African American materials.

I have been a user of logos for over 10 year and love the software, however I am disappointed over the lack of African American or people of color literature! I think that your product will reach more if the materials had more diversity.

I am in a doctoral class and was very saddened that I have paid all of this money, but could not reference one book by an African American scholar.

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Comments

Ted Hans

Welcome Allen to the forum. Logos is a very responsive company, if you have noticed a shortfall in terms of the diversity of materials Logos offer. Why don't you post to the suggest forum here http://community.logos.com/forums/28.aspx the titles you would like to see in Logos?

tom

I have been a user of logos for over 10 year and love the software, however I am disappointed over the lack of African American or people of color literature! I think that your product will reach more if the materials had more diversity.

I am in a doctoral class and was very saddened that I have paid all of this money, but could not reference one book by an African American scholar.

I agree!!!!!

Because I have brought this subject up many many many times, I am glad that someone else is tooting this same horn!

I fine the lack of authors who have a black, womanist, feminist, etc... perspective appalling. I think a lot is said when we have oodles of old white authors (Bonhoeffer, Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Ironside, Pink, Brueggemann, etc...[all of which I like and have]), and yet we have nothing by the likes of James Hal Cone, Katie G. Cannon, Jacquelyn Grant, Delores Williams, and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza

Allen J. Sims Sr DMin, LBSW

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398740#Comment_398740

Thanks for your reply. I have colleagues who have purchased this product and are very disappointed in the lack of diversity. While i have been a staunch advocate, if there no changes I cannot continue to encourage the use and or purchase of Logos.

tom

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398752#Comment_398752

Thanks for your reply. I have colleagues who have purchased this product and are very disappointed in the lack of diversity. While i have been a staunch advocate, if there no changes I cannot continue to encourage the use and or purchase of Logos.

The way Logos brings new authors into L4 makes it almost impossible for the black, womanist, feminist, etc... perspective to be heard within Logos' products. Before a new resource is added to L4's library, it first must have enough people willing to purchase the new resource. Because most of the users of Logos products are not fans of black, womanist, feminist (liberation) theology, they will not sign up to purchase the new resource. As a result, we do not have any authors who have black, womanist, or feminist theology. AND because Logos does not have any of these authors, people who want/need/use these type of resources are not going to be a Logos user.

Now, how many other biblical software programs have these resources? None that I know of. Therefore, there is an open market where Logos can expand and not have any competition. Why don't they expand into this market? I simply do not know.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398740#Comment_398740

and yet we have nothing by the likes of James Hal Cone, Katie G. Cannon, Jacquelyn Grant, Delores Williams, and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza

Fiorenza is one I would like to see in Logos. The others, I don't know. Generally, however, I don't think there is much value to such things as "Women's Study Bible"s or "Men's Study Bible"s. The scriptures speak to all. I don't see any point in trying to speak to just one group (segregation?). We should be ONE people of God.

Don

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398787#Comment_398787

What about Tony Evans?

http://www.logos.com/products/search?Author=Evans%2c+Tony

Don

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398792#Comment_398792

African American Theology Collection (6 vols.)

http://www.logos.com/product/26666/african-american-theology-collection

NB.Mick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398740#Comment_398740

I think a lot is said when we have oodles of old white authors (Bonhoeffer,

I think a lot is also said when the argument brought for a position fails on the first count. There is exactly one resource with author Bonhoeffer on Logos.com and this is a 500 dollar collection which we have today exactly since two months.

The dead white male argument is lame, because Logos doesn't publish these because they are dead (okay, PD resources exempt) white and male, but because they are relevant and people want or need to read them.

tom

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398793#Comment_398793

African American Theology Collection (6 vols.)

http://www.logos.com/product/26666/african-american-theology-collection

I have not seen this collection before, and it looks like it has just been put on the pre-pub list. I would like to see many many more collections like this one.

IMHO, Tony Evans, while being an African American, does not prescribe to black liberation theology (just like all women do not prescribe to feminist theology).

Don

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398795#Comment_398795

A History of Black Baptists

http://www.logos.com/product/5705/a-history-of-black-baptists

Don

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398798#Comment_398798

You may also wish to check out journal aeticles from such as Semeia or Themelios.

