Friday, January 25, 2008
The Trinity United Church of Christ and Louis Farrakhan
General piece by
David J. Jonsson
(This is the second of a series of articles on The Clash of Ideologies and Leftist/Marxist - Islamist Alliance.) - It is important in considering the following to note that Barack Hussein Obama is a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ and according to their website: The Pastor as well as the membership of Trinity United Church of Christ is committed to a 10-point Vision. When Obama moved to Chicago and became a community organizer, he found it expedient to choose a Christian church to join.
Recall this is a church and a mentor who Obama has relied upon to shape his views, to be his sounding board; the church is the largest recipient of his charity dollars; he proudly states that he admires the church and Jeremiah Wright, Junior. He prayed with Wright before he announced his candidacy for President. He is a beacon for Obama.
Julia Speller, a leader at Trinity and author of Walkin’ the Talk: Keepin’ the Faith in Africentric Congregations, notes in her book that the church offers courses in Swahili and that its youth programs, Intonjane and Isuthu, take their names from Swahili words for coming into manhood and womanhood. The congregation celebrates the Kwanzaa holiday and Umoja Karamu, a Thanksgiving Day service that narrates the story of the black family from its West African origins to today with dancing, drumming and storytelling.
The Celebration of Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa was invented in 1966 by a black radical, Ron Karenga, aka Dr. Maulana Karenga. Karenga a former black militant, a Marxist and a convicted felon was a founder of United Slaves, a violent nationalist rival to the Black Panthers. Claiming to have the unity of black people in mind, Karenga committed most of his crimes against blacks. Just five years after his invention of Kwanzaa, he was convicted of torturing two black women by stripping them naked, beating them with electrical cords, placing a hot iron into the mouth of one and mangling the toe of the other in a vice. During the ordeal, he forced them to drink detergent. See: Why Black Christians Shouldn’t Celebrate Kwanzaa by La Shawn Barber
Participants acknowledge their African roots and promote seven harmless-sounding principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. The seven principles of Kwanzaa are the very same seven principles of the Symbionese Liberation Army. Each snakehead stood for one of the SLA’s revolutionary principles: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba and Imani, the exact same seven “principles” of Kwanzaa.
While they sound commendable, the guiding principle behind Kwanzaa is based on race, not on faith in the one true living God and Savior - Jesus Christ.
Dr. Karenga’s hatred of God-fearing religions prompted him to create his own system of principles that apparently he hoped would steer men away from what he felt was a weakness—a belief in God. An example of his opinion of religion is the following quote from his book, Kawaida Theory (1980) :Reference: The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa
“Belief in spooks who threaten us if we don’t worship them and demand we turn over our destiny and daily lives must be categorized as spookism and condemned.” pg 27
And also when he says of Christianity and Judaism in his list of negatives of religion:
“...it is a simplistic and often erroneous answer to existential ignorance fear, powerlessness and alienation. An example is the Hebrew myth of the six-day creation and the tower of Babel, or Christian myths of resurrection, heaven and hell;” Kawaida Theory, p 23.
“...it often denies and diminishes human worth, capacity, potential and achievement. In Christian and Jewish mythology, humans are born in sin, cursed with mythical ancestors who’ve sinned and brought the wrath of an angry God on every generation’s head. ... If a mythical being has done, does and will do everything, what’s our relevance and role in the world?” K.T. p 24.
Over the years, Karenga has altered his pagan intentions to attract more black Christians into the fold. He now claims that Kwanzaa is a time of giving “reverence to the Creator.” Just what creator he refers to is unclear. Red flags should jump out at any Bible-believing Christian when someone reveres a “Creator” but denies the deity of Christ.
And in spite of claiming Kwanzaa to be a time of giving “reverence to the Creator” as he claims now (Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture,, pg 19), his disdain for prayer of any type is shown in his early writings.
“Thus if persons want to fast or pray, read numbers, stare at stars, chant spookistic slogans or anything similar, they may, but is is imperative that they not add these to or pretend they are a part of the principles and practices of Kwanzaa.” Kawaida Theory, p 15.
It wouldn’t be erroneous to say that Karenga intended to create a celebration that steered Blacks away from God, but to celebrate and honor man instead. He makes this clear when he makes the following statement in his book, Kawaida Theory:
“When messenger Muhammad taught that we are Gods and can make history and remake the world in our own image and interests, he set a good example.” p 27.
Christians must understand that Karenga intends Kwanzaa to be an alternative to Christmas so that blacks can celebrate themselves rather than the birth of Christ. Kwanzaa is not an innocuous celebration of black history. It attempts to spiritualize that history, replacing Christ-centered theology with pagan principles. For Christians, the only principles by which to live are found in God’s word, The Holy Bible.
