African American Religious Cultures

[2 volumes]

Anthony B. Pinn

• Publisher: ABC-CLIO
• Year: 2009
• Print ISBN: 9781576074701
• eBook ISBN: 9781576075128
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: African American Studies
• Index: Social Sciences

This encyclopedia offers the most comprehensive presentation available on the diversity and richness of religious practices among African Americans, from traditions predating the era of the transatlantic slave trade to contemporary religious movements. Like no previous reference, African American Religious Cultures captures the full scope of African American religious identity, tracing the long history of African American engagement with spiritual practice while exploring the origins and complexities of current religious traditions. This breakthrough encyclopedia offers alphabetically organized entries on every major spiritual belief system as it has evolved among African American communities, covering its beginnings, development, major doctrinal points, rituals, important figures, and defining moments. In addition, the work illustrates how the social and economic realities of life for African Americans have shaped beliefs across the spectrum of religious cultures.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction: The Forging of AfricanAmerican Religious Cultures
• Part 1 ENTRIES
• A
• B
• C
• E
• F
• G
• H
• J
• K
• M
• N
• O
• P
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Part 2 ESSAYS
• African American Literature and Religion
• The African American Megachurch Phenomenon
• African American Preaching and Sermonic Traditions
• African American Religion and the Environment
• African American Religion and Gender
• African American Religion, Healing, and Health
• African American Religion and Politics
• African American Religion and Popular Culture
• African American Religion in the Urban Context
• African American Religious Thought
• Education and African American Religion
• Psychology of African American Religious Behavior
• Worship in the African American Church Tradition
• Chronology of People and Events
• APPENDIX: Primary Documents
• APPENDIX: Related Topics
• About the Editors and Contributors
• Index