Allen J. Sims Sr DMin, LBSW

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398787#Comment_398787

When we omit the work and contributions of those who are not of the dominant culture, then you have discrimination and segregation.

Dr. Andrew Sung Park

Here are some authors from my library:

Dr. Harold Carter Dr Cleophus Larue

Dr. Joel Gregory

Dr. David Whitford

tom

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398787#Comment_398787

I don't think there is much value to such things as "Women's Study Bible"s or "Men's Study Bible"s. The scriptures speak to all.

I agree with you George, but black theology is not the same as feminist theology just like "RC theology" is not the same as "Lutheran theology."

While scripture speaks to all, scripture does not say the same thing to everyone. (If it did, we wouldn't have the countless denominations.) As a matter of fact, scripture doesn't same the same thing to the same person. How many times have we engage scripture over and over again and learn something new? And how many times have we engage scripture to have our minds changed about something that we believed was about/in scripture?

Because of this, we need to test our understanding of scripture, and we need to test it with scripture along with other understandings of scripture. There will be times that we disagree with the understanding of scripture, and that is okay.

fgh

Provided that they can get the publishers on board, Logos tend to produce what they see a large enough demand for. And in the two years I've been here I haven't seen that much of a demand. So you need to post in the Suggestions forum, write to suggest@logos.com, and get others to do the same. You could also contact the publishers, if you have any specific in mind.

In the last year we've seen quite a surge in Catholic resources, and a smaller one in Anabaptist ones, but that's taken many years of persistent 'nagging' by some very persistent people.

yet we have nothing by the likes of James Hal Cone, Katie G. Cannon, Jacquelyn Grant, Delores Williams, and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza

We probably don't have much, but "nothing" is too strong: there is Semeia 47: Interpretation for Liberation and Semeia 36: Early Christian Apocalypticism: Genre and Social Setting.

I have to say, though, that I find it rather ironic that this thread turns up the day after the African American Theology Collection was put on prepub. [:D] When I saw the heading I expected a stump for that, or perhaps a question about it.

Don

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398802#Comment_398802

Mr. Sims,

I would agree with Mr. Hans and encourage you to make specific recommendations of titles on the Suggestions page. I would also encourage you to contact some of the authors and/or their publishers and encourage them to establish a relationship with, and publish in, Logos. Members of these groups have done so in the past. At times we have been successful. It usually takes time.

We will all be better served as more offerings are made available to us all.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398802#Comment_398802

While scripture speaks to all, scripture does not say the same thing to everyone. (If it did, we wouldn't have the countless denominations.) As a matter of fact, scripture doesn't same the same thing to the same person. How many times have we engage scripture over and over again and learn something new? And how many times have we engage scripture to have our minds changed about something that we believed was about/in scripture?

The objection I have is not to differing views of scripture—"Let a thousand flowers bloom." The problem I have is wanting to have a particular resource because of the gender or ethnicity of the author. If it's good, it's good. If it's not good, it's not good. This is a judgment on the work itself. I can generally tell if the author is male of female by the name (duh?). [;)] I cannot generally tell, however if a person is black or white, nor do I care. I can generally tell if someone is Chinese or Korean by the name, but still the issue is the inherent value of the resource without consideration of extraneous matters.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398805#Comment_398805

I have to say, though, that I find it rather ironic that this thread turns up the day after the African American Theology Collection was put on prepub. When I saw the heading I expected a stump for that, or perhaps a question about it.

Same here.

Don

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398809#Comment_398809

Don't forget about Vyrso

http://vyrso.com/products/search?q=african+american&start=0&sort=rel&pageSize=60

Allen J. Sims Sr DMin, LBSW

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398800#Comment_398800

There is also

Dr. Cleophus Larue

Dr. Evans Crawford

Dr. H Beecher Hicks

Dr. Henry H Mitchell

Dr. Gardner Taylor

Dr. Samuel Proctor

Dr. Carter G Woodson

Dr. Dwight Hopkins

Dr. Edward P. Wimberly

Dr. Martin Luther King

This only a few that can be included in Logos. And watch the demand for these authors go up. It doesnt make sense to come to a National Baptist Convention or a Conference where there is diversity and offer a product that id not diversified.