Kawaida Theory: An African Communitarian Philosophy was written by Maulana Karenga in 2003. Dr. Maulana Karenga, activist-scholar, university professor, creator of Kwanzaa, author, Seba (moral teacher) in the ancient Egyptian Maatian (Kawaida) tradition, stands as a major figure in the African American liberation movement & in African American social-ethical & cultural philosophy. In our politically-correct climate, even President George W. Bush, a believer in Christ, feels obligated to praise this ritual.
“Kwanzaa was created to introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing family, community and culture among African American people as well as Africans throughout the world African community.” “The Official Kwanzaa Website“
When Karenga was asked to distinguish Kawaida, the philosophy underlying Kwanzaa, from classical Marxism, he essentially explained that under Kawaida, “we also hate whites”. (Now how do public schools and the the Trinity United Church of Christ promote a holiday based on racism and violence?) While taking the “best of early Chinese and Cuban socialism” which one assumes would exclude the executions of rival ideologies, forced abortions, imprisonment of homosexuals and slave labor—Kawaida practitioners believe one’s racial identity “determines life conditions, life chances and self-understanding.” Now there’s an inclusive philosophy for you!
There is a movement that started 2,000 years before Kwanzaa; it goes well beyond mere “unity” and “faith” to establish that we are all equal in God’s eyes.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” Galatians 3:28.
This movement has two simple tenets; Love God & love people!
In the Mainstream?
Trinity is well within the mainstream of the black church, and is remarkable in the mainline world only for its size and influence and for its handful of celebrity members, like Oprah Winfrey and hip-hop artist Common.
As noted on Biography.com Farrakhan, Louis (1933– ) : “Black Muslim leader. Born Louis Eugene Walcott on May 11, 1933 in the Bronx, New York. He grew up in Roxbury, Massachusetts, and was converted to the Nation of Islam by Malcolm X. Following Malcolm X’s defection (1963–4), Farrakhan became the national representative for Elijah Muhammad…. In 1995, along with other prominent black leaders such as Al Sharpton and Barack Obama, Farrakhan helped lead the Million Man March on Washington.
It should be also be noted that as reported in the New York Post of January 18, BARACK’S UN-RIGHTEOUS REV: “In a 2007 interview with The New York Times, Wright said: “When [Obama’s] enemies find out that in 1984 I went to Tripoli [to visit Moammar Khadafy] with Farrakhan, a lot of his Jewish support will dry up quicker than a snowball in hell.”“
Obama’s campaign released a statement from the senator on January 15.
“I decry racism and anti-Semitism in every form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements made by Minister Farrakhan,” Obama said in the statement. ”I assume that Trumpet Magazine made its own decision to honor Farrakhan based on his efforts to rehabilitate ex-offenders, but it is not a decision with which I agree.”
The statement ignored the point that his minister and friend had spoken adoringly of Farrakhan and that Wright’s church was behind the “Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Lifetime Achievement Trumpeteer award” on Farrakhan to the Nation of Islam leader. Award was presented at the 2007 Trumpet Gala held on November 2, at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Not only is Trumpet owned and produced by Wright’s church out of the church’s offices, Wright’s daughters serve as publisher and executive editor of the magazine.
“When Minister Louis Farrakhan speaks, America listens…For his commitment to truth, education and leadership, we honor Minister Louis Farrakhan with the Rev. Jeremiah W. Wright Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award.” The award video is available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXS_YrYp07Q
Cohen reported in the Post that Obama’s chief strategist, David Axelrod, had said that Obama and his minister disagree on many issues and Farrakhan was one of them.
Prior to Obama’s statement of January 15, (The Award was presented November 9, two months prior to his statement.) he did not denounce ties between Pastor Wright and Farrakhan, nor has Obama rejected the anti-Israel diatribes of Wright. Nor did Obama denounce Farrakhan when he helped lead the Million Man March in 1995 in Washington. One has to ask if in his condemnation of the remarks of Farrakhan, he is also condemning the Nation of Islam.
Louis Farrakhan’s Travels to Africa
Louis Farrakhan was traveling through Africa in February 1996, where he has met with, among others, Libya’s Muammar Qaddafi and Nelson Mandela in South Africa.
However, Farrakhan’s trip got major media attention when he met with South African president Nelson Mandela. The NOI head hypocritically played up to Mandela by appealing for Muslims and Christians and Jews to work together for the common good. Nonetheless, Mandela felt the need to distance himself from the racialist NOI demagogue, admonishing him about the ANC principle of nonracialism.
Farrakhan launched his friendship tour in order to pursue his political and social aims and projects and for evident self-enhancement, newly magnified by his leadership of the Million Man March in October 1996. Particularly in light of the Nation of Islam (NOI) leader’s heightened prominence, it behooves all those who struggle for black emancipation to look even more sharply and closely at the aims and practices of Farrakhan’s movement as shown in concrete circumstances.
Farrakhan’s Sudan Connection
Farrakhan’s support to the Sudanese slave masters is yet another example of his utterly reactionary program and purpose.
