The Inward Journey Episode 5: Rev. Dr. Reggie Williams reflects on Howard Thurman
Jul 16, 2023
Rev. Dr. Reggie Williams, a scholar in Christian ethics and author known for his work on the Harlem Renaissance, shares powerful insights into Howard Thurman’s legacy. He discusses how Thurman shaped his early spiritual journey and influenced civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. Williams delves into Thurman's approach to mysticism and the importance of self-knowledge in combating racism. The conversation highlights Thurman’s radical vision for healing and communal well-being, urging a deeper understanding of race and spirituality.
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Thurman As Foundational Black Theologian
- Howard Thurman shaped black religious thought as a mystic and theologian confronting slavery's legacy.
- His role influenced civil rights leaders and offered a spiritual framework for resistance.
A Scholar's First Encounter
- Reggie Williams first encountered Thurman as a PhD student reading Jesus and the Disinherited.
- The book profoundly shaped his study of how Christology informs Christian moral life.
Christology Shapes Moral Imagination
- How Christians conceive of Jesus directly shapes their ethics and judgments of right and wrong.
- Thurman's Christology is thus central to understanding moral formation in black religious thought.