Allen J. Sims Sr DMin, LBSW

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398811#Comment_398811

When I posted this it was really a question that has troubled me for some time, especially as I began to finish my final document.

Don

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398811#Comment_398811

I concur with Mr. Somsel that the quality of a work should stand on its own merit and not that of the author's race or ethicity. However, I think it is important to see that the Kingdom fo God includes people from every nation, tongue, and tribe. If the reality or perception is that the writings only "dead, white, European males" are offered, some will feel excluded, and others will feel the right to exclude.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398816#Comment_398816

I might modify my statement slightly to indicate that we (probably) all have resources which we don't consider quite so exemplary, but we have them to represent a position (with which we disagree). I wouldn't want to put African-American works in that category, nor feminist works though individual works might be representatives of positions with which we disagree. In that case, the works are there, not because they are by African-Americans or women, but because they represent a viewpoint. I might as well throw the fat in the fire. One thing I find disappointing about female theological authors is that they tend to concentrate on women, women, women. I do wish they would branch out into general areas.

BTW: I would like to see some works by Elaine Pagels in Logos.

fgh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398811#Comment_398811

Don't forget about Vyrso
http://vyrso.com/products/search?q=african+american&start=0&sort=rel&pageSize=60

Good call! But just as with Catholic books, there isn't any real tagging to find them. Unless the words 'African' and 'American' are both included on the product page, the books won't show up with that search.

For example, I noticed there were two books about Condoleezza Rice and one about Colin Powell, but none about the guy far more African Americans voted for. Wondering if that was indeed the case, I did a search for "obama" and found another bunch of books that should qualify as African American (and at least two different misspellings of "Barack" -- you'd think they'd know how to spell that by now!).

So you'd have to do a lot more searches to locate all that's there. With just "african" you get 73 instead of 50. Presumably at least some of the additional ones are relevant. "Black" gives another 173 to wade through, many definitely relevant. Then you can search for authors and so on.

But, being Vyrso, most of it will, of course, not be "theology" in any real sense, but novels, biographies and the like.

fgh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398819#Comment_398819

One thing I find disappointing about female theological authors is that they tend to concentrate on women, women, women. I do wish they would branch out into general areas.

Not sure that's entirely fair, but I admit there's some truth in it. However, one very important reason for it is that men have spent 2000 years concentrating on men, men, men, so there's quite a big hole to fill. [;)]

I agree that a lot of this feminist theology is crap, but sometimes orthodox theology needs 'crap' in order to define itself. Remember, we wouldn't have the Nicaean Creed if it hadn't been for all those nasty heretics. If no one tests the limits, we never find out where the limits are.

The problem I have is wanting to have a particular resource because of the gender or ethnicity of the author.

I might modify my statement slightly to indicate that we (probably) all have resources which we don't consider quite so exemplary, but we have them to represent a position (...) In that case, the works are there, not because they are by African-Americans or women, but because they represent a viewpoint.

If you're studying the living conditions of women in rural China, and only read books by Anglo-Saxon males who've never set foot outside a city, you may learn a number of statistics, but you'll never really grasp what life is like for those women. To do that you need first hand accounts by rural Chinese women.

Mostly, wanting a resource "because of the gender or ethnicity of the author" is wanting it because it represents a particular viewpoint. A slave wanting to be free is bound to read the Bible differently than a slave owner using it to defend slavery. That's not an issue of 'ethnicity' per se, it's an issue of different viewpoints. It just so 'happens' that the slave is black and the slave owner white, but it's not their colour that make them read the Bible differently, it's their background.