As part of its attempt to channel black anger against capitalist oppression into anti-Semitism, such tracts include The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews, the by Historical Research Department of the Nation of Islam that has long purveyed the absurd claim that 75 percent of slaves in the American South before the Civil War were owned by Jews. The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan says of this book” “I HAVE BEEN VINDICATED.”
As pointed out in Farrakhan Is Bad News for Black People (WV No. 600, 13 May 1994): In reality, the not very numerous Jews in the South in 1860 owned a tiny fraction of the four million slaves, and only a tiny proportion of the Atlantic slave trade involved Jewish merchants. Arab merchants and black African tribal chiefs were heavily involved in the Atlantic slave trade, too. But of course Farrakhan disappears this incontrovertible historical fact.
In a New York Times article from Reuters on February 10, 1996, Farrakhan Said to Pledge Support to Sudan.
“The leader of the Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan, was quoted today as saying American Muslims backed the Sudan against “unjust plots.”“
“Mr. Farrakhan, who met with President Umar Hasan al-Bashir and the spiritual leader Hassan al-Turabi during a five-hour visit, was quoted in the Government-owned newspaper, As Sudan al Hadeeth, as calling on Muslims throughout the world to confront “Western attempts” against Islam.”
“The Sudan says a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding the extradition of three men suspected of trying to kill President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt last year is a plot to impose sanctions. The Government today asked the three suspects to surrender within a week. The newspaper also quoted Mr. Turabi as saying that Mr. Farrakhan’s visit, which comes as the United States is withdrawing its diplomats from Khartoum for security reasons, showed that the American people supported the Sudanese.”
Sudanese leaders General Omar Hassan al-Bashir and Sheik Hassan al-Turabi, of course they deny that slavery exists in their country.
“Beginning in early December 1997, Louis Farrakhan and his 24 member delegation embarked upon the third “World Friendship Tour.” Farrakhan stated that he “…would like to demonstrate how diplomacy and friendly relations should be carried out” while paying visits to 52 nations on the tour; in the end, the total number of nations visited was 37.”
“The timing of Farrakhan’s visit to Libya, December 21, coincided with the ninth anniversary of the bombing of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Visiting with Libyan leader Muammar Qadaffi, he claimed that President Clinton was surrounded by advisors who were Israeli agents. He also claimed that he never said that Jews hated Black people, only that they exploited them.”
“In mid January, Farrakhan arrived in Khartoum, Sudan and met with Sudanese President Omar al Beshir, Islamic leader Hassan al Turabi (Secretary General of the Popular Islamic Conference), and other officials. The Nation of Islam’s web site reported that Farrakhan claimed that “Islamic militants were not to blame for the massacres carried out in Algeria and were the victims of anti Islamic machinations.” He reportedly told worshippers at a Khartoum mosque that “It is a challenge and a test for Muslims in Sudan to be the target of plots and conspiracies that aim at obstructing the spread of Islam in Africa.” It is important to note that the Minister continues to be a supporter of this Islamic extremist dictatorship and continues to ignore reports of Black enslavement in the country. He also apparently said nothing about the widespread starvation going on in the Sudan.”
United Church of Christ Response
On January 11, 2008 the United Church of Christ website posted an by J. Bennett: Thomas denounces smear campaign against UCC’s largest congregation . Rev. John H. Thomas, the UCC’s general minister and president, called the e-mail-driven claims “absurd, mean-spirited and politically motivated.”
“Thomas said. “They contain misleading statements obviously meant to undermine the integrity of one of our most vibrant, mission-driven congregations.”… Obama, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, has been a member of Trinity UCC for 20 years.”
“Trinity is a destination church for many members of the UCC, a multi-racial, multi-cultural denomination that is largely Caucasian,” Thomas pointed out. “When in Chicago, many UCC members flock to Trinity to share in and learn from its vibrant ministries, dynamic worship and justice-minded membership. Contrary to the claims made in these hateful emails, UCC members know Trinity to be one of the most welcoming, hospitable and generous congregations in our denomination.”
No reaction From Oprah Winfrey
It is interesting that Oprah Winfrey has not issued a similar denouncement of Farrakhan and the ties between Trinity United Church of Christ and Farrakhan. Obama’s and Winfrey’s failure to do so suggest that they not only condones much of what Wright says, they agree with it.
David J. Jonsson
David J. Jonsson is the author of Clash of Ideologies —The Making of the Christian and Islamic Worlds, Xulon Press 2005. His new book: Islamic Economics and the Final Jihad: The Muslim Brotherhood to the Leftist/Marxist - Islamist Alliance (Salem Communications (May 30, 2006). He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in physics. He worked for major corporations in the United States and Japan and with multilateral agencies that brought him to more that fifteen countries with significant or majority populations who are Muslim. These exposures provided insight into the basic tenants of Islam as a political, economic and religious system. He became proficient in Islamic law (Shariah) through contract negotiation and personal encounter.
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