1. Yosef Ben-Jochannan
Yosef Alfredo Antonio ben-Jochannan, Ph.D. (Educator, Author,
Historian, Egyptologist, Scholar par excellence, Former
Chairman of the African Studies Committee at the headquarters
of UNESCO, Professor Emeritus at Cornell University, 360°
Grand Master in the Craft of Amen-Ra)…
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3. http://thedropsquad.com/
Professor Yosef Ben Jochannan is an Egyptologist. Having taught at Cornell
University for over 15 years, Dr. Ben, as he is affectionately known, has lectured widely
on both sides of the Atlantic. His theme - the ancient civilizations of Egypt. His
presentations have placed him in great demand by students and community groups,
especially those of African descent. Perhaps the high regard he enjoys today stems
from his long, unwavering theme that the ancient civilizations along the Nile were
African.
We preached that the so-called major western religions were white folk's religions and
offered the historically incorrect but universally accepted blond-haired, blue-eyed
representation of Jesus Christ as proof that our enemy had become our deity. We
quoted Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who said in his book, The Mis-education of the Negro,
that the European destruction of African civilization was done under the guise of "saving
souls." And we asked the rhetorical question, must one be dehumanized before one's
soul is saved? In retrospect, we had allowed someone else to define our reality.
Yoruba priestess, Iyanla Vanzant says your soul is saved when you accept that the
spirit of God lives in you. She specifically says, "When you can look at yourself, accept
who and what you are and love yourself unconditionally, your soul is saved. Your spirit
is empowered."
Dr. Ben's African Origins of the Major "Western Religions" was one of the vehicles I
used on my journey through the empowerment of my spirit.
"For more than five decades, Dr. Yosef ben-Jochannan, a master teacher, researcher,
author, lecturer, has led what has now become a mass effort to emphasize African
contributions to the world." African Origins of the Major "Western Religions: first
published in 1970, continues to be one of Dr. Ben's most thought-provoking works. "By
highlighting the African influences and roots of these religions (Judaism, Christianity and
Islam), Dr. Ben reveals an untold history that many would prefer to forget."
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4. His opening sentence sets the tone for the well-researched and documented work.
Dr. Ben says, "I shall show that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are as much African as
they are Asian in origin, and in no sense what-so-ever European as the title, "Western
Religions" suggests;" Dr. Ben's ultimate goal in this work is to show the definite links
between exclusively indigenous traditional African learning systems with these so-called
"Western Religions."
The first chapter is entitled: A Source of African Religions.
Dr. Ben shows how the "Mysteries of Egypt" were developed from the ancient religious
rites of the indigenous Africans who once occupied the lands around the major great
lakes of Central Africa and along the head-waters of the Nile River." And how the
Mysteries of Egypt through the Egyptian Book of the Coming Forth by Day (Book of the
Dead) gave rise to the so-called revealed religions.
Chapter 2, St. Augustine: African Influence in Christianity (The "Christian Church
Fathers").
Dr. Ben says the death of St Augustine in 430 C.E. was the major event in
Christendom's history which started the decline of power and control by the North
African Church (the "Mother Church") In this chapter he discusses the influence St.
Augustine and other indigenous Africans had on the development of the early Christian
Church.
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5. Chapter 3, Moses: African Influence on Judaism.
In the introduction, Dr. Ben has warned that, "to say at this time that Moses of the
Hebrew (Jewish) religion and peoples, was an indigenous African (Black or Negro),
would create a catastrophic consternation among theological racists ... This would not
stop them from saying that "Moses was found floating down the Nile River in a bulrush
basket." Dr. Ben says many people conveniently forget that the Nile River's source
begins in Uganda. In this chapter, Dr. Ben also juxtaposes works from the Egyptian
Book of the Dead with the Holy Bible and writings attributed to Solomon with those of
Egyptian Pharaohs.
Chapter 4, Bilal: African Influence on Islam.
Hadzart Bilal ibn Rahab know simply as Bilal to most Muslims was a "tall and skinny,
frizzled-hair indigenous Black man (African) of Ethiopia, East Africa." Bilal, a former
slave in Arabia was the Holy Prophet's most ardent supporter and was responsible for
the creation of much of what those of the Islamic faith believe about Heaven and also
many of their original prayers and doctrines. Dr. Ben refers to Bilal as another Augustine
with respect to his influence on the early development of Islam.
Chapter 5, King, Mohammed, Divine, Matthews and Garvey: Religious New
Dimensions. Dr. Ben discusses the influence of Martin Luther King, The Honorable
Elijah Muhammad, Father Divine, Rabbi Wentworth Matthews, and Marcus Garvey on
the religious scene in America. He says that although most of them did not receive the
"Good Negro Seal of Approval," from the allegedly white liberal middle-class community
of the United States, their influence cannot be denied.
Conclusion:
Dr. Ben concludes that the term "Western Religions" "is a misnomer and is as racist as
it sounds." "Western Religions" like "Greek Philosophy," cannot escape its indigenous