Prophetic Fragments - Paperback

by Cornel West (Author)

This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable.

The crisis of religion in America, says Cornel West, is profound and pervasive: profound in that it deepens as Americans turn more desperately toward religion; pervasive in that it affects every form of religion in America, from Christianity to Buddhism, from reform Judaism to Islam. The rise of the religious right, the decline of liberal Christianity, and the challenge of liberation theology are all symptoms of this crisis.

In this book Cornel West explores the landscape of this crisis in essays, articles, reviews, and even fiction. The selections outline the contours of a "principled prophetism" -- a prophetic religion that incorporates the best of modernity and secularity (tolerance, fallibilism, criticism), yet brings prophetic critique to bear upon the idols of modernity and secularity (science, technology, and wealth).

Touching on various aspects of Christian thought and action in our post-modern times, the essays in this book are informed by a revolutionary Christian vision that is so often absent from American religious life. They display the intellectual rigor that has made Cornel West a highly respected author and thinker -- one who is not only a perceptive surveyor of contemporary Christian thought, but also a gifted shaper of that thought.

Back Jacket

'This collection of writings, drawn from a wide variety of sources, reveals the intellectual depth and breadth of the author. The articles include political commentary, cultural critique, literary analysis, extended book reviews, and even a short story by West. All of these are held together by a prophetic Afro-American Christian perspective. The value of this book is that it provides easy access to a significant selection of the author's corpus.' Religious Studies Review (October 1989)

Author Biography

Cornel West is professor of philosophy and Christian practice at Union Theological Seminary, New York City, and professor emeritus at Princeton University. A self-styled "intellectual freedom fighter," he has written several noted books, including Race Matters, Democracy Matters, and Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud.