New movements in theology

Question 1

Where did black theology originate from

Answer 1

USA, 1960s, black church leaders response to civil rights and black power
black activism, struggle for freedom from slavery, fighting racism for equality
first members were from protestant churches in south USA

Question 2

what does black theology do/teach

Answer 2

Jesus was the liberator of black people and identifies with black suffering
raises awareness of oppression from history
Christianity previously denied a voice to black people
Against white privaledge

Question 3

what theology does black theology link to and why

Answer 3

liberation theology, they both focus on poor and oppressed, undermines and eliminates power structures

Question 4

J.H.Cone (6)

Answer 4

plight of Jews reflects black people’s experience (exodus)
God’s presence is focused on justice
black theology is a counterpart of the black power movement
gospel of Christ was from white oppressors
God is immanent, Jesus liberates oppressed
Jesus was black

Question 5

Cone quote ab Jesus

Answer 5

‘God is whatever colour God needs to be in order to let people know they are not nobodies, they are somebodies’

Question 6

Impact of black theology (2)

Answer 6

gave black people a voice to discuss injustice

correlated with MLK, christian influence

Question 7

Limitations of black theology (3)

Answer 7

looked down on
limited spread
doesn’t have as much as an impact as other denominations

Question 8

Successes of black theology (2)

Answer 8

main influences in educated elite

refocused attention that God is with his people in real situations

Question 9

Feminist theology focus and origin

Answer 9

60s
looks at scriptures from a feminist perspective
church and bible is patriarchal, women are seen as inferior
liberation for women
women to fulfil roles of clergy and change religious language

Question 10

Sally McFague (3)

Answer 10

focuses on language, like God being called ‘man’ in Bible, led to men getting power and authority
need new metaphors, ‘mother’ for God because he is nurturing
‘Metaphorical theology: Models of God in religious language’, 1982, controversial/opposing views

Question 11

Impact of feminist theology (3)

Answer 11

goal is to challenge the view that men are superior
women’s Bible was written in 1890s
achieved greater representation of women in churches and clergy

Question 12

Limitations of feminist theology (4)

Answer 12

Catholics forbid female priests
women can’t touch the Qur’an while menstruating, Islam
stereotypes in sacred texts
many scriptures say men are master by divine right

Question 13

Successes of feminist theology (4)

Answer 13

liberal and radical
campaigns
some large and historically significant churches are ran by women
#ChurchToo fights sexual harassment

Question 14

Origin of liberation theology

Answer 14

Latin America, 60s

Question 15

liberation theology’s focus (7)

Answer 15

move church away from political and cultural roots that lead to oppression
theology from poor and oppressed perspective
suffering is against God’s will and contrasts Jesus’ teachings
Christians are obliged to fight against politically sinful structures
direct violence in extreme cases
action over ideas
capitalism is sinful

Question 16

Biblical reference for liberation theology

Answer 16

Matthew 10:34, Jesus speaks of bringing a sword rather than peace

Question 17

Rev G Gutiérrez (6)

Answer 17

‘Theology of liberation’ - 1972
a founder
his life in Latin America, high levels of poverty
poverty is hated by God
“preferential option for the poor”
fight against oppression, poor are the victims of exploitation

Question 18

impact of liberation theology (5)

Answer 18

gave Christians obligations
influenced a conference in 196 which assessed the worlds political and social condition
heightened awareness
landless people’s movement

Question 19

Limitations of liberation theology (6)

Answer 19

reliance on marxism, left activist group
emphasises structural sin
1990s Pope John Paul limited its influence (too radical)
too critique of capitalism
violent, at odds with pacifist groups
too extreme

Question 20

Successes of liberation theology

Answer 20

allowed church to reconnect with the poor
1968 conference sided with the poor
interest in the poor is still vibrant - Pope Francis 2013
base communities throughput Latin America to help poverty

Question 21

where does evangelical christianity come from

Answer 21

18th century protestantism roots

Question 22

what does evangelical Christianity want to do

Answer 22

renew effect of Jesus’ good new

Question 23

why is evangelical Christianity less focused on academic theology

Answer 23

this is shared with Pentecostalism and charismatic christianity
more focused on literature that’s closer to Jesus’ teachings

