In Black Theology of Liberation, Rev. James Cone makes a distinction between philosophy of religion and
theology to make the claim that “Theology…cannot be separated from the community which it represents.
It assumes that truth has been given to the community at the moment of its birth. Its task is to analyze the
implications of that truth, in order to make sure that the community remains committed to that which
defines its existence.” (p. 9). Working with the readings in any one of the 4 sections in the Modern
Theologies unit, discuss how the social situation of the author(s) and the community they claim to
represent informs their theological positions and conclusions. Consider, but do not limit your discussion to
the following questions:
How important is their “identity” as a member of a marginalized group to how they problematize the
religious traditions to which they respond?
What contributions to their theology in particular and theology more generally are a function of their
“identity?”
Is the theology transferrable to communities outside the community with which they identify? If so, what
might be the consequences of applying the theology to other communities?
Sample Solution
