The Position of Religious Leaders in African-American Communities - Research Paper Example

? Religious Black Leaders Religious Black Leaders Research from scholars has proved that in African-American communities, the position occupied by religious leaders from historical times is notably powerful. Though they play act differently in their role as religious leaders, African-American leaders are looked upon as vital components of the developed rich and diverse spiritual realm evident today. The difference in role comes because some encourage and inspire their followers to fight against social injustice while other concentrate majorly on God-centered values of the family (Cornel & Eddie, 2003). In their endeavors to attain this recommendable achievement, misfortunes happened to many of them. In fact, research proves that many African religious leaders were intimidated and retained with several physical tortures. Despite these misfortunes, their efforts were not shattered and eventually realized their dream. Religion, like politics has in the past played a major role in transformation of societies and continues to influence the course of human life to date. At the individual level, religion provides personal solace and in many cases personal gains, while states use it in combination with politics to advance their influence and power. Throughout history, most nations have undoubtedly used religion to push political agenda whether in geopolitics or public life domains. As the case with many nations, religion is a powerful tool in American politics and its public life. Although the United State of America operates as secular state without an established religion, Christianity has influenced its public life in a very significant way (Johnstone, 2006). Many politicians from all political parties have used Christianity, which is the most dominant religion in the United States, as an indispensable tool for maintaining unity among members and political institutions. As history bears witness, founding fathers of the American society were cosmopolitan intellectuals who were devoted to rationalization and enlightening of the society other than hardcore atheists. Though America is not perfect concerning its history of religious tolerance, its puritanical roots were remarkably effective in avoiding conflicts and wars between religions; instead, there is freedom for the various faiths to express themselves. Religion for a majority of Americans influences their political agenda and their opinion on major policy propositions (Sam, 2004). Although scholars disagreements on the extent of Christianity among the African-American society, there is however no doubt that black Christian evangelism influenced the population tremendously in championing for their rights and transforming the entire American society (Johnstone, 2006). Historical religious leaders including Mays, Kelsey and Martin Luther King are famous for combining their academic knowledge with thorough tradition Christian grounding to champion for change in public life of black Americans. The period that followed the civil war in America had widespread and open discrimination of blacks. Racist whites considered them as inferior humans and mostly mistreated them as slaves in their farms and industries (Johnny, 2003). With the benefit of extensive exposure, Martin Luther King was the most outspoken black religious leader who blatantly spoke against those who upheld racist ideologies. He blamed racism for crippling the nation since its foundation, asserting that a survey of the moral landscape revealed the widespread wreckage of commitment in various quarters through prejudice and unquestioning irrationality. Continuously attacking the prevalent trait of discrimination in white dominated sectors, King kept the fight for equality alive throughout the nation often defending the good whites who had embraced equality and shunned racial prejudices. This helped a lot in enhancing integration and acceptance between the two races and eventually making freedom and equality the dominant ideologies. Racism took a back seat only remaining in some minute sectors of extremists. Being based on the dogma that civilization was only possible through elimination of some races and making others pure, king preached the gospel that this logic was at best genocide. Drawing much experience from his huge exposure to pro African-American gospel, he perceived training in theology as a means of achieving his goal of succeeding in championing of human rights for blacks and intellectual respectability (Timothy and Albert, 2007). Another instrumental religious leader was The Rev. Calvin O. Butt, III. He was a pastor of the legendary Abyssinian Baptist Church and at the same time served as a president of SUNY College located at Old Westbury. In his roles, he became a prominent voice since he headlined social issue that affected individuals for over 15 years. Despite the many criticisms, Butt eventually managed to strike a balance between his role as a pastor and a social activist. In the contemporary society, examining the impacts of religious leaders on the American society is the best way to explore its application on various spheres of live. These include; Religion and societal happiness: since the days of Aristotle, many scholars world over have worked tirelessly to determine the various things that make people happy. This was as result of the realization that happy people tend to be law abiding, productive and invariably make good citizens and good company too (Timothy and Albert, 2007). Happiness and general feeling of well-being turned out to be some of the major accomplishments of religion among the masses. Regular attendance of places of worship especially among Christians is at the top of things that people derive happiness from religion. In most cases, religious affiliations serve as indicators of who is most likely to have a feeling of contentment. It’s the assertion of epidemiologists based on researches conducted in different parts, which regular attendance of religious gatherings and worship services help register reduced stress levels among their study subjects (Cornel & Eddie, 2003). Concerning family stability, the impacts of religion are vivid in the manner in which troubled couples and family members run to religious leaders for counseling and resolution. Many African American spiritual leaders played and still do play the role of mediators in families of their congregation members (Johnstone, 2006). During the post civil war periods, religious leaders played a crucial role of keeping the community united both at the societal and family levels. A study carried out in the University of Nebraska entailing a national survey of stable families, found out that over 80% of them identified religion as a big contributor. This revelation holds even stronger grounds among the stable Africa-American families where parents identified frequent church attendance as one of the major factors that promote good behavior through provision of moral support (Johnstone, 2006). The study also found out that fortification of marriages through holy weddings plays a big role in assuring stability as well as keeping divorces on check due to emphasis on reconciliation and forgiveness. With respect to physical health, religion and education are equally important in attaining good health in society. Cardiovascular diseases, which account for many deaths in old age, are low among people who attended church regularly in their early days as revealed by a study done by the public health department. Non- attendees by contrast registered high mortality rates from diseases like liver cirrhosis, arteriosclerosis and suicides. A study on poor people also found out that regular church attendees lived longer than those who did not have religious commitments, a revelation which reinforces many other researches done on that subject. The effect of reducing stress levels in regular church attendees also contributes greatly to reduction in levels of high blood pressure occurrences (Timothy and Albert, 2007). Further, there is an increasing realization that moral values concerning alcoholism and drug abuse have greatly improved the health of religious people across all societies. Perhaps one of the major ways in which religious leaders influence society is the area of crime and delinquency. Although only small amounts of research is available in this field since ancient times when African Americans were struggling for their rights, religious leaders preached the doctrine of peaceful existence within ones means. As a result, there were and still to date there are fewer cases of robberies, suicides and homicides in societies with more religious populations (Cornel, 2003). Religious involvement leads to increased self-control among youths while decreasing their engagement in such acts as drug abuse, premarital sex, and general delinquency. Studies done on Africa American male prisoners revealed that most of them either stopped attending church at the age of ten or never recalled ever attending any religious gatherings. Lack of faith affiliation at the onset of adolescence leads many of them into alcohol and drug abuse. The ability of religious leaders to inspire ethical values to members clearly plays a vital role in strengthening families and the society (Thabit 2007). Black American religious leaders extensively pushed for hard work and financial responsibility in a bid to end poverty and dependency among their followers using Christian doctrines. Max Weber, a prominent German sociologist, demonstrated strong connection between religious affiliations and economic stability in Protestants as well as across other denominations. His assertion is that active practice of religion is good for family, individual and national financial well-being. Over the recent past national health has benefited a lot from redirection of public policy to reinforce religious practices that promote health. The fight against HIV/AIDS gets a big boost from religious leaders who call for abstinence and faithfulness among their members (Anthony 2011). This has positive implications on societal and national expenditures on medical related problems. However, there are also negative impacts of associated with religion even though small and secluded. There are instances of spiritual religious leaders engaging in detrimental behaviors including sexual harassment and child molestation especially in the Catholic Church, which prohibits its clergy from marrying. Several African American religious leaders also crossed paths with government over allegation of promoting deviance and violation of the law among their followers and for organizing mass protests against the government. Many antigay crusaders also point accusing figures to religious leaders who openly support same sex unions, since by doing so they make many people get justification to pursue such objectives confidently (Pippa and Ronald, 2004). In conclusion, the influence of Africa American religious leaders on the society has been tremendous through time. Defending of human rights, fights against racism and discrimination propelled mostly by preaching and inspirational speeches that religious leaders delivered to their non Native Americans followers. These struggles led to the present day liberal society where at the top of the leadership of United States is a man with African roots leading all races that exist in America. Through their preaching, religious leaders have affected the society in many positive ways, contributing immensely to the social well being of the community (Thabit 2007). General security, health, financial well being and political stability are some of the broader ways in which the united states have benefitted from religious leaders of different denominations and faiths. Therefore, the impacts created by renowned African American religious leaders like Martin Luther King during the formative days of the United States have created far-reaching implications in all the spheres of life as evident in today’s society. References Anthony, B. P. (2011). What Is African American Religion? Augsburg: Fortress Press. Print Thabiti M. A, Mark A. N. (2007). The decline of African American theology: from biblical faith to cultural captivity. Michigan: IVP Academic. Charles, E. L, & Lawrence, H. M. (1990). The Black church in the African-American experience. Durham: Duke University Press. Cornel, W, and Eddie, S. G. (2003). African American religious thought: an anthology. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press. Johnstone, L. R. (2006). Religion in society: a sociology of religion: Prentice: Prentice Hall. Johnny, E. W. (2003). African American religion and the civil rights movement in Arkansas. Mississippi: Univ. Press of Mississippi. Pippa, N, and Ronald, I. (2004). Sacred and secular: religion and politics worldwide. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Sam, H. (2004). The end of faith: religion, terror, and the future of reason. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. Timothy, E. F, and Albert, J. R. (2007). African-American religion: interpretive essays in history and culture. London: Routledge. Read More