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The cross of Christ in African American Christian religious experience : piety, politics, and protest

"In The Cross of Christ in African American Christian Religious Experience: Piety, Politics, and Protest, Demetrius K. Williams examines and explores the ideational importance and rhetorical function of cross language and terminology in Black religious experience through an ideological lens. Williams argues that for the first time in Christian history, the European nation of Portugal under the guidance of Prince Henry used the theology of the cross to justify and sustain an exclusive trade of Sub-Saharan African peoples. Claiming that Jesus died on the cross only “to save lost souls” provided a convincing rational for Henry’s exploratory voyages of discovery to West African to exclusively enslave Black bodies. With the confirmation of Catholic Popes and the competition of other European nations, this same rationale would inspire empire building, colonization, and slave-trading, justified on their newly constructed ideological narrative of compassionate evangelism “to save lost souls”. Over time, withmassive conversions to the faith of their enslavers, Black people’s Christian religious experiences would articulate a response to the world that held them in thralldom. That response would be articulated most consistently and effectively through their understanding of the cross of Christ. Williams affirms Howard Thurman’s claim that by “some amazing but vastly creative spiritual insight the slave undertook the redemption of a religion that the master had profaned in his midst.”" --

Enemies of the cross of Christ : the terminology of the cross and conflict in Philippians

Enemies of the Cross' employs classical rhetorical analysis to examine how Paul structures a deliberative argument using his understanding of the 'cross of Christ'. His goals are to guide/advise the Philippian community through internal and external strife (ch. 2), combat his opponents (ch.3), and develop his notion of the eschatological community (3:18-21). Williams proposes that while Paul has a 'theology of the death of Jesus', of which cross terminology is one of several aspects, this terminology is used almost exclusively in polemical/conflictual contexts. Hence Paul appears to be using 'cross of Christ' not so much as a doctrine but rather as a rhetorical tool, in a context of conflict and strife, to support his understanding of eschatology, apostolic service, the nature of Christian existence, and community among the saints.

Enemies of the cross of Christ : the terminology of the cross and conflict in Philippians

Enemies of the Cross' employs classical rhetorical analysis to examine how Paul structures a deliberative argument using his understanding of the 'cross of Christ'. His goals are to guide/advise the Philippian community through internal and external strife (ch. 2), combat his opponents (ch. 3), and develop his notion of the eschatological community (3:18-21). Williams proposes that while Paul has a 'theology of the death of Jesus', of which cross terminology is one of several aspects, this terminology is used almost exclusively in polemical/conflictual contexts. Hence Paul appears to be using 'Enemies of the Cross' employs classical rhetorical analysis to examine how Paul structures a deliberative argument using his understanding of the 'cross of Christ'. His goals are to guide/advise the Philippian community through internal and external strife (ch. 2), combat his opponents (ch.3), and develop his notion of the eschatological community (3:18-21). Williams proposes that while Paul has a 'theology of the death of Jesus', of which cross terminology is one of several aspects, this terminology is used almost exclusively in polemical/conflictual contexts. Hence Paul appears to be using 'cross of Christ' not so much as a doctrine but rather as a rhetorical tool, in a context of conflict and strife, to support his understanding of eschatology, apostolic service, the nature of Christian existence, and community among the saints.

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