Church Culture (Paperback)

Paperback. Church Culture examines the Black Church not simply as a religious institution, but as a living cultural and theological system shaped across centuries of African heritage, enslavement, and resistance.Beginning with the African foundations of Christian theology the Alexandrian tradition and thinkers such as Clement, Origen, and Athanasius this study traces how Christianity took root in Africa long before its European expansion, then follows its transformation through the transatlantic slave trade, the "invisible church" of the enslaved, and the institutional growth of Black congregations after emancipation.Drawing on history, theology, and cultural analysis, the book explores the Black Church's defining expressions: its worship and gospel music, its preaching tradition, its models of pastoral and congregational leadership, and its long involvement in social justice and civil rights movements. It also considers challenges facing the Black Church today, including generational change and the role of digital media in shaping modern worship.Framed around the concept of Kingdom Culture, Church Culture argues that the Black Church remains a vital paradigm for understanding the intersection of faith, culture, and community - and a significant contribution to the global history of Christianity. Church Culture examines the Black Church not simply as a religious institution, but as a living cultural and theological system shaped across centuries of African heritage, enslavement, and resistance. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.…