Political Engagement Meets the Prosperity Gospel: African American Christian Zionism and Black Church Politics

• In Event: 341 - Section on Sociology of Religion Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 07. Religion and Race/Ethnicity

Abstract

How do religion and race affect political engagement in black churches? Studies of black church-based political engagement usually consider religious frameworks of emancipation in the form of social gospels or racial histories, associating civically and politically engaged groups with socially liberal politics and movements for racial justice. By contrast, this article draws on two years of fieldwork to explain how non-emancipatory religious frameworks and politically conservative political activism operate in black churches. Using the case of the growing African American Christian Zionist movement, which draws on racial and religious motivations to foster political support for the State of Israel, this article argues for increased attention to theologically and politically conservative social movements within black church contexts. This case shows how black Christian supporters of Israel work to persuade fellow black pastors and church members to engage in politics situating their cause within traditions of black church political engagement. It also highlights how, in doing so, African American Christian Zionist tactics depart from typical scholarly frameworks for understanding black church political engagement. The discourse of African American Christian Zionist activism and outreach thus provides an instructive example for understanding how black church political engagement is increasingly happening outside of typical contexts that emphasize racial justice and emancipation, rather focusing on alternative motivations and social solidarities.

Author

• Roger Baumann, Yale University