Exploring Black Bible Religions
Dr. Eleasah Louis discusses the phenomenon of Black British de-churched individuals leaving mainstream Christianity for “Black Bible Religions” such as Rastafari, Nation of Islam, Holy Qubtic Church, and Black Hebrew Israelites. She highlights the importance of engaging questions around identity, slavery, and colonialism with dignity, and creating educational spaces to address gaps in discipleship and theology. This phenomenon challenges churches to reflect on their approach to historical and social issues.
Engaging with Social Issues
This interview explores how churches engage with justice, racism, and cultural diversity, emphasising the authority of scripture, empowering Christians to navigate challenges, and critically addressing deconstruction. It highlights the importance of understanding lived experiences, balancing biblical truth with social realities, and equipping individuals to love God and others authentically.
An Introduction to Black Bible Religions
This introductory lesson defines black Bible religions as spiritual communities of African and Caribbean descent centred on the Hebrew-Christian scriptures. It introduces Ethiopianism, a framework born from slavery-era readings of the Bible, to explain how movements like Rastafari and Hebrew Israelites emerged. These movements address identity, liberation, and spirituality while challenging mainstream Christianity.
Rastafari
This video examines the beliefs of Rastafari, a black Bible religion rooted in Ethiopianism and African spirituality. It explores diverse beliefs within the movement, including some who see Haile Selassie as the Messiah and others who focus on their connection to Jah (Jehovah). The video highlights Rastafari’s biblical reinterpretations and response to colonial oppression.
The Nation of Islam
This video examines the beliefs of the Nation of Islam (N.O.I.), a Black Bible Religion emphasising the recovery of black people’s “lost religion and identity” through Islam. It explores the N.O.I.’s teachings on black people as the “original man,” their reinterpretation of the Bible and Quran, and their focus on self-sufficiency, self-determination, and empowerment.
The (Black) Hebrew Israelites
This video explores the beliefs of Hebrew Israelites, who claim to be the true Israelites of the Bible. It discusses their identity as descendants of the Hebrews, their reinterpretation of scripture through rereading and revelation, and how they centralise black people in God’s redemptive plan, emphasising empowerment and ethnocentrism.
The Holy Qubtic Church
The Holy Qubtic Church believes African religious heritage predates mainstream Christianity, claiming the Bible stems from ancient African texts. They teach that reconnecting with ancestral spirituality helps black people thrive by restoring identity and dignity lost through colonialism. Salvation, they believe, comes through higher consciousness and rediscovering African spiritual truths.
