Ethnic Christianity

1
Ethnic Christianity

• Religion is inextricably linked with ethnic,
  racial or national identity
• Religion an important source of stability,
  comfort, community
• Religious leaders tend to play a central role
• This inextricable link can break down with
  pluralism, diversity, and as individual develops
  an identity tied not as closely to the ethnic
  group but to larger society

2
(Eastern) Orthodox Christianity

• Eastern Roman Empire
• Greek Russian Orthodox
• Former Yugoslav republics, Ukraine, Armenia,
  Bulgaria
• Split between East and West 1054

3
Orthodox Christianity

• Russian presence in Alaska 1794
• Greeks in New Orleans and Florida
• Large numbers of Greeks at turn of 20th c.
• Large numbers of Russians after 1917 revolution

4
Orthodox Christianity

• Belief
• Bible
• Teachings of the 7 ecumenical councils (early
  centuries of Christianity 325-787)
• God as trinity / maintain emphasis on oneness and
  mystery of God as other (negative theology)
• Honor Mary as Theotokos
• Christ is Victor (emphasized over vicarious
  sacrifice)
• Divine grace requires human cooperation
• Divine image in humans shines through as a
  result
• God became man so that man might become God

5
Orthodox Christianity

• Ritual
• Divine Liturgy central act of worship
• Orthodoxy
• correct observance (Judaism) correct teaching
  (western Christianity)
• Doxa also means glory rendering glory
  properly, correct worship, then includes right
  teaching and living.
• Three parts
• Morning service (preparation) (incarnation of God
  in Jesus)
• Processions (liturgy of Word) (Jesus ministry)
• Communion (Christ's sacrifice and victory)

6
Orthodox Christianity

• The Holy Mysteries- Seven traditional
  sacraments
• Initiation Baptism, confirmation, communion all
  together
• This begins the process of restoring Gods image
• Icons windows to the sacred
• depictable yet mysterious

7
Orthodox Christianity

• Lifestyle
• Open but traditional and clannish
• Organization
• Equality of patriarchs
• Hierarchical in local matters

8
African-American Christianity

• The Lost Third Theme
• Pluralism
• Puritanism
• Encounter between black and white
• A persistent gap that remains one of the
  foundational realities of our national religious
  life (Wills, 1997)

9
African-American Christianity

• Ambiguity
• An imposed religion that obliterated savage
  tribal customs
• A liberating message of freedom, healing, and new
  life not just after death, but here and now in
  this world

10
African-American Christianity

• Types
• Mainstream
• Messianic-nationalist
• Conversionist
• Thaumaturgical

11
African-American Christianity

• Worship
• Preaching
• Singing
• Shouting
• Conversion
• Prayer
• Testimony
• One could also add Fellowship
• Though outside the formal service it definitely
  flows from it
• Worship should be a transforming experience

12
African-American Christianity

• Women
• Variety of attitudes re roles and ordination
• Mothers of the church
• Nurses
• Womanist theology