Who let the Dogs Out? Who, Who?

We might ask "who let the cat out of the bag," or "who opened up this can of worms?"  While Euro-America was resting comfortably in its assumptions of universal cultural, intellectual, and moral superiority in the areas of religion and theology, there was a theology that was developing in Latin America and other parts of the so-called Third World.  It was also developing among African-American people in the U.S.A., and among women around the world.

It was a theology that did not emerge from armchair or ivory tower speculation, but rather from the everyday experiences and reality of socially oppressed groups.  It was a theology that was constructed and developed by what my colleague Dr. Luis Rivera-Pagan calls "people on the margins," i.e. people who are living "on the edge," relative to socio-economic and political conditions.  It was a theology that emerged from the voices of people who had been silenced and/or suppressed by those exercising colonial and imperialistic powers.  It is the theology which is known today as Liberation Theology, or as others might put it, "a theology of liberation."  We might ask just exactly what is it and who were the responsible parties for unbinding the shackles of the theological grip imposed by male chauvinistic Euro-American assumed cultural superiority?  In other words, the question would be, Who had the audacity and intestinal fortitude to challenge Euro-American colonial theology with a theology that came from the "underground?"  How did this all begin, or as we ask in Spanish "como fue que comenzo el bochinche (how did the gossip begin)?"

In a very strict way, Liberation Theology began when Yahweh God spoke to Moses and said to him "I have heard the cry of my people.  Their cry has come up to me.  I am descending to deliver them from their bondage and from their misery."  Liberation Theology developed when Yahweh God through the mediation of human leadership, delivered the Hebrews from institutional slavery of Egypt.

Centuries later, Liberation Theology took on shape and form in different parts of the world when people who were dehumanized and oppressed by reason of their class, culture, ethnicity, gender, nationality, race, and recently their sexual orientation said "Enough is enough, we ain't taking this (expletive) any more, and hell no to oppression."  People began to say "hell no!" to all forms of brutalization and dehumanization.

Since the early part of the 20th century, the oppressed people of the world have come forward to take their stance against oppression.  Blacks, indigenous people in all countries, Latinos/as, LGBT, the poor, the unemployed/underemployed, and peoples from "the margins" are taking bold and strong positions in denouncing and protesting against the trampling of human dignity in all its.

While historically speaking, Liberation Theology has Judaeo-Christian roots, people of other traditions, as well as people who have no formal religious affiliation whatsoever, have been involved in the struggle for emancipation.  Faith-based people committed to liberation are of the conviction that oppression and suffering are the starting points for scriptural interpretation and theological reflection.  Non-religious people involved in the struggle are motivated by their belief in the intrinsic dignity of human beings.

Who let the dogs out?  People of audacity, gall, and intestinal fortitude.

In the Name of the Creator, and of the Liberator, and of the Sustainer. Amen!

Dr. Juan A. Carmona

Visiting Professor of Theology, Tainan Theological College and Seminary

Spider Web Religion: Caught in It?

Spiders spin a certain material in order to catch their prey.  It's as if they know how to trap their intended victims.  Well, it appears that when it comes to religion, most of us are either caught, trapped, or both. Religion has an impact on all of our lives, whether that impact be negative or positive.  Why are we attracted to certain religious beliefs and systems?  There are a variety of reasons for that.  Why are we repelled and "turned off" by certain religious beliefs and systems?  There are a variety of reasons for that as well.

It is not the purpose of this blog to advocate for or against any particular faith group or system.  Nor is it to validate the reasons why we are attracted to or "turned off" altogether by religion.  The purpose of this essay is to encourage the reader to think analytically and critically about her/his affiliation with religion, or the lack thereof, and also why he/she is attracted or repelled.

Let me begin by saying that people are trapped in it one way or the other.  Even when we disassociate from "organized religion," we still deal with the "fallout" of that decision.

Some people are affiliated with the faith community and its Scriptures, because it has been inculcated in their minds since early on in life, that if they are "not in the religion," or if they "don't believe the text," that God is going to have them "roasting and toasting in hell forever and ever."  Their relationship with the faith group, and subsequently with God, therefore, is based on fear and terror of the hell-fire.

Other people are affiliated with a particular faith group because it provides certain financial and material benefits for them either now, or promised in the future.  It is the religion of "prosperity."  They are told that if they join a particular faith group, that God will prosper them with good finances and a host of other material and consumeristic goods.  It's the notion of "what's in it for me?" They enter into a commercial relationship with God.

Some people have a religious affiliation because they believe that if they leave the group, that they are being unfaithful to the traditions of the parents and of the cultural group.  Even if they don't believe the majority of things they hear or parrot every week in their gatherings, they remain in the group for fear of being ostracized by the family as well as the group itself.

Other people affiliate with a faith community because they are convinced that this particular community has a monopoly on God's truth, and that it subsequently constitutes "the right religion."  People who are in that community are convinced that outside of their ideology there is no "truth," because they have "the correct understanding of God's Word."  Any other group that believes different from them is categorized as "heretical," "deviant," "schismatic," or as the group that thinks itself to have the "right understanding" would call them "cold."

And then, we can add to reasons on the positive side as to why people affiliate, there are some who believe that "one religion is as good as another."  Some will say "It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you're sincere."  They believe that one religion will be just as much of a "life insurance" if you will, in the next life.

People who "drop out" of the faith group do so for a variety of reasons.  Some are sick and tired of all the political "bullshit" that goes on in the faith group, especially among those leaders or "wannabe" leaders who wish to weld all the power.  Others leave the faith because they believe it is controlling and enslaving.  Others want "nothing to do with religion," because they simply  no longer (if they ever did) adhere to the dogma of the group.  They believe that the ideology of the group is "out of touch" with reality or "irrelevant" to the times that we are living in.  Others reject religion outright because of all the atrocities that have been committed in the name of God.  And then, there are others who want nothing to do with religion because they believe that religion is just an opiate which distracts people from the present sufferings of life while promising them a much better life in the "sweet by and by."

