Dr. Andre E. Johnson is pleased to announce the publication of The Literary Archive of Henry McNeal Turner,Volume 3, American Reconstruction (Edwin Mellen Press, 2013). This is the third of a proposed 12 volume series that aims at collecting the letters, speeches, sermons and essays of Turner. Volume 3 consists of over 90 writings during Turner’s life from 1866-1880. Order the first two volumes here Praise for the Volumes:Dr. Andre E. Johnson’s scholarship on the life, work, and writings of The Henry... Read more

by Crystal St. Marie LewisR3 Contributor*This first appeared at Crystal St. Marie Lewis blog Last night, I entered a conversation about theology on Facebook– something I vowed never to do again after the “Crystal-you-must-worship-the-devil-because-you-just-said-that-David-and-Jonathan-were-in-love” debacle of 2010. (Yes, in an effort to show that the Bible is not clear on the topic of same-sex relationships, I invoked the long-controversial and hotly-debated ambiguous relationship between David and Jonathan. Both the relationship and the language used to describe the relationship are unclear, I argued. I appealed to scripture and... Read more

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King immortalized many phrases still used in the contemporary American lexicon. But it was on Dec. 17, 1963 in a talk at Western Michigan University when he noted that the “most segregated hour in this nation” is 11 a.m. on Sunday. Though many of King’s other famous quotes come from scripted speeches, the comment above actually was from part of a question-and-answer session with students and faculty about racial integration. He was asked if he believed... Read more

There is an unspoken reality in America. Despite the nation’s history as a self-proclaimed bastion of religion tolerance and freedom and despite the intentions of the founding fathers to separate Church from State, America is a deeply religious nation. The vast majority of Americans identify with the notion of a Creator, and this is reflected in nearly every aspect of American society — from the currency Americans use, to the way they socialize and play, to the way they salute the... Read more

Sunni and Shia Muslims are killing each other in several nations, most notably in Syria’s escalating civil war. Coptic Christians churches are being torched in Egypt. In Israel, what passes for peace talks has restarted after years of murder and brutality. Religion is a common thread in each conflict. But why? Don’t these folks worship the same deity?After all, Jews, Christians and Muslims all trace their faiths back to a fellow named Abraham, whom they all claim was chosen for special treatment by the Almighty. Why can’t they... Read more

by O’Shan Gadsden R3 ContributorI recently began reminiscing about a long-term patient I treated while completing my pre-doctoral internship (our equivalent of a residency).  I continue to be struck by some of the material we explored. I met with this young, intellectually astute, and beautiful young woman twice a week for a nine month period. Most of our work focused on her difficulty understanding her anxiety; setting boundaries with lovers; resolving and mourning her hostility and rage toward her neurotic parents; and... Read more

Of the 10 holidays recognized by the federal government, the future status of two — Labor Day and Christmas — may be short-lived. And, perhaps surprisingly, for the same reason: religion. Already, officials in many school districts and municipalities have decided references to Christmas are politically incorrect, deeming them offensive to non-Christians or those of no religion at all. Often, the complaints come not from the average believer but from fanatics or those who resent any ideas different from their... Read more

by Andre E. JohnsonR3 Editor *Note: Portions of this post were given at the African American Civil War Museum in Washington, DC on August 23, 2013 One hundred years ago, in 1913, African Americans celebrated the fiftieth year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. In respond to the celebration, the AME Church asked Bishop Henry McNeal Turner to write a reflection on the meaning of the Emancipation. However, the selection of Turner was not without problems. At this time, Turner’s public... Read more

For the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, the civil rights movement is not a period of time that only exists in history books; the movement runs deep in his veins — literally. With a mother who was a secretary for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and a father who was an early organizer for the movement, an active minister and regional director for the SCLC, both of whom were eventually married to each other by the Rev. Martin Luther King... Read more

Just a few weeks ago, evangelist Jefferson Bethke wrote a provocative essay for The Washington Post, arguing that church-going millennials were in crisis. Their desire to break free from the rigidness of their parents’ religion, he argued, has led them to an overemphasis on individual freedom. “If you care more about flaunting your Christian freedom than promoting Christian unity,” he wrote, “you’re probably not free. You are actually a slave to your so-called freedom.” I was reminded of Bethke’s essay recently... Read more