Church Heresies Dr. Lewter Urges Term Paper

Total Length: 1829 words ( 6 double-spaced pages)

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As a religion founded on championing the oppressed, Christianity has enormous power to change the minds and hearts of followers. Instead of remaining the religion of the oppressors Christianity can become once again what it was when Jesus was alive: the religion for those who wish to break free from the shackles of economic, political, and social oppression. Lewter uses the pyramid analogy to convey the concept of social oppression. Christianity before the Council of Nicea was the religion of the oppressed but after Constantine adopted Christianity for the Roman Empire it became the means by which to pray for "keeping the pyramid intact" and to "remain at the top."

For African-Americans since the trans-Atlantic slave trade, Christianity has resurfaced as a religion of the oppressed. Prayer has become a means to alleviate suffering, to pray for relief as opposed to praying for status quo. When slaves were expected to worship under the faith of the oppressor they used the religion in ways the original Christians did. They were persecuted peoples.
They were ostracized and victimized for issues beyond their control: they were dark-skinned and they were female. Christianity remained the religion of the oppressed even as it was officially the religion of the politically powerful.

Now the paradigm shift is becoming visible and viable, a new Church council is called for that reflects old Church heresies in new ways. The heresies embodied by people of color and by women are precisely the issues that will be presented at the table at the next Church council. The next church council will address such heresies not once, but again and again. Issues related to the role of Christianity in the modern world and the nature of Christ therein will become core topics of debate and discussion in councils to come, keeping alive the spirit of the Church that has enabled it to survive for….....

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