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A Theological Account of Nat Turner Christianity, Violence, and Theology Karl W. Lampley
A THEOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF NAT TURNER Copyright Karl W. Lampley, 2013. Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2013 978-1-137-32517-4 All rights reserved. First published in 2013 by PALGRAVE MACMILLAN in the United States a division of St. Martin s Press LLC, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010. Where this book is distributed in the UK, Europe and the rest of the world, this is by Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited, registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6XS. Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies and has companies and representatives throughout the world. Palgrave and Macmillan are registered trademarks in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries. ISBN 978-1-349-45923-0 ISBN 978-1-137-32296-8 (ebook) DOI 10.1057/9781137322968 Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available from the Library of Congress. A catalogue record of the book is available from the British Library. Design by Newgen Imaging Systems (P) Ltd., Chennai, India. First edition: June 2013 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For My mom: Dr. Norma M. Lampley In honor of her tireless devotion and encouragement throughout my life and education My dad: Dr. Edward C. Lampley, Sr. In tribute to his unending guidance and assistance throughout my years on this earth
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Contents Preface Acknowledgments ix xi Introduction 1 1 A Portrait of Nat Turner 21 2 The Theology of Nat Turner 39 3 Prophetic Violence and the Old Testament 71 4 The Gospel of Jesus Christ and Violence 91 Conclusion 123 Notes 159 Bibliography 183 Index 193
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Preface I first became interested in Nat Turner while at the seminary at the Claremont School of Theology. I was beginning to think of a potential doctoral dissertation and wanted to write within the field of Black theology. Turner triggered my attention and consideration because I believe his violent insurrection illustrated that theology could inspire and motivate social action and revolution. In the case of Turner, radical black theology provoked violent resistance and struggle against the institution of slavery in Virginia. As a Baptist preacher and exhorter, Turner s slave revolt occupies a revered space in the African American religious history of protest and resistance. His revolutionary actions symbolized the spirit of radicalism and defiance inhabiting black religion. In his Confessions, Turner provided a distinct and unique example of early nineteenth-century black theology. His theological perspectives gave rise to a holistic political theology of freedom and liberation that relied on Jesus s gospel guarantee of freedom and salvation. Ultimately, Turner s theology and understanding of God inspired him to fight against the slave-masters and oppressors to end slavery and dehumanization in the name of God. Turner s violent quest for freedom however challenged the theological commitment to nonviolence and peace often associated with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Turner s resort to violence defied Jesus s commandment to love one s enemies and to turn the other cheek. Can Turner s liberating and revolutionary violence against slavery be reconciled to the gospel of Christ? Furthermore, can it be legitimately depicted as prophetic Christian violence that condemned and judged the institution of slavery in America? This book seeks to answer these questions. Turner s violent insurrection, based on the Christian principles of freedom and justice, inevitably forces one to confront the relationship between violence and Christianity.
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Acknowledgments This book was originally conceived as my doctoral dissertation in constructive theology at the University of Chicago Divinity School. I must give special thanks to my doctoral advisor Dr. Dwight N. Hopkins for mentoring and guiding me through the process and assisting with efforts at publication. Dr. Hopkins provided the foundation for my theological education and inspired me to build a greater theological imagination. I also give thanks to my additional dissertation committee members, Dr. Omar M. McRoberts and Dr. Kevin Hector. They each supplied challenging and critical evaluations of my work that helped to sharpen and refine my theological analysis. In addition, I would like to thank the Fund for Theological Education (FTE) and the Martin Marty Center at the University of Chicago for supporting my scholarship and study through dissertation fellowships. I am blessed to have had a stellar and engaging education in my formative years at esteemed institutions of higher learning. I offer my sincere appreciation and thanks to the University of Chicago, Claremont School of Theology, Harvard University, and Bishop O Dowd High School in Oakland, California. These schools instilled in me a standard of excellence that cannot be matched. Furthermore, I have warm regards and gratitude for the church that nurtured me in Christian discipleship throughout my childhood into my adult years and first inspired me to follow the path of Christian theology, the Downs Memorial United Methodist Church in North Oakland. Finally, I give heartfelt thanks to my parents and my siblings who gave me the thirst for knowledge and insight by providing a foundation and example of academic excellence and achievement that has followed me throughout my life. I thank my brother, Dr. E. Charles Lampley, Jr., and his family for their loving support and guidance while I gained my doctorate degree in Chicago. I also thank my sister, Margeaux Lampley-Theophile, J. D., and her family for their generosity, originality, and creativity, which has always impressed me.
xii Acknowledgments This book on Nat Turner is the result of much reflection and introspection along with the inspiration and encouragement of many people. I must also acknowledge the valiant history of black freedom fighters in America and the world, who have strived for liberty, equality, self-determination, and justice for black people. Their legacy, in addition to the institutions and people that have nurtured me, have taught me to diligently follow and believe in God, to fight for dignity and acceptance, and to change the world through excellence and achievement. This work is ultimately a theological attempt at being true to these principles. Karl W. Lampley November 2012