Abstract
A decade has passed since James Cone aroused the theological world with his Black Theology and Black Power; Cone severely criticized white theologians for ignoring the black plight in America, and he began to define and outline a theology to address the conditions and needs of black people. The ensuing development of Black Theology, by Cone and other theologians, resulted in a significant corpus of literature relating theology to black religion and strategies for eradicating the social, economic, and political oppression of blacks. This literature made a major contribution to theology in proclaiming that God’s love and power are functioning among the oppressed for their salvation: salvation from dehumanizing life conditions, salvation to fully respond to God’s purposes for humanity. Far too little attention, however, has been given to religious experience and spiritual development; elements which are essential to a vital and enduring faith.1