It's no more strange to want African American resources than it is to want Anglican resources. The real issue is: do you want the best African American or Anglican resources, or do you want the crap that's no doubt written within both groups.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398843#Comment_398843

Unless the words 'African' and 'American' are both included on the product page

As stated earlier in this thread, not all women embrace feminist theology nor all African-Americans embrace Liberation Theology. There are many books out of central and south America written by Catholic Latino authors that promote Liberation Theology so I believe it is unfair to criticize Logos from a theology perspective. There are also other books in Logos that show an intent and desire for diversification. The African Commentary was written by an African and published in Africa. Is it the lack of it being "American" that excludes it's value? I also believe Logos published a book by Bishop T.D. Jakes but I can not locate it on the website today. If you check Logos' LinkedIn write up you will see they maintain offices in South Africa. Logos is by far the most diversified Bible software company.

.From a marketing perspective asking for "African-American Liberation Theology" seems rather discriminatory and exclusionary. Not all good theologians are Americans. Not all African-Americans are proponents of Liberation Theology. To ignore the African-Non-Americans or the Latino Liberation Theologians is really limiting what Logos can offer you. Putting race, nationality or skin colour filters on your reading will result in a narrow menu to choose from. If 3% of theology books are pro-Liberation Theology (that would be a generously high estimate) how much demand would be necessary for Logos to break even? Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza is not totally ignored in Logos. Search the website and see.

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398858#Comment_398858

If you're studying the living conditions of women in rural China, and only read books by Anglo-Saxon males who've never set foot outside a city, you may learn a number of statistics, but you'll never really grasp what life is like for those women. To do that you need first hand accounts by rural Chinese women.

It needs to be noted that I approach this from a biblical theology perspective. Regardless of one's gender or ethnicity the sitz im Leben is still the same as is the intent of the passage. The difference lies in how that intent impacts one's current situation which may differ somewhat depending upon current factors.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398858#Comment_398858

If you're studying the living conditions of women in rural China, and only read books by Anglo-Saxon males who've never set foot outside a city, you may learn a number of statistics, but you'll never really grasp what life is like for those women. To do that you need first hand accounts by rural Chinese women.

While this is true, you have to ask "How many rural Chinese women write books?" Then you must ask yourself "How much demand will there be to purchase this book?" The Community Pricing program is our opportunity to cast a "vote" for works we would like to see published. Once something is listed there, we cannot fault Logos if there is not enough interest to bring it to publication. I am all for any works to get listed in the CP program but I do not place orders for every listing. (I can't afford to. [:'(])

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398808#Comment_398808

The problem I have is wanting to have a particular resource because of the gender or ethnicity of the author.

I think the request is for particular theological perspectives rather than for particular ethnic/gender authors. It's just that the overlap of the theological perspective with ethnicity and gender is very high.[;)]

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398870#Comment_398870

May I refer you to http://community.logos.com/forums/t/28987.aspx

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398819#Comment_398819

One thing I find disappointing about female theological authors is that they tend to concentrate on women, women, women.

Logos:

Sharyn Dowd: Reading Mark

Bonnie Thurston: Reading Colosians et. al.

Marie Issacs: Reading Hebrews et.al.

Mary Ann Beavis: Mark (Paideia)

Jo-Ann Brant: John (Paideia) etc.

Dead tree:

Barbara Green

Johanna Manley

Antoinette Clark Wire

Amy-Jill Levine

Gail Ramshaw etc.

Only a handful of the female authors in my library concentrate on women, women, women ...

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398869#Comment_398869

The Community Pricing program is our opportunity to cast a "vote" for works we would like to see published.

Unfortunately, the resources being discussed would go through Pre-pub. Sometimes, the best approach is to approach both Logos and the publisher. Of course the best way to get them through Pre-pub is to have a penny sale. So much wonderful stuff is coming out that all I have left is pennies.[:(]

fgh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398865#Comment_398865

Matthew, did you actually read my posts before you answered them?

a) I was only pointing out that if you search vyrso.com for African American you will only find books that include both words on the product page. Other books won't turn up, no matter how African American they are. That's a simple fact about how the search engine works. You seem to accuse me of excluding relevant books, when I was doing the exact opposite: pointing out that you need to do more than one search in order to include them.

b) I never even mentioned Liberation theology, so I have no idea why you write as if I'd said all sorts of objectionable things about it. The OP asked about African American theology, so that's what I searched for.

c) If you look on the first page you will find that I already did search for Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza. I posted the links as well.

d) I also never said that the first hand accounts had to be books written down by the women themselves. One can go there and listen to them. Or read books by people who have gone there and listened to them and written down the accounts.

e) Finally, I have no idea what CP has to do with this. Given slavery, the lack of education, and the lack of publishing opportunities, the amount of Public Domain African American theology must be fairly slim. Most would be prepubs, not CP's. But either way, no one can 'vote' by ordering unless Logos has first put it up for sale.

fgh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398879#Comment_398879

Only a handful of the female authors in my library concentrate on women, women, women ...

