Islam and the Problem of Black Suffering

Erscheinungsjahr 2012
ISBN: 978-0-19-538206-8
Verlag: ACADEMIC

Buch, Englisch, 232 Seiten, Format (B × H): 161 mm x 240 mm, Gewicht: 517 g

In his controversial 1973 book, Is God a White Racist?, William R. Jones sharply criticized black theologians for their agnostic approach to black suffering, noting that the doctrine of an ominibenevolent God poses very significant problems for a perennially oppressed community. He proposed a 'humanocentric theism' which denies God's sovereignty over human history and imputes autonomous agency to humans. By rendering humans alone responsible for moral evil, Jones's theology freed blacks to revolt against the evil of oppression without revolting against God. Sherman Jackson now places Jones's argument in conversation with the classical schools of Islamic theology. The problem confronting the black community is not simply proving that God exists, says Jackson. The problem, rather, is establishing that God cares. No religious expression that fails to tackle the problem of black suffering can hope to enjoy a durable tenure in the black community. For the Muslim, therefore, it is essential to find a Quranic/Islamic grounding for the protest-oriented agenda of black religion. That is the task Jackson undertakes in this pathbreaking work. Jackson's previous book, Islam and the Blackamerican (OUP 2006) laid the groundwork for this ambitious project. Its sequel, Islam and the Problem of Black Suffering, will solidify Jackson's reputation as the foremost theologian of the black American Islamic movement.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Jackson

Jackson, Sherman A

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Islam & Islamische Studien Islam: Theologie
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Soziale Gruppen & Klassen
• Geisteswissenschaften Islam & Islamische Studien Islam & Islamische Studien

Inhaltsverzeichnis

- Introduction

- William R. Jones and Challenge of Black Theodicy

- The Perduring Problem of Blackness: Beyond Ontological Suffering

- 1.: The Formative Development of Classical Muslim Theology

- The Arabians and Atheological "Peripheral Vision"

- Muhammad b. Idrîs al-Shâfi'î and the Arabian Versus Arab Régime of Sense

- Traditionalism and Rationalism: The Rhetoric of Transcendence and the False Détente

- 2.: Mu'tazilism and Black Theodicy

- Early Development and Basic Contours of Mu'tazilite Theology

- Relevant Details of Mu'tazilite Theology

- Mu'tazilism and Jones

- 3.: Ash'arism and Black Theodicy

- Early Development and Basic Contours of Ash'arite Theology

- Relevant Details of Ash'arite Theology

- Ash'arism and Jones

- 4.: Mâturîdism and Black Theodicy

- Early Development and Basic Contours of Mâturîdite Theology

- Relevant Details of Mâturîdite Theology

- Mâturîdism and Jones

- 5.: Traditionalism and Black Theodicy

- Early Development and Basic Contours of Traditionalism

- Relevant Details of Tradtionalist Theology

- Traditionalism and Jones

- Conclusion

- Notes

- Bibliography

Über Autor(innen)

Sherman A. Jackson is Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, and African-American Studies, University of Michigan