Yaya i know its another religion thread, but i did a search and didn't see these topics addressed. A lot of these type of threads end up with trollling and insults so i hope to get some real feedback.
I tried to make the questions specific to a certain group of people but Black/African muslims, hebrews, jews etc can feel free to share your answers and opinions if they apply.
For Black/African christians of HL:
Do you believe Yeshua looked similar to you? Does it matter? Why or why not?
No, I don't think he looked like me in his earthly form. His earthly form doesn't matter to me, because it has no bearing on my salvation.
Which specific holy book do you learn from? Do you think it matters? Why or why not?
The Bible. Well, the Bible is the only book that discusses salvation in terms of accepting Christ. But I do think there is wisdom that can be gained from some other religions about how to live life peacefully and how to conduct yourself in an upright manner. But its important to remember that salvation does not come through works, but simply by faith. So the things in the other books should be taken as merely suggestions, not by law that must be followed hard and fast.
Do you believe that slave/colonial masters had an impact on your ancestors religious beliefs?
OR
do your beliefs stem from African denominations of christianity?
I'm sure that colonials did... in some places. My fathers side practiced Catholicism and their indigenous beliefs, and my father rejected both once he really became saved and is moreso Pentacostal/non-denominational now. Religion wasn't a big factor on my mothers side of the family until recently. They weren't heavy into the indigenous beliefs or in the Western religions. The did some traditional stuff, but it was the equivalent the way some people here just go to church on Christmas and Easter. My mom only became religious when she married my dad and she got saved.
What do you consider when deciding on the church you attend?
Involvement in the community. The teaching of the word. I grew up in the church, so I have a pretty high standard in terms of what I'm looking for from the pastor. I like to hear revelation scripture and I like it when the pastor goes really deep into the word, and brings out things that I didn't see. I also appreciate pastors that challenge their members to really live out Christianity. Not just yelling out pre-marital sex and tithing, but loving and helping your fellow neighbor, witnessing to others, being a good family member things like that.
*Side note*
I was raised a christian, but for personal reasons i decided it wasn't the way to go for me. I dont hate christianity or religion, i actually value the good it can do and apply some of its teachings to my life.
I like sharing ideas and questioning all sorts of beliefs, especially my own, so feel free to partake
Questions for Black christians of African descent
- Thread starter upthere
- Start date
mbewane
Knicks: 93 til infinity
Greatest scheme ever
Anyway it's actually refreshing to see a religious thread where y'all are actually discussing your beliefs instead of the tired "because Jesus said so" and "you're going to Hell" rhetoric.
I don't believe in any of those abrahamic religions, concerning Christianity with Black people I'll just say that I find it amazing that Africans can embrace the very religion that was used as a cover to enslave us and colonize us. I've said it before, but I could only laugh when some black dude in Belgium told me I couldn't be a "True African" (whatever that is) because I'm not a Christian
Mr. Somebody;4163319]What ancient belief systems?
The ancient belief systems that our ancestors ancestors used to live by.
Maat or the 42 negative confessions.
In our history, in our writings/hieroglyphs, and according to our scholars, the 42 negative confessions existed before any torah, bible, qu'ran, europeans, romans, greeks, and dont quote me but im almost sure it existed before summerian law too.
The 42 negative confessions or Ma'at were part of everyday living of the ancient egyptians/kemet, and at the very LEAST, they were rules and guidelines that priests/scholars were required to live by.
10 of the commandments that moses allegedly received from god on mount sinai(?) are in the 42 negative confessions, and moses would have been required to learn about these (among other pieces of higher knowledge) since he supposedly grew up in kemetian royalty around 14-1500 BC, right around the time that Akenaten lived and brought back the concept of 1 God.
I realize that a lot of modern christians believe the ancient egyptians were demonic beings who worshipped various gods, used witchcraft, and forced ancient hebrews to build the pyramids, but (according to our scholars) thats far from the truth.
We can agree that the people of ancient kemet around the time of Moses were mostly black/brown africans.