I can think of one book on paper, plus one or two that were compulsory reading at university. If I have anything in Logos, I didn't buy it deliberately. As for the rest, St Catherine and St Bridget definitely didn't concentrate on "women.women, women..." Nor did Teresa or Thérèse or Julian of Norwich or Jeanne de Chantal. If they concentrated on any one 'thing', it was Jesus, and I think he was male... [:P]

George Somsel

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398879#Comment_398879

Only a handful of the female authors in my library concentrate on women, women, women ...

I can point to an entire collection. If I were to search for more, I know I would find them.

http://www.logos.com/product/5728/gender-and-the-bible-collection

fgh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398917#Comment_398917

I can point to an entire collection.

And how many collections do you think I could point at that concentrate on men, men, men? [:D]

Rick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398787#Comment_398787

The scriptures speak to all.

I agree with George. When we start determining our purchases by white, black, Asian or whatever race we start dividing the body of Christ.

Thanks for your reply. I have colleagues
who have purchased this product and are very disappointed in the lack of
diversity. While i have been a staunch advocate, if there no changes I
cannot continue to encourage the use and or purchase of Logos.

Honest question: Why does the person's race matter? I can understand why their theology matters but to me, I think it is completely silly to stop buying or recommending Logos resources if they don't offer enough black authors.

Galatians 3:28 (NIV)
²⁸ There
is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one
in Christ Jesus.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398917#Comment_398917

Only a handful of the female authors in my library concentrate on women, women, women ...

I can point to an entire collection.

Not in my library - electronic or dead tree[:D]

But your claim was:

One thing I find disappointing about female
theological authors is that they tend to concentrate on women, women,
women.

I provided counter evidence. I did not say that no female theological authors tend to concentrate on women - rather I was saying most female theological authors don't concentrate on women.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398929#Comment_398929

I provided counter evidence. I did not say that no female theological authors tend to concentrate on women - rather I was saying most female theological authors don't concentrate on women.

[:D] I like my mother's theology. She taught me from the Bible since I was knee-high to a grass hopper. [:D]

back on topic: Is there not some representation of works on Liberation Theology already in Logos, if we remove the "African-American" requirement? This is a serious question. I am asking because I do not know the answer. The only brush with LT I ever had was through our labour union and El Salvador in the 80's. The rest of my limited exposure was books that were critical of it.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398936#Comment_398936

Is there not some representation of works on Liberation Theology already in Logos, if we remove the "African-American" requirement?

Sort of ...

Preaching Liberation by James H. Harris

Feminist Interpretation of the Bible and the Hermeneutics of Liberation

Contextual Theology for Latin America: Liberation Themes in Evangelical Perspective by Sharon E. Heaney

The Origins and Early Development of Liberation Theology in Latin America by Eddy José Muskus

Compare the authors to the major liberation theologians: Gustavo Gutiérrez of Peru, Leonardo Boff of Brazil, Jon Sobrino of El Salvador, and Juan Luis Segundo.

No overlap - the book by Muskus is the closest - and it's a rebuttal:

"In The Origins and Early Development of Liberation Theology in Latin America,
Eddy Jose Muskus provides an academic analysis of the roots of
liberation theology. Muskus argues that Bartolome de Las Casas’
sixteenth-century writings have been misinterpreted and misused by such
liberation theologians as Gutiérrez to advocate theological agendas, and
he challenges claims that the movement began with the Latin American
poor, instead proposing that its fundamental tenets originated in
Europe. He examines how liberation theology has exposed Catholicism’s
shortcomings in providing a moral framework for Latin American society,
but he also lays bare many of the movement’s tenets’ lack of biblical
basis."

