Black Theology 101

Interpreting scripture and theology through the African American lens and experience

Created by: Eric Betts, Ph.D.
Lecturer, Author and Theologian

What Will I Learn?

• How the cross, a symbol of Jesus' suffering, can be paralleled with the lynching tree, symbolizing the suffering and oppression of Black individuals
• How to interpret the theological significance of remembering and memorializing in the context of the history of the enslaved and their descendants in America,
• How to reinterpret common New Testament misinterpretations concerning "authorities" and American law enforcement, through the lens of the Black experience
• How to interpret/explain the theological concept of unapologetic Blackness and how it provides a spiritual basis for resistance against racial discrimination.
• How to effectively convey the idea of Christ's blackness in terms of His solidarity with the suffering of African descendents

Requirements

• No prior experience needed

Target audience

• Clergy and aspiring clergy who are looking for a flexible online non-traditional theological education who are not yet prepared to invest in seminary.
• Lay-persons who may teach bible classes and desire to be more informed about the connection between black thought and the Bible
• Educators who have a desire to teach black thought and become social leaders