African American Religious Cultures [2 volumes]

Download or read book African American Religious Cultures [2 volumes] written by Anthony B. Pinn and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2009-09-10 with total page 785 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This encyclopedia offers the most comprehensive presentation available on the diversity and richness of religious practices among African Americans, from traditions predating the era of the transatlantic slave trade to contemporary religious movements. Like no previous reference, African American Religious Cultures captures the full scope of African American religious identity, tracing the long history of African American engagement with spiritual practice while exploring the origins and complexities of current religious traditions. This breakthrough encyclopedia offers alphabetically organized entries on every major spiritual belief system as it has evolved among African American communities, covering its beginnings, development, major doctrinal points, rituals, important figures, and defining moments. In addition, the work illustrates how the social and economic realities of life for African Americans have shaped beliefs across the spectrum of religious cultures.