Since the Reverned Wright scrutiny, I have heard many people demonise him for his "hate speech." Has anyone here ever been to a black church and is annyone here familiar with liberation theology?

In his speech today before the National Press Club, I was very excited to see that the public was getting some education on the subject from him. I am not one who goes to church, as I have been disillusioned toward various groups that call themselves Christians. But the only time I felt comfortable and positive about a church going experience, it was from the time I spent in the "black church." I find it hard to believe in a religion that is okay with oppression of an entire race, or with the murder of innocents that didn't do anything to us. I think that there are in fact two different Christianities in our country, the Christianity of the oppressor, and the Christianity of the oppressed. Or as Rev. Wright said, the Christianity of the slave, or the Christianity of the slave master.

Anyone have any thoughts about the history of the Black church, or Christianity in the U.S.A.?

Here, here! We are in total agreement there. But although I find that his timing is good for the dialogue needed here in the U.S., it probably isn't good for Obama. But as Wright stated, he is a pastor, not a politician. And he also stated that if Obama were to win the presidency, he would be coming after him for the very same reasons he goes after our other leadership, for representing a government that has policies that are harmful to innocents and a war that is unjust. I would attend his sermons regularly if he were in New Jersey. And as a volunteer in the military, he is more patriotic than Cheney or Bush, in my opinion. And he has every right to say what he says, he certainly isn't the only pastor who has said these things.

Oh, and try to catch the National Press Club speech. It was great. Not the soundbites, the entire speech.

This is very intriguing. I will definitely look into it further.
Thanks very much for bringing it to my attention!

Possibly, but not surely. I liked the part where the moderator was questioning him smugly about his sermons- that certain one in particular- and he asked her if she had bothered to even listen to the whole sermon; and not just that YouTube soundbite. She turned beet-red, and wouldn't answer. By her silence, it is ovious that she has not.
That is one of the problems surrounding Wright. People are judging him on what they think he meant; instead of making the effort to listen to what he actually said- where they would find out that yes, his words have been misunderstood completely.
Whether or not it was wise for him to speak out now; I think Wright explained it best in his interview with Bill Moyers.

Yea, I'm glad that Wright finally came out and told his side of the story. It's refreshing, really.

Hating whity is not a Christian thing to do. Even if there are a select few who really are there enemy. We are all slaves to the system.

He wasn't about hating whitey, Grace. Once again you are throwing in your opinion on something that you know absolutely nothing about, and have based an opinion without ever hearing one full sermon by the man. And I was speaking about your kind of Christianity when I mentioned being disillusioned by religion. Get a clue, and then maybe I can respect your opinion.

He spoke about reconciliation, not hating whitey. He spoke about how true Christians don't engage in unjust war and the murder of innocent Iraqis. Please Grace, go and listen to some entire sermons before you judge.

I want to correct myself a bit about the Black Church. Reverend Wright does not speak for the entire collective of black churches in America. He is apparently a bit more on the fringe then most. He is preaching liberation theology, which isn't being preached in every black church.

I believe in the bible, not religion. I believe in having a relatioship with Jesus Christ, and that it is possible to have that with out ever stepping into a church, or proclaiming a religion. If Im disillusioned for my beliefs, then so be it.

True Christians didnt engage in a war with Iraq. The United States goverment did, along with several other countries. True there was alot of support from Christians, but they along with everyone else was lied to about the true intentions of the war. Im not judging him at all. I could really care less. There are plenty of reasons I could never vote for Obama, and none of which has to do with the church he attends. If this man is trully a brother in Christ, I will see him there. If not, then I wont.