| Abstract |
"Rev. Dr. Prathia Laura Ann Hall (1940-2002) was a major figure in African American social justice movements and Black theological praxis and theory. Beyond Eden explores Hall's preaching and research, curating a collection of her work to expand scholarship on her influence on American religion and Black churches. Hall pioneered womanist preaching, embodying the necessary interconnections among theology, social science, history, and practical ministry. She was a master organizer, not only leading her congregation but facilitating collaborations among national, regional, and local organizations to serve Black churches and Black communities. The sermons and essays in this volume showcase Hall's womanist preaching brilliance, the seamless connection between church and the academy in her work, and her understanding of the gospel as Freedom Faith. A trailblazer in the womanist movement of the 1980s and 1990s, Hall's decades of civil rights activism and preaching merged Christian ethics with Black feminist thought. Although she had very few publications due to the demands of her multifaceted vocation, health limitations, and familial responsibilities, her extensive work has been transcribed from handwritten notes and audio recordings by editor Courtney Pace. Beyond Eden is aptly named, as Prathia Hall hoped to publish an anthology of her favorite sermons under this title. Pace has organized Beyond Eden with attention paid to Hall's own lists of possible book chapters and sermons"-- Provided by publisher. |
