Conjuring Culture: Biblical Formations of Black America (Religion in America)

This book provides a sophisticated new interdisciplinary interpretation of the formulation and evolution of African American religion and culture. Theophus Smith argues for the central importance of "conjure"--a magical means of transforming reality--in black spirituality and culture. Smith shows that the Bible, the sacred text of Western civilization, has in fact functioned as a magical formulary for African Americans. Going back to slave religion, and continuing in black folk practice and literature to the present day, the Bible has provided African Americans with ritual prescriptions for prophetically re-envisioning, and thereby transforming, their history and culture. In effect the Bible is a "conjure book" for prescribing cures and curses, and for invoking extraordinary and Divine powers to effect changes in the conditions of human existence--and to bring about justice and freedom. Biblical themes, symbols, and figures like Moses, the Exodus, the Promised Land, and the Suffering Servant, as deployed by African Americans, have crucially formed and reformed not only black culture, but American society as a whole. Smith examines not only the religious and political uses of conjure, but its influence on black aesthetics, in music, drama, folklore, and literature. The concept of conjure, he shows, is at the heart of an indigenous and still vital spirituality, with exciting implications for reformulating the next generation of black studies and black theology. Even more broadly, Smith proposes, "conjuring culture" can function as a new paradigm for understanding Western religious and cultural phenomena generally. "In Conjuring Culture, Theophus Smith provides an innovative, interdisciplinary interpretation of the formation of African-American religion and culture. Smith argues for the central role in black spirituality of "conjure"--A magical means of transforming reality. Smith shows that the Bible, the sacred text of Western civilization, has in fact functioned as a magical formulary or sourcebook for African-Americans." "Beginning in slave religion, and continuing in folk practice and literary expression, the Bible provided African-Americans with ritual prescriptions for prophetically re-envisioning and, therein, transforming history and culture. In effect, it functioned as a "conjure book" for prescribing practices of healing and harming in response to the vicissitudes of black experience, and for invoking Divine and extraordinary powers in the conduct of social change and freedom movements. Typical prescriptions entail biblical symbols, themes, and figures like Moses, Exodus, Promised Land, and Suffering Servant - figures that have crucially formed and reformed American culture as a whole." "In addition to religious and political phenomena. Smith explores black aesthetics as expressed in music, drama, folklore, and literature. The concept of conjure discloses an indigenous and still vital spirituality with implications for reformulating the next generation of black studies and black theology. Indeed, the book introduces "conjuring culture" as a new conceptual paradigm for understanding Western religious and cultural phenomena generally."--Jacket In Conjuring Culture, Theophus Smith provides an innovative, interdisciplinary interpretation of the formation of African-American religion and culture. Smith argues for the central role in black spirituality of "conjure" - a magical means of transforming reality. Smith shows that the Bible, the sacred text of Western civilization, has in fact functioned as a magical formulary or sourcebook for African-Americans. Beginning in slave religion, and continuing in folk practice and literary expression, the Bible provided African-Americans with ritual prescriptions for prophetically re-envisioning and, therein, transforming history and culture. In effect, it functioned as a "conjure book" for prescribing practices of healing and harming in response to the vicissitudes of black experience, and for invoking Divine and extraordinary powers in the conduct of social change and freedom movements. Typical prescriptions entail biblical symbols, themes, and figures like Moses, Exodus, Promised Land, and Suffering Servant - figures that have crucially formed and reformed American culture as a whole. In addition to religious and political phenomena. Smith explores black aesthetics as expressed in music, drama, folklore, and literature. The concept of conjure discloses an indigenous and still vital spirituality with implications for reformulating the next generation of black studies and black theology. Indeed, the book introduces "conjuring culture" as a new conceptual paradigm for understanding Western religious and cultural phenomena generally. Contents......Page 16 Introduction: Formulary......Page 20 Part I: Ethnographic Perspectives......Page 34 1 Genesis......Page 38 Mimetics......Page 40 Theopoetics......Page 45 Mosaica......Page 49 Pharmacosm......Page 52 2 Exodus......Page 72 God-conjuring......Page 74 Ethnogenesis......Page 79 Repertory......Page 83 Americana......Page 87 3 Law......Page 98 Judges......Page 99 Pharmakon......Page 107 Pharmakoi......Page 112 Wilderness......Page 117 Part II: Theoretical Perspectives......Page 128 4 Spirituals......Page 132 Aesthetics......Page 133 Ecstatics......Page 137 Iconics......Page 143 5 Wisdom......Page 157 Conjunctions......Page 158 Intentions......Page 163 Significations......Page 165 6 Prophecy......Page 176 Shaman......Page 177 Sojourner......Page 179 Conjure-woman......Page 184 Part III: Theological Perspectives......Page 194 7 Gospel......Page 200 Suffering Servants......Page 201 Saviors......Page 212 8 Praxis......Page 223 Pharmakeus......Page 225 Negations......Page 229 9 Apocalypse......Page 239 Nemesis......Page 242 Providence......Page 251 Conclusion: Diaspora......Page 266 Selected Bibliography......Page 274 A......Page 290 C......Page 291 D......Page 293 E......Page 294 G......Page 295 I......Page 296 L......Page 297 M......Page 298 N......Page 299 P......Page 300 S......Page 301 T......Page 302 V......Page 303 Z......Page 304 This treatise argues for the central importance of transforming reality by magical means in black spirituality and culture. It contends that themes and stories inspired by the Bible have played a crucial role in Afro-American culture, being reinterpreted and deployed by black Americans. Theophus H. Smith. Includes Bibliographical References (p.257-272) And Index.