Jesus and the Disinherited

Jesus And The Disinherited should be distributed to every individual studying the religion of Jesus. Howard Thurman is a prolific writer with profound theological concepts accepted by most religious backgrounds. This book is a must read. I absolutely love it!

The poetic parade of insights into the thickets and glories of what it is to find ourselves with our backs against the wall, and yet find a way to stand tall and explore ways ‘through’ - this gem of a book of Howard Thurman’s radiates with help for one & all on their journeys…

Amazing, deep reflections on Justice, mercy, love, and identity. Thurman has woven a masterpiece in tribute of Jesus who gives the disinherited an inheritance.

Dr. Thurman’s writing is eloquence personified. A man of supreme and gifted intelligence. His understanding of history, religion and the human condition is profound. “Jesus And The Disinherited” continues to grow me in my understanding of God and myself.

Regarding Howard Thurman's Jesus and the Disinherited, paperback.I suggest that the value of this work is less as a timeless document, as one reviewer suggests, and more as a great sermon for its time. Being great, that means it can speak to us as well, but it has a few scholarly and theological points which may have tarnished over the years. This is the situation:WW II is over, and the hints of efforts to desegregate were starting. This essay was not written as biblical scholarship or theology or sociology or psychology. Some claims from all those points of view are suggested. He wishes to influence behavior and attitudes, so that his audience can deal with their condition effectively, in a more Christian manner. He makes statements which may be historically or psychologically or scripturally inaccurate. However, most of his psychological theses are sound.The "homily" is written from the point of view of a preacher, addressing all the black people of mid-20th century America. I suspect few lay black Americans read it. Its primary role was in informing the sermons and strategies of the civil rights leaders arising in the following 15 years. His message is strengthened by the humility with which he describes the discussion which prompted his writing.It was in part written in response to a learned Hindu observation that Christianity had many sins laid at its feet. The irony is that the response is directed not to the Hindu as much as it is to Thurman's Christian contemporaries, as a remediation of the kind of reactions which would break out in American riots 20 years later and be fueled by the black power movement.Thurman never denies the racism and injustice. He makes no excuse for it. But it is also a sign of his times (1949) that he does not advocate the events which became the seeds of the integration movement 10 years later. He is describing how to make the very best of a bad situation. To his credit, he does it with no reference to sin or resurrection or the coming Parousia. I don't think he deals with it, he does relate his thoughts to domestic violence, which is not his primary subject. This shares the genre of Bonheoffer's The Cost of Discipleship, as a manual of practical Christian advice. Thurman is intent on restoring Jesus to the center of Christian life and thinking.His references to American and personal history are made to illustrate points about the psychology of the oppressor and the oppressed. They especially illuminate the sham of "separate but equal" attitude.What I liked best is that although he did not address it, he was not naive about the kind of violence we hear about in domestic abuse situations.

Bought for parent she enjoyed the book

I don’t normally write reviews. But after my second time through this book, I found myself compelled. Not that Howard Thurman needs anyone to sign off on his works, but as a Pastor ministering to this complicated modern world, I find his words incredibly relevant and inspiring. His understanding of Jesus as a member of the Disinherited is spot-on. I can no longer look at Jesus the way that I did in my youth, as a white man without fallibility. If the global church looked at Jesus as a member of the disinherited and understood his ministry therefore bringing good news to the poor and the disenfranchised, we would be looking upon a new and revitalized church. One that cares about doing good for the least among us and for speaking out about social justice.

Received promptly in perfect condition.