Cornel West gave a lecture this past Monday here at the Seminary. For those of you who have never seen him, or heard him speak, he’s amazing – the way which he uses words and the English language to keep you captivated. I got there a little late so the only seat was behind him, which was a little funny when I got to see Cornel adjust his pants from the backside.
I’ve written down just a few quotes from Cornel from below:
“It’s rare that I can be in a seminary context, where I can just let more hang out.”
“I don’t like pointing fingers. Jerry Falwell…easy. Pat Robertson…too easy. So instead I start with myself…what kind of Christian am I?
“We need a spirituality of genuine Socratic questioning and caring compassion.”
“I’ve always been thankful I’ve never been called to be a pastor. I’m a lay Christian…with a small, small l.”
“How do you deal with the dogmas, the oppressive systems, etc., and still love the people who are oppressing you…we have to be people who are called not to revenge, not to demonize the other, not to hunt down the other…”
“Christianity, like Democracy, is a loquacious activity.”