The reason i say this is because our history has been intertwined with jewish myth and eurocentric science/history, and both were eventually used to paint a less than favorable image of the people of ancient kemet and africans in general.
Our scholars teach that outside peoples/cultures were consistently trying to take over kemet since about 1300/1400 BC; they were destroying and stealing artifacts, and have been editing and trying to rewrite kemet's history ever since.
Most people assume that slaves built the pyramids, and that ancient kemet was ruled by white and "copper" arabs". Both false, and most people of african descent know should know this.
*So were told lies about white/arabs founding and building up kemetic civilization.
*we're also told that the hebrew slaves built some of the most famous aspects of african culture (pyramids).
* were also told that the 10 commandments came directly from god when there is historical evidence that ancient kemet already had those rules in place and were expected to live by them
So now one has to decide which limited information makes more sense.
Do we accept information being altered and then perpetuated by the people who mentally and physically enslaved us, put unfavorable images of us all over modern media, use our brothers as modern day slaves in the prison systems, and then place the "best" of us in the "athlete/entertainer" box where only a few of us really succeed?
Orrr do we research (and hopefully accept) information from the people who have studied these theories and stories from OUR perspective, and have come up with different ideas for how things occurred?
I know its a long read and all over the place but im curious as to yours and other african christians responses.
Also, which specific bible do you refer to?
The ancient belief systems that our ancestors ancestors used to live by.
Maat or the 42 negative confessions.
In our history, in our writings/hieroglyphs, and according to our scholars, the 42 negative confessions existed before any torah, bible, qu'ran, europeans, romans, greeks, and dont quote me but im almost sure it existed before summerian law too.
The 42 negative confessions or Ma'at were part of everyday living of the ancient egyptians/kemet, and at the very LEAST, they were rules and guidelines that priests/scholars were required to live by.
10 of the commandments that moses allegedly received from god on mount sinai(?) are in the 42 negative confessions, and moses would have been required to learn about these (among other pieces of higher knowledge) since he supposedly grew up in kemetian royalty around 14-1500 BC, right around the time that Akenaten lived and brought back the concept of 1 God.
I realize that a lot of modern christians believe the ancient egyptians were demonic beings who worshipped various gods, used witchcraft, and forced ancient hebrews to build the pyramids, but (according to our scholars) thats far from the truth.
We can agree that the people of ancient kemet around the time of Moses were mostly black/brown africans.
The reason i say this is because our history has been intertwined with jewish myth and eurocentric science/history, and both were eventually used to paint a less than favorable image of the people of ancient kemet and africans in general.
Our scholars teach that outside peoples/cultures were consistently trying to take over kemet since about 1300/1400 BC; they were destroying and stealing artifacts, and have been editing and trying to rewrite kemet's history ever since.
Most people assume that slaves built the pyramids, and that ancient kemet was ruled by white and "copper" arabs". Both false, and most people of african descent know should know this.
*So were told lies about white/arabs founding and building up kemetic civilization.
*we're also told that the hebrew slaves built some of the most famous aspects of african culture (pyramids).
* were also told that the 10 commandments came directly from god when there is historical evidence that ancient kemet already had those rules in place and were expected to live by them
So now one has to decide which limited information makes more sense.
Do we accept information being altered and then perpetuated by the people who mentally and physically enslaved us, put unfavorable images of us all over modern media, use our brothers as modern day slaves in the prison systems, and then place the "best" of us in the "athlete/entertainer" box where only a few of us really succeed?
Orrr do we research (and hopefully accept) information from the people who have studied these theories and stories from OUR perspective, and have come up with different ideas for how things occurred?
I know its a long read and all over the place but im curious as to yours and other african christians responses.
Also, which specific bible do you refer to?
@upthere As far as the 1st paragraph, it's a difficult question because race is a social construct. People back in the Bible days, then didn't think in terms of one's skin color makes one superior over another. The slave master's/colonizers took that concept of course and use passages to say the Black people were cursed. Which would be foreign concept to people 2000 years.
