The Origins Of Slavery In The Nineteenth Century
“Christian outreach to slaves began at a snail’s pace. In fact, before the 1720’s, virtually nothing at all took place that is worthy of mention in a brief survey such as this one”. (Sweeney 109)
(1) After reading the aforementioned quote, I would challenge Mr. Sweeney to do a bit more digging around the origins of slavery and conversion as well as rephrasing his statement. “Africans and African descendants working in the early modern Atlantic commercial system were exposed to the world of European Christianity as early as the fifteenth century, when Portuguese missionaries came to the coasts of Africa. Some slaves, therefore, brought Christian beliefs with them when they were thrust into slavery”.
(2) Similarly, the slave’s form of Christianity
was profoundly impacted with their own theology and practices that would support their resistance and at times, rebellion. I am curious, with these alterations, would these slaves still be called evangelicals or liberationists? Also, mustn’t evangelicalism be included in the conversation around reparations?
(3) I am struggling with the Sweeney readings as a whole more than the Dayton readings. In Sweeney’s book I see more of an emphasis on apologetics or the “sins of our fathers”. Yet, still an undercurrent of evangelicals must stick together for the expansion of the kingdom. In Dayton’s book, I see more historical acumen and grass roots support as to what we cannot and should not repeat as evangelicals within the realm of piety and social justice.
Dayton’s book has helped me define who I am within the title of Christian. I am an evangelical pietistic progressive Methodist.
(1) After reading the aforementioned quote, I would challenge Mr. Sweeney to do a bit more digging around the origins of slavery and conversion as well as rephrasing his statement. “Africans and African descendants working in the early modern Atlantic commercial system were exposed to the world of European Christianity as early as the fifteenth century, when Portuguese missionaries came to the coasts of Africa. Some slaves, therefore, brought Christian beliefs with them when they were thrust into slavery”.
(2) Similarly, the slave’s form of Christianity
was profoundly impacted with their own theology and practices that would support their resistance and at times, rebellion. I am curious, with these alterations, would these slaves still be called evangelicals or liberationists? Also, mustn’t evangelicalism be included in the conversation around reparations?
(3) I am struggling with the Sweeney readings as a whole more than the Dayton readings. In Sweeney’s book I see more of an emphasis on apologetics or the “sins of our fathers”. Yet, still an undercurrent of evangelicals must stick together for the expansion of the kingdom. In Dayton’s book, I see more historical acumen and grass roots support as to what we cannot and should not repeat as evangelicals within the realm of piety and social justice.
Dayton’s book has helped me define who I am within the title of Christian. I am an evangelical pietistic progressive Methodist.