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Christianity Today, February (Web-only), 2008 |

Out of Africa

Thomas Oden reminds us of classical Christianity's debt to Africa in How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind.

David Neff | posted 2/29/2008 09:03AM

A few years ago, an African-American friend and I were discussing a popular black pastor whose doctrine of the Trinity just wasn't orthodox. My colleague thought Christianity Today should give the man ...

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Mike Yoder

Posted: March 04, 2008 9:57 AM

Warren's point it well-taken. It is probably better to think of the northern European world, the Mediterranean world, and the sub-Saharan African world. What Neff (and Oden) refer to seems to be the Mediterranean world, whether on the southern coast, northern coast, or both. That we today refer to these geographical regions as an almost mutually exclusive Europe or Africa, and all of the connatations thereof, does not negate the unique nature of a Mediterranean culture and faith in the centuries during and after Christ. When that is overlooked, we tend to read contemporary "Africa" back into the historical record, complete with all of our understandings of race, historical injustices, and the more recent Christian awakening. Otherwise, Neff's review is fascinating, and the reader is motivated to see what insights Oden offers us in his surely well-written book.

Ed G.

Posted: March 02, 2008 9:28 PM

David, I hope this isn't an instance of "You're so vain, I bet you think this song is about you," but I'm just not sure how many other African American colleagues you've had in your life. :-) Anyway, I was trying to recall if we ever had a conversation about T.D. Jakes. I vaguely remember some conversation, but if you took from it that I was saying we should give the Bishop "a pass" on his view of the Trinity, that's not accurate. My point, if in fact we did have this conversation, was that we shouldn't outright dismiss or ignore black leaders who are clearly having an impact on the African American community--and the Christian community in general--even if they don't measure up on all points of evangelical orthodoxy. In fact, that should be part of the story. If my memory is failing me and it wasn't me you're referring to, please excuse my defensiveness. On the other hand, thanks for the review. I look forward reading Oden's book.

Charles Roberts

Posted: March 02, 2008 7:27 AM


I look forward to reading this work, but since it is first in what will be a series, I'm wondering if I should wait for the sequel.

D Bernstein

Posted: March 01, 2008 9:11 AM

I found the article interesting. As a black American, I have often noticed that north Africans do not prefer to be referred to as Africans and prefer to be called middle easterners. Everyone is so mobile. When I was briefly in Egypt, I noted that variety of complexions of the people and knew there was no pure Egyptian group. I wonder what our early church fathers would have preferred. That being said, I am grateful for Professor Oden's revelation. I can now feel even more proud when I try to plow through my volumes of Josephus which I have never gotten to until my retirement years.

Jason Evans

Posted: February 29, 2008 5:51 PM

I look forward to reading Oden's new work. Athanasius, Origen, and Tertullian were from the continent of Africa. However, I think it a bit misleading to use this fact as a reason to woe African Americans Christians to orthodoxy. I all for orthodoxy with orthopraxis. Right doctrine and right action goes hand in hand. White evangelicalism fails to see this is why African American Christians won't cross the line of racial reconciliation. They'll take the orthodoxy of evangelicals, but question the praxis. It's what Jesus taught the disciples; he taught them to listen and obey the words of the Pharisees, but don't follow their actions because they don't practices what they preach.

Warren

Posted: February 29, 2008 5:32 PM


Although I haven't read the book, it occurs to me that there are distinctly different Africas. Sub-saharan Africa is what most people think of when you mention "Africa." The early church Fathers, although technically from Africa would seem to be more a part of Europe and Asia Minor, as it seems Egyptians are today. (And, of course, S. Africa is an entirely different situation.)

Steve Gertz

Posted: February 29, 2008 3:23 PM

It is important to remember that many of our church fathers came from the African continent. But I wonder whether it's a bit misleading to call them 'African', at least as we think of it today in the sub-Saharan context. After all, they came from the Mediterranean coast, which had by the time of the early church been Hellenized by the Greeks. They were part of the same civilization as Rome. Sub-Saharan Africa is radically different from that context. Could Oden be stretching his point just a little in order to be original or hip among academics?

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