Race wasn't as important as culture and location, and race wasn't viewed in the same manner as we view today, i agree.
But the problem is it's Africans throughout the Bible. Heck, if you look at the description of where the Garden of Eden was. Those rivers are in Africa. So it's hard to answer this question because Christianity didn't start in America. When we say it's the White man religion, or look at how Christianity was used to oppress Black people. We're looking at Christianity from an American perspective. As if it started in America.
Theres a lot in Africa that europeans, and west asians/arabs claim. So even if we all agree that characters, places, ideas, and beliefs began in africa, it doesn't necessarily mean "africans" are responsible for the creation or inception for anything of importance... well unless its cannibalism and us selling each other into slavery, that was all us (according to many of them). Simply being in africa or having african places in the bible isn't enough anymore
So what I'm saying is yes America is racist. The religion of the slave holders was racist. But the religion of Christianity predates this superiority of people of one of skin color. Over another skin color. I think you have to make a distinction between historic Christianity vs. White Man is superior Christianity.
Christianity predates racist european and west asian idealology, but it doesn't predate spirituality in Africa. Do you practice historic Christianity? Also, what is wrong with original African spirituality when compared to the modern christian religion?
When i say "wrong" im not implying you should convert, im asking why dont we as black africans want to learn about the way of life that had us at our peak spiritually, scientifically, technologically, and masters of ourselves?? Even our african ancestors that adopted the qu'ran (not modern islamists religion) were more successful as a people than us modern black african christians.
As far as virgin. Yes, it can be translated 2 ways. There may be other versions but the only one that I know of that translated NET. Which translated Isiah passage as young woman. But in that same Bible (NET) in the New Testament Mary is referred to as a virgin. The other versions used virgin in both. Now, I don't have a problem with the young girl translation. Because she was. But if you interpret as young girl but wasn't a virgin, then that's a problem. Because Isaih 7:14 says:Therefore the Lord himself will give you[a] a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and[c] will call him Immanuel. What would be a "sign" if young girl who wasn't a virgin be? There were plenty of young women getting married and having babies. In that culture.
correct me if my assumption is off. You refer to KJV as your main source during your bible study? If not, which specific bible do you follow, and do you believe in the torah? I see that you have looked at other versions, but im curious as to which one you go to most
Now, as far as other verses being omitted. Yes, that boils down to the Canon of scripture. I have looked at many of those books that were omitted (and they're online book of Enoch, various other Gospels). Looking at the process which was pretty strict, I'm confident that what we have today is what God intended.
I'll have to look into the process a bit more, but what makes you confident that God intended this? Theres so much confusion and disagreements which ultimately have lead to fighting between religious folks. Isn't it odd that a specific group of men have so much say over which of "God's words" make it to the public, and that the rest of us are expected to follow or otherwise be damned to hell or considered "unsaved"?
As far as the 10 Commandments borrowing from 42 Negative Confessions. I'm not sure if those were considered laws like the 10 Commandment. But at the same time, I think you'll probably find common themes in Middle Eastern religion. So I won't say no it didn't. It possible. But what makes the Law unique is the other laws (there were 600 plus, the 10 Commandments pretty much summed it up). Dietary laws, Sabbath were unique to the Jewish religion.
Heres the issue. Borrowing from the 42 Negative Confessions is one thing. But to outright ignore its existence and then use an important character (Moses) in religious history to promote the creation of 10 commandments instead... And then to depict those who lived by Maat as evil, blasphemous people who enslaved "gods chosen"
Ancient kemetians practiced circumcision pre 2000 BC
Abram wasn't alive until around 16-1500 BC (if you have other info please share). So god borrowed customs from the evil ancient egyptians to help create his convenant with abram?
I cant speak too much on sabbath as im not sure enough, BUT ancient egyptians had a different cycle for days of the week and they supposedly practiced a type of sabbath where they didnt work one day of the week... i could be way offbut if anyone has info to support or disprove this id be more than happy to hear.
