in his recent comments about liberation theology and as a long-standing concern in his broadcasts, is the continuation of the “republic.” His hermeneutical lens begins and ends with the state. He established this immediately during the July 13 show, with his first words describing his need to speak his mind for the good of the republic, and maintained it to the end. The “dramatic irony” of Beck, and indeed a key point, is that he is guilty of politicizing religion for explicitly American political ends; his starting point is always a concern for how he wants the nation run. He did this in the last political election when he instrumentalized theology for political ends against Obama, and he did it again throughout the July 13 show. Although Beck claims that his point was all about God and that people shouldn’t make it about race, the true point of his pontificating was to make political jabs and to serve his own political talking points. Indeed, this show was bookended by the issue of immigration—he performs a political theology contra to what is good political theology. He gives political theology a bad name." Read more.
Preston Davis, 3rd Year MDiv Student
"I won't spend this time arguing with his simplified, antiquated form of Christianity he learned from the Acton Institute and its Anthony Bradly. What I will say, as I have before to Mr. Beck, is THANK YOU. Thank you for introducing Dr. James Cone to his widest audience ever. Dr. Cone is an amazing theologian, and there is a sadness that he had to be introduced to such a wide audience by the likes of Glenn Beck in such a crude fashion; but what's done is done. We can't go back or shove the misguided, vitriolic words back in Beck's mouth." Read more.
Union Students Peter Herman, Charlie Becker Hornes, Jami Yandle, Justin Lasser, and Demian Wheeler
"A ground swell relief effort has been undertaken by the Seminary Community, recognizing that Mr. Beck is clearly in need of a good bible. Students have been collecting bibles around the clock, to create care packages for Mr. Beck. Included in the care packages is a concordance of bible passages in which Jesus really does talk about social justice." Watch the video.
Kathryn Reklis, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of Theological Initiatives
"The inconsistencies of this message, along with Beck's misreading and simplification of the various complex traditions of Christian liberation theology have not gone unnoticed in rebuttals and reprisals." Read more.
Responses to Union
Since Union first responded to Glenn Beck's comments about James Cone, a variety of replies have come back from alums, other media figures and the general public. Here are a few of those replies to Union.
Derrick McQueen, Ph.D. student
"By taking statements out of context (for example all of his clips of Dr. Cone’s interview were taken from a separate interview on a completely different topic about which he was writing 30+ years after his initial writings on Black Theology) and using them to provoke fear and anger, Beck has not taken seriously his role in the media and the responsibility that said role carries. History has proven that a leader does not have to explicitly tell his or her followers what to do in order for mayhem to ensue. And Mr. Beck is one of our social leaders." Read more.
Charlie Becker-Hornes, M.Div. '10
"Yes, as Mr. Beck clearly states, Liberation Theology has much to do with the two categories of the Oppressor and the Oppressed… but there is so much more to it than just that. And, no, it is not about Communism or even Socialism and Marxism. For me, it is about an attitude of compassion for each other and for the opportunity to allow God’s law to break into the world… not the law of humanity, which in the current state of our world, people are denied their humanity and existence based on externals such as race, skin color, sexual orientation, religion or even what country they originate from – not to mention what they might weigh. No, this is about granting basic human rights to our fellow humans at all costs, no matter what, because all humans deserve their dignity. This country has a poor track record in this department no matter how you decide to twist the historical records, and we white people have quite a lot to still answer for. Including you, Mr. Beck. Including me." Read more.
Shannon Kearns, M.Div. '09
"You insinuated in your response that Mr. Beck hasn't read the Bible. I know it was an attempt to be funny but as someone who grew up in a conservative and fundamentalist church I assure you the one thing we did was read the Bible. In fact, I would say that in coming to Union I knew the Bible better than many of my classmates. I say that not to
brag, but to drive home the point that just because there is someone you don’t agree with doesn’t mean they haven’t read the Bible. What I needed from Union was Professors to put the content of what I knew into perspective and practice. I needed someone to explain Liberation Theology, to drive home the historical background of the Scripture, to make me aware of issues outside of my privileged, white upbringing. I got that education at Union and I am thankful for it." Read more.
Chris Schaefer responds to Elijah Prewitt-Davis' interview with President Serene Jones
"...in many ways, we likely have little in common. And yet I will also add that I do care about social justice and I am ashamed of the injustice that has existed and continues to exist in American society. My fundamental question to you is: can you and I can agree to disagree without demonizing each other?" Read more.
Anthony Bradley responds to Preston Davis' blog post
"Black liberation theology certainly had its historical moment, but many assume that critics miss that point because they are too traditional. For example, on the Union Theological Seminary blog, Preston Davis criticizes Beck (and me) by arguing that liberation theology should be appreciated because of its historic influence." Read more.
 More on Professor James H. Cone and Black Liberation Theology
Learn more about Professor Cone.
Read more about Black Liberation Theology in the spotlight during the Obama presidential campaign.
|