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398936#Comment_398936

I answered ST but it's awaiting moderation - I'm obviously rarely moderate.

Matthew C Jones

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398939#Comment_398939

I answered ST but it's awaiting moderation - I'm obviously rarely moderate.

[:O] Uh-Oh! I hope you didn't "dis" my mother! Moderation on a Saturday? Why can't the anti-spam team try that? [6]

tom

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398936#Comment_398936

if we remove the "African-American" requirement? This is a serious question. I am asking because I do not know the answer.

I do believe that there is some, but I am also going to say that Logos do not have any of the 'big names' (and by big names I mean the names that I want). When I was in seminary, I was wondering the same thing (why all of the classifications of liberation theology. While I am not an expert (and hence why I want more resources from these perspectives), there are some major differences between the various flavors of liberation theology.

Carl Sanders

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398938#Comment_398938

I hope this doesn't sound like making excuses, because it is an area that needs some development efforts. But here goes anyway.

A factor not yet mentioned contributing to the dearth of materials from some of these perspectives may be publisher relations. I'm not sure how this works, but we all know it takes a while to get publishers on board with electronic publishing in general (and sometimes Logos in particular). Much of the liberation theology literature is published by publishers with whom Logos does not have existing publishing relationships. One quick example. Orbis Press is an important publisher of liberation theology materials, for example, but I don't think Logos has published anything by them. Some of that has to do with history, but I would hope that is a future area they hope to expand. I teach a bit with African-American theology (I'm at a diverse school) and we read James Cone, most of which is Orbis produced (we also read Anthony Bradley's critique, which is in Vyrso - but comes via Crossway). I think this will change over time; some of the Catholic presses, where we are beginning to get more material have done more with liberation theology than have the traditional "evangelical core" publishers who have produced a large percentage of the Logos books to this point.

I do know they are aware of this and want to address some of these areas in the future from personal conversations and some projects I'm aware of. But it wasn't the core market they began with - and it takes time to fill in all this. Counseling patience seems a bit lame I know, but I'm hopeful for the future.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/398978#Comment_398978

why all of the classifications of liberation theology

the best source I know is

Handbook of Biblical Criticism, Fourth Edition Richard N. Soulen, R. Kendall Soulen which I have previously suggested be in Logos - not perfect but the best I know.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/399003#Comment_399003

but I'm hopeful for the future.

As am I

Alain Maashe

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/399012#Comment_399012

We need to keep in mind that no one comes to the Bible with the neutral perspective or background. Despite our best efforts to remove ourselves from the equation, our understanding of the world of the Bible and of how the Bible applies to our own world is impacted subtly and not so subtly by our gender, ethnic/cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds. As a black African and as such not a westerner, it is rather easy for me to recognize that most of the works in my library are written from the perspective of white men, their insights being substantially shaped by their particular backgrounds. Although there is a very great commonality in how we understand and apply Scripture, our different backgrounds and experiences nevertheless play a role in what we notice in and emphasize from the text and how we apply it. I would however like to differentiate between theology that is primarily agenda/culturally driven and theology that is primarily interested with recovering authorial intent. Personally, I do not care for the former but I also need to admit that our attempts to recover the biblical authors’ intended meaning is still colored by our backgrounds and horizons, even as we still to neutralize them (a fusion of horizons always happen). In this framework, it would be a great mistake to consider white men’s way of doing theology (the overwhelming majority of works in Logos) by to be normative and anything else to be just an ethnic take on theology (all perspectives are in a sense “ethnic”). While I have no interest in agenda driven theologies such as feminist and liberation theologies (whether it is black or not), I welcome theology from a perspective other than that of white men because it brings a much needed diversity of insights on the biblical text as it is studied from various angles and addresses various concerns and issues. I want valid insights from Westerners, Africans, Asians, Latinos… male and female as the diversity of emphases and perspectives, if done in a way that respects the text, can only enrich our understanding of scripture and give us a fuller picture of what the original author meant and how it applies to the lives of believers in various contexts (the same principle behind “a fresh set of eyes”).