Question 24

why is evangelical Christianity critical of the modern world

Answer 24

bcos it opposes divorce, homosexuality and feminism

Question 25

A McGrath’s 4 main features of evangelical Christianity

Answer 25

1. strong biblical emphasis
2. gives weight to Jesus’ saving death on the cross
3. personal conversion, ‘born again’
4. committed to converting others

Question 26

Impact of evangelical Christianity (2)

Answer 26

influential in current Christianity due to strong beliefs in Bible and Holy Spirit of God
impact in Africa due to slaves being in origination of Evangelical Christianity in US, 18 19 and 20th century

Question 27

Limitations of evangelical Christianity (2)

Answer 27

opposing divorce can be harmful

doesn’t fit in with modern day views

Question 28

Success of evangelical Christianity

Answer 28

not political, just converting should, helps fit capitalist society

Question 29

When did Pentecostalism start and explain

Answer 29

start of 1900s

early Christian communities to the Pentecost (when the Holy Spirit first descended)

Question 30

Pentecostalism bible quotes (2)

Answer 30

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” Acts 2:4

“every man heard them speak its own language” Acts 2:6

Question 31

What is the gift of the Holy Spirit

Answer 31

glossolalia (tongues)

Question 32

What did Parnham do

Answer 32

made a connection between glossolalia and baptism in the in Holy Spirit, ‘born again’ accompanied by speaking in tongues, prophecies, exorcism and healing

Question 33

what religion does Pentecostalism follow and how (4)

Answer 33

Evangelicalism
hostile to liberal christianity
uses Bible heavily 
believes a second coming of Christ 
less emphasis on academic theology

Question 34

how is Pentecostalism set apart

Answer 34

by the experience of these ‘gifts of the Holy Spirit’ and the emphasis on them as opposed to church doctrine or sacraments

Question 35

what does Pentecostalism worship focus on (3)

Answer 35

experience as opposed to church structures
takes place for example in tents, shops and garages
oral movement, stories and songs, don’t need high levels of literacy so appeal in poverty stricken areas
straight forward guidelines with profound personal experience

Question 36

Pentecostalism spread

Answer 36

spread rapidly through US, then a base was created so it could spread worldwide
at the same time Pentecostalism Christian Revival in Wales, and founding of that style in Africa

Question 37

Pentecostalism compared to traditional Christian denominations

Answer 37

sits on margin of traditional Christian denominations

Question 38

what religion is similar to Pentecostalism

Answer 38

Charismatic Christianity

Question 39

when did Charismatic Christianity develop

Answer 39

post 1960s, since then, there has been a global charismatic upsurge

Question 40

what is Charismatic Christianity a combination of

Answer 40

tradition and modernity: solutions of modern life problems and breaks free from traditional Christianity

Question 41

what is offered to all in Charismatic Christianity

Answer 41

the gift of the Holy Spirit

Question 42

focus and congregations of Charismatic Christianity

Answer 42

egalitarian (equality) and offers confidence
focuses on experience, academia not required
congregations are supportive cohesive and offers aid

Question 43

why was there an impact on upsurge in Christianity

Answer 43

1. share profound sense of mission and spreads a powerful message of personal salvation and conversion
2. marginalised groups in movement were spread, new countries so new opportunities

Question 44

what about world international immigrants and which religions did this impact

Answer 44

2012, Christianity = 49%

pentacostalism and charismatic Christianity

Question 45

emergence of the two religions lead to what growth (P and CC)

Answer 45

massive growth in Africa, shift from Europe

led Growth of African and European countries

Question 46

What happens when people travel in terms of Christianity

Answer 46

they bring Christianity with them

some of the largest congregations in Europe are African founded

Question 47

How many Pentecostals are there in the world

Answer 47

approx 500mil spread globally

Question 48

what challenges have secularisation and modernisation had on christianity in terms of the three theologies

Answer 48

liberation and its emphasis on the poor
black who wanted to redefine christianity
feminist and greater equality
- impacted Christians wold wide, forced a review on churches and emphasis to help the poor

Question 49

what was the most significant change and why

Answer 49

evangelicalism, Pentecostalism and charismatic christianity

led to new churches worldwide