Influenced by african customs? sure. Unique to a specific religious group? The evidence from our scholars doesn't point to it
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Marvel
Psalm 149:5-9
Yes, the first Christian nation was Ethiopia. Yes...even before any European country as acceptance took longer. In place like Greece and Ancient Rome there was a lot of persecution and virtually none in Ethiopia.
God is good
Hip-Hop-Bulls
All Star
Black people will still losing psychologically as long as they worship and deify and outsource their spirituality to people who look like this...
This is WD Fard. He was "mixed", in other words black. Black father, white mother. He taught the black man is god and white people are devils. It doesn't get any clearer than that. Why is there something wrong with black people bearing witness to this truth that WD brought to the light?
valet
The official Chaplain of the Coli
Yes, I practice historic Christianity. As far as what's wrong with original African sprirituality. I find nothing as far as learning from a historical perspective. That we have a history before being slaves. No problem. But if "spirituality" is in contradiction to what the Bible teaches. (i.e. who God is) Then one has to decide which is the truth.
For just reading I like the New Living Translation. Because it's uses modern phrases, words we use. That's what I use to read the through the Bible. But for study though, I read English Standard Version. It's similar to the KJV in the way it's translated. But with the "thee and thou" stuff.
Well, the process took years. Very careful process and very strict rules. Yeah, I would suggest looking at the history. But ultimately it's more a confidence in God that He can preserve his word. And has done it even until today.
Well, whether it's borrowing or similarities in the areas that you mentioned. Our "uniqueness" isn't based on that. You can find section of Psalms, Proverbs that are similar to tother ancient writings. But those things are not where the ultimate claim of uniquness lies. Who God/Jesus is, what is sin, how it's forgiven is what makes the religion uniqie.
Slaimon Khan Shah
SLAIMON KHAN SHAH = SHAOLIN MONK/S OF ISLAAM
I INVITE ALL OF THE BLACK CHRISTIANS TO THE TRUTH ----->(ISLAM (SUBMISSION TO GOD)).
GMOGMediaTV
GMOGMedia.tv
Alot of these black churches don't really know the true essence of the bible. They rely on certain transcribed versions of the bible and stick to it.
Rather then challenging and educating there church members to go deeper in the essence of the bible. Studying and understanding the languages, Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic.
The English translation from of the bible happened around the 1300's.
Things like this get lost in translation and people tend to skew and interpret things non-objectively but rather for there own intentions.
Rather then challenging and educating there church members to go deeper in the essence of the bible. Studying and understanding the languages, Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic.
The English translation from of the bible happened around the 1300's.
Things like this get lost in translation and people tend to skew and interpret things non-objectively but rather for there own intentions.
For Black/African christians of HL:
Do you believe Yeshua looked similar to you? Does it matter? Why or why not?
No, No, I believer we are all in this together and his looks should/had to correspond with the people in his environement
Which specific holy book do you learn from? Do you think it matters? Why or why not?
]Bible KJV. Not really as long as you have the fundementals. I do think it would be better if we could understand hebrew to get a truer sense of what it says.
Do you believe that slave/colonial masters had an impact on your ancestors religious beliefs?
OR
do your beliefs stem from African denominations of christianity?
I think slave/colonial masters did have an impact on my ancestors beliefs.
What do you consider when deciding on the church you attend?
If the sermons/service speaks to you and how much you get out of it.
Do you believe Yeshua looked similar to you? Does it matter? Why or why not?
No, No, I believer we are all in this together and his looks should/had to correspond with the people in his environement
Which specific holy book do you learn from? Do you think it matters? Why or why not?
]Bible KJV. Not really as long as you have the fundementals. I do think it would be better if we could understand hebrew to get a truer sense of what it says.
Do you believe that slave/colonial masters had an impact on your ancestors religious beliefs?
OR
do your beliefs stem from African denominations of christianity?
I think slave/colonial masters did have an impact on my ancestors beliefs.
What do you consider when deciding on the church you attend?
If the sermons/service speaks to you and how much you get out of it.