Whether some of us want it or not, the tide is changing, the global south is the future of Christianity (which is already an endangered species in many places in the West). It will bring a diversity in understanding and expression of the faith that is more representative of the composition of the body of Christ and hopefully more representative of what the Bible itself teaches. It is just a matter of time and there is no going back.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/399025#Comment_399025

Well stated, Alain. My personal bias is to press Logos for non-Western white man resources such as the following as a "first-wave". They are sufficiently familiar to provide a segue into non-Western thought:

Africa Bible Commentary (1 volume, available in Logos)
Africa Bible Commentary series (available volumes in Logos)
The International Bible Commentary (1 volume, Liturgical Press)
Asia Bible Commentary series (multi-volume from Asia Theological Association)
Dalit Bible Commentaries (out of Tamil Nadu)
The Orthodox Bible Study Companion Series (Byzantine is a stretch for some Logos users)
Orthodox Christian Reflections by Reardon

I'm sure that there are others more knowledgable than I who could improve the list.

Rick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/399025#Comment_399025

I welcome theology from a perspective other than that of white men because it brings a much needed diversity of insights on the biblical text as it is studied from various angles and addresses various concerns and issues. I want valid insights from Westerners, Africans, Asians, Latinos… male and female as the diversity of emphases and perspectives, if done in a way that respects the text, can only enrich our understanding of scripture and give us a fuller picture of what the original author meant and how it applies to the lives of believers in various contexts (the same principle behind “a fresh set of eyes”).

Allen, if the above quote is what you had in mind, I apologize. From
reading your original post, I honestly and simply thought that you
were stating that Logos was in some way prejudice and that God somehow sees races as being different in humanity (which I have extremely strong feelings about). So once again, if
my assumption was wrong I ask humbly for your forgiveness.

And to the rest of the forum users I apologize to you for posting what is basically an admonishment earlier in this thread. I guess that jumping to conclusions concerning race is a consequence of living in a part of the United States that still has a lot of prejudice/hatred for others of different skin color on all sides.

Alain, I agree 100% and as this thread grows I am seeing with clearer eyes.

fgh

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/399134#Comment_399134

Allen, if the above quote is what you had in mind, I apologize.

I think you're mixing up Allen and Alain.[;)]

Rick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/399166#Comment_399166

I think you're mixing up Allen and Alain.

Hi FGH, my intention was to apologize Allen Sims (the original poster) for the remark that I made here: http://community.logos.com/forums/p/54973/398926.aspx#398926

Please let me explain further,

I live in an area where there are a lot of lines drawn on basis of race (all sides are guilty). White people will drive past a church of their denomination and drive an extra 10 miles just to reach a church that is predominately white. Blacks and Asians do the same. I personally take Galatians 3:28 to what some would call an extreme and others would not. I believe that a Christian should not regard one's race in pretty much anything. We are simply human in God's eyes and are all brothers and sisters.

I interpreted Allen's first two posts in this thread as saying (paraphrase) "Logos, you are prejudice and you need to add more minority authors to your program or I will quit using it and stop recommending your program simply because most of the authors available are white".

When Alain posted, it really made sense to me and woke the hamster up in my little brain and the hamster's wheel started spinning. Obviously in not a very clear way, I asked Allen if what he was trying to communicate was what Alain had said, and if so, I feel the need that I have to apologize to him.

I realize now, that I was more than likely way to quick handed with my assumption against Allen. Quite frankly, I now feel pretty stupid and I truly apologize not only to him but any others who I may have offended. It is easily done on forums where you really can not communicate in a face to face talk. In the years that I have been a member of the forums I have been both an offender and the offended. I have had to apologize like this a couple of times... regretfully.

Finally, with spiritual guidance, I voluntarily had to withdraw from the forums for a little while and was excited to come back when the shun was lifted. I think that most of us can recall some rather unruly posters and I do not want to be regarded as one of them nor a "troll".

I simply got over emotional and I apologize to all who I may have gotten under the skin of.

Thanks and God bless. [:$] [:$]