Jesus and the Disinherited
In the U.S., February is Black History month. In honor of this, may we affirm the importance of projects that aim to give us a better representation of the truth. A history that more fully and accurately portrays the contributions, sacrifice, and suffering of peoples overlooked, oppressed, and forgotten. As we observe this time in our civil institutions, Its also important for spiritual communities to remember and celebrate the contributions of Black persons and peoples. White people should read Black scholars, listen to Black teachers, and worship in ways that include and honor Black peoples’ voices, stories, experiences, and bodies. So, I’m offering a Lenten reading group where we read Howard Thurman’s Jesus and the Disinherited. Howard Thurman is described as a spiritual leader, civil rights leader, prophet, scholar, mystic, and activist. This book was one of his most notable works and was an important spiritual work that helped shape the U.S. Civil rights movement. “It is the centerpiece of the Black prophet-mystic’s lifelong attempt to bring the harrowing beauty of the African-American experience into deep engagement with what he called ‘the religion of Jesus.’” (Vincent Harding) . It’s a work of historical importance and spiritual substance. Its centering on the “the religion of Jesus” makes it very fitting for Lenten reflection. This is an invitation to read together, talk together, pray together, and consider action for equality and justice. I pray that you will consider reading this book and engage in conversation around it.
Reading Notes
For those who choose to read this great work, here are some things to consider:
The Head: What thoughts or ideas do I find luminating?
The Heart: How does what I encounter impact my relationships and connections?
The Hips: What feelings arise for me in my body and what should I do with this?
In this spirit here are some questions and observations to consider:
Chapter 1: Introduction
Here Thurman introduces his aim of addressing why an oppressed person generally and he as a Black man particularly would want to have anything to do with Christianity. He frames this in terms of the religion of Jesus and that it has to offer something to "those whose backs are against the wall." Look for the ways that Thurman speaks to the head (discussion of dualism on, pg 10) the heart ("the inward center" pg 11), and the hips (Jesus as "just another Jew in a ditch" pg 23). What else do you see?
Chapter 2: Fear
Thurman is taking on the fear that the disinherited live with and the fear that keeps the disinherited oppressed.
From the head: What do you make of this idea? "Most of the accepted social behavior-patterns assume segregation to be normal - if normal then correct; if correct, then moral; if moral, then religious."
From the hips: "Fear actually causes chemical changes in the body, affecting the blood stream and muscular reactions." What other ways does Thurman talk about the ways fear lives in our bodies? What comes up in your body as you consider this?
From the heart, the chapter ends with the story about viewing Haley's commet. How did Thurman's mother speak to his heart? What happened in your heart as you consider this?
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Chapter 3: Deception
Here, Thurman takes on deception. What do you make of the examples of nature that Thurman gives of deception to survive? How does deception express itself in our bodies?
Speaking to the head, he talks about the deception that the oppressed do to survive and the deception that the oppressors perpetrate. How does he talk about it? (Hint he uses the terms “tragic amazement” as part of it on pg 53.) What do you think of this?
Speaking to the heart he shares the concern about loosing moral distinctions on page 54. What does this say to you?
What is the hope that Jesus offers amidst a deceiving system? What is the surgery that he describes on pg 58? What does he say about the experience of power on pg 62?
Chapter 4: Hate
Here, Thurman is addressing Hate. What do you make of the “conspiracy of silence” around it mentioned on pg 65? Who does that silence help? Where does hatred come from?
Speaking to the heart, what kind of understanding is life-giving and what kind is death-dealing?
What danger does hatred hold for the oppressed/disinherited? Where does it come from? (Hint: look at page 69)
How does hate have to do with our bodies? How does it come up? What is it like?
Speaking to the head, what does moral responsibility have to do with hatred (pg 74-75)
Chapter 5: Love
Thurman presents Love as the “central” ethic. Speaking to the head he says, “Neighborliness is nonspatial; it is qualitative (pg. 79) in the first paragraph of this discussion. What do you make of this? How does this idea fit in with how you think?
On page 80 Thurman makes the claim that “Jesus did not consider himself as one who stood outside of Israel.” How does this idea inform our notions of Christianity and the “religion of Jesus?” How should we view Jesus’ with critics and opposition in light of this?
On pages 81-90 Thurman discusses three types of enemies that Jesus calls us to love, personal enemies in our in-group, those in our in-group who serve an oppressive group, and those in the oppressive group. How does love respond to these enemies? What does he mean when he discuss attacking the “enemy status” (pg 87)?
What is the relationship between love and freedom? (see page 91)
What happened to the Roman Centurion (pg 92-94) and the woman caught in adultery (95- 96) when they encountered Jesus? What does your reflection on these encounters say to your mind, heart, and your body?
On page 98, Thurman gives his closing argument saying:
“What then is the religion of Jesus to those who stand with their backs against the wall? There must be the clearest possible understanding of the anatomy of the issues facing them. They must recognize fear, deception, hatred each for what it is. Once having done this, they must learn how to destroy these or to render themselves immune to their domination.”
Did he make his case? Where do we go from here?
