Wilderness Wanderings

Dr. Elias Farajaje-Jones - Theologian and Activist

Dr. Elias Farajaje-Jones, a theologian and activist is a bisexual of mixed heritage (African & Native American, Tsalagi/Cherokee), specialized in African Religions at the University of Bern in Switzerland. Formerly divinity professor on the faculty of Howard University.

Black History Month Profile: Peter J. Gomes

Peter J. Gomes is one of my African American heroes in theology.  In the spirit of Black History Month, below is Dr. Gomes’ profile.*

Peter John Gomes is an American preacher and theologian at Harvard University's Divinity School.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1942, Gomes graduated from Bates College in 1965 and Harvard Divinity School in 1968. He also spent time at the University of Cambridge and is now an Honorary Fellow of Emmanuel College, where The Gomes Lectureship is established in his name. Gomes was ordained as an American Baptist minister by the First Baptist Church of Plymouth, Massachusetts, and is a leading expert on early American religion. Since 1970, he has served in the Memorial Church of Harvard University; and since 1974 as Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church. Gomes currently serves as a trustee of Bates College.

Black History Month and GLBTQ African Americans

“If a race has no history,
If it has no worthwhile tradition,
It becomes a negligible factor
In the thought of the world,
And it stands in danger
Of being exterminated.” 
Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Month

The Father of African-American History
Imagine a world in which people like you have no written history, or that which has been written is incomplete or distorted. Before Dr. Carter Goodwin Woodson (1875–1950) began his work, there was very little information, and much of that stereotypical misinformation, about the lives and history of Americans of African descent.

Happy V-Day

Another Valentine Day is upon us. Many know that the holiday is named after Saint Valentine, but who was Saint Valentine? One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and torture.  According to another legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. So as you can see, there are many legends surrounding Saint Valentine. We may never know which one is true, but we can know it had something to do with enduring love.

Your Gift from God

I Timothy 4:14-16 "Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 

2 Timothy 1:6, "fan into flame the gift of God which is in you." 

Along with many others, these two scriptures are near and dear to my heart.  Part of it is I identify with Timothy being mentored as young leader in the church.  Paul, writing to Timothy, was encouraging him not let others look down on him because of his age.  I have had many mentors and appreciate all they have taught me in the faith.  I share with you my summary of these two passages to keep in mind that God has gifted all of us to do something special, something big in this world.  When I say big, I mean both literally and figuratively. 

1. Every believer has a gift God has given to share with the body of Christ
2. Be diligent, do not neglect your gift, find/understand/fan (stir) it and use it as God directs
3. Allow others to benefit from your gift, you have something to give/contribute - we are all one body and need each other
4. Watch your life and gift - there will be many distractions, but remain focus on what God has given you in order to bless others; you may be the only “Jesus” someone may see or meet. 

My brothers and sisters keep the faith and love others as Jesus loved you.  Until next time, blessings.

 

Beware, Be Aware and Be Informed: Theofascism

I am a strong believer in the separation of church and state. Living in the US, I find too often many pastors and religious leaders over step this established boundary. When I recently came across the word, theofascism, I knew exactly what it meant due to my theology training and from being a history fanatic. So what does it mean professor in training? Theofascism is a religious ideology that requires absolute allegiance to a particular brand of theology or religion interpreted by either one individual or small group of individuals. Theofascism is the child of fascism. A good definition of fascism is found on wikipedia:

An authoritarian political ideology (generally tied to a mass movement) that considers the individual subordinate to the interests of the state, party or society as a whole. Fascists seek to forge a type of national unity, usually based on (but not limited to) ethnic, cultural, racial, religious attributes. The key attribute of fascism is intolerance of others: other religions, languages, political views, economic systems, cultural practices, etc. Various scholars attribute different characteristics to fascism, but the following elements are usually seen as its integral parts: nationalism, statism, militarism, totalitarianism, anti-communism, corporatism, populism, collectivism, and opposition to political and economic liberalism.

Why should you care and get educated? The same people who say “hate the sin, love the sinner,” “you can change, many have,” “you are an abomination,” and the like comments are all informed by either an overt or subtle adherence to theofascism. The heart of the GLBT civil rights, including religious freedom, is the counterattack against theofascism. Theofascism starts with general oppression. For example, in Christianity, the bible and how it has been translated, interpreted and reinterpreted over the years have had an agenda or another of oppression. Anti-abolitionists used verses in the bible to justify slavery, and opponents of the feminist movement and the civil rights movement both used biblical quotations to argue against granting equal rights to women and blacks. Listen to a few voices:

 Slavery - Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America:

"[Slavery] was established by decree of Almighty God. . . .  It is sanctioned in the Bible, in both Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation. . . . It has existed in all ages, has been found among the people of the highest civilization, and in nations of the highest proficiency in the arts."

Women's Right To Vote – Justin Fulton, writing in 1869:

"Who demand the ballot for woman?  They are not the lovers of God, nor are they believers in Christ, as a class. There may be exceptions, but the majority prefer an infidel's cheer to the favor of God and the love of the Christian community. It is because of this tendency that the majority of those who contend for the ballot for woman cut loose from the legislation of Heaven, from the enjoyments of home, and drift to infidelity and ruin."

Interracial Marriage    – a Virginia trial judge writing in 1959 in defense of laws prohibiting such marriages:

"Almighty God created the races, white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents.  And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages."

Interracial Marriage

Bob Jones University finally dropped a 50 year-old ban on interrracial dating as of March 3, 2000. Bob Jones III said it was due to the national scrutiny the school has received, not because they were wrong. In fact, Jones III went on to say that the foundation for the ban was still true –

"that God made the races separate for his own purpose, and it is wrong to break down the barriers God erected, that it could lead to dangerous 'one-worldism,' just like globalism ..."

Just know that history has proven that theocracies never work. Between you and me, I personally do not want to find out first hand. I write this to encourage you to keep the faith, be diligent, get involved and speak out. The worst thing you can do is nothing.

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” - MLK, Jr.