Well, the list could go on, and on, and on.  We can mention the reasons why people affiliate with or disassociate themselves from religious communities.  As mentioned in the beginning, the purpose of this blog was not to advocate for one position or the other, but rather to get you (the reader) to think honestly and ask yourself  "Why am I associated with this group,?" or perhaps ask yourself "Why am I not associated with this or any other group?"  This has been an exercise in honesty, i.e. stimulating you to think seriously about your relationship with God and affiliation or non-affiliation with a faith group.  Have fun!

Dr. Juan A. Carmona

A Contextualized Jesus: The Afro-Caribbean Christ: Say What?

A lot of people don't really know who Jesus was or is.  They think they do, and even have the audacity, gall, and intestinal fortitude to depict Him as a Caucasian, blonde-haired, and blue-eyed who identifies with the white power structure of Euro-America. Where that notion comes from is beyond me, considering the biblical accounts of where He was born, lived, and ministered.  That picture of Jesus is not only distorted and convoluted, but also an outright falsification of history.

Please read and evaluate for yourself a contemporary and contextualized version of the Gospel according to Luke 2: 1-7:

In those days a decree went out from President Donald Trump that there should be a nation-wide census. This was the first census to take place while Vladimir Putin was President of Russia.  All went to their cities and towns to be registered.  Joseph, who was a black man of African descent, went to San Juan to be registered.  He went to be registered with Mary, and indigenous Puerto Rican, who was living in  San Juan, and pregnant.  While they were living there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in any hospital or hotel.   This is the Word of the Lord, thanks be to God!

Upon reading this you will probably ask "Say what? That's not how the text reads!"  Again, this was a contemporary and contextualized reading of the text.

But you might ask, " Why does the contemporary version read that Jesus was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico?"   Well, the biblical Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea, a city in Israel, which at the time was a colony of Rome.  The contemporary Jesus was born in Puerto Rico, a colony of Spain in the past, and now a colony of the United States.  And Joseph, His stepfather, was of African origins, whose ancestors were brought to Puerto Rico as slaves during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. His ancestors had survived the Middle Passage.

You say "This is too much for me to handle.  I can't fathom an Afro-Puerto Rican."  Well, maybe we need to reread and recontextualize history, especially biblical history.  If Jesus had been born in the 21st century, I doubt very much that He would have been born in any of the European countries.  An account of Him being born of an indigenous Puerto Rican, married to an individual of African background, fits in more with the Gospel accounts.

Jesus was the child of oppressed parents.  Mary's people, the indigenous people of Puerto Rico, and the rest of the Americas, had their land taken away from them by Europe and the United States.  Then they were annihilated by contrived illness and overwork.   Joseph's people had been brought here in chains, to labor for the Europeans.  The length of their servitude was almost parallel to that of the Hebrew slaves, i.e. 400 years.

Yes my friend, Jesus is Afro-Caribbean, take it or leave it.  Can you deal with that?  Can you still take this descendant of oppressed peoples as Lord and Savior of your life?  I hope you can.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Rev. Dr. Juan A.Carmona

Silence is Golden: Really?

When my children were growing up, every time we engaged in a conversation that resulted in their boredom, they would say to me "Dad, silence is golden."  That was their way of telling me to put an end to conversation, at least for the moment.

While I fully agree that there are times when it is better to leave certain things unsaid, I also believe that there are times when issues need to be addressed.  That is especially in regard to the Church's role in society and in the world.

There have been times in history when the Church has been aligned with the "powers that be," and that because of this alignment, it has remained silent in the face of injustice.  And then there are other times that the Church has spoken out and found itself a victim of both political and social hostility.

In the class which I am presently teaching at the Tainan Theological College and Seminary in Taiwan, the issue of the role of the Church has come up several times.  Even though the focus of the class has been on Latin America, the students have been very adept at seeing how Liberation Theology is also applicable to Asia in general, and to Taiwan in particular.  The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan has played a very active role in promoting the sovereignty of Taiwan.  And, in other places of the world, the Church has risen to the occasion and raised its voice in protest against social injustice.

Today we ask, what is the role of the Church relative to the social ills of classism, colonialism, homophobia, racism, sexism, and xenophobia?  Do we hide in our cocoons while the world "goes to to pot?" 

In our country, the U.S.A. a new government will be installed at the end of the present month.  It does not take a rocket scientist to know that we are facing one of the most critical moments in U.S.A history. This is not merely a change of Presidents or government with a different political ideology.  This is the beginning of a government that will be guided and ruled by a very dangerous and demonic mindset.  We will encounter a government that is hostile to certain religious beliefs, and that is also hostile to those whose political ideology is different.  It would not be surprising at all if we witness a massive holocaust of people based on ethnicity/race, religion, sexual orientation, and country of origin.  There are many that believe that this is difficult, if not impossible, given our form of government.  Some of us suffer from historical amnesia, forgetting what happened in Germany, and what has happened in other countries, where people who are different for whatever reason, are the victims of governmental contempt.

What should be the role of Christ's Church?  As followers of Jesus Christ, we cannot subscribe to the adage that "silence is golden."  We cannot sit by and just let things happen.  As has been argued and correctly pointed out by the Scriptural and prophetic witness, silence is another form of complicity.  Doing nothing about injustice is another way of letter it fester and en fin, contributing to it.  Is silence golden?  Hell no! The voices of protest need to be heard, and we must learn how to pray with our legs.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Rev. Dr. Juan A. Carmona