Question

summary of Jesus and the Disinherited?

Answer 1

Jesus & disinherited is a 1949 book, written by a renowned African-American theologian & leader of the civil rights, Howard Thurman. In his book, he has interpreted the teachings of Jesus using the experience of oppressed individuals. Discussing non-violent responses he emphasized the need for the oppressed to love their enemies. The book offers four basic principles to sustain the struggle against oppression, so that, they understand their importance as full human beings, and their rights are endowed by God and not by man. These four principles are fear, deception, hatred, and love. Fear: fear of each other must be abandoned and one must fear only God. Deception: one must not take part in any kind of deception or dishonesty, even to save one's own life. Hatred: one must not hate as hatred is destructive. Love: love everyone, even your enemy. Christianity was perceived as a religion to dominate the members of the African-American community. However, Thurman changed this construct emphasizing Jesus being a member of the underprivileged class. In the book, he has drawn a similarity between the social position of Jesus in Palestine and the social position of African-Americans in the United States. The book has portrayed Jesus as the victory for the poor, oppressed, despised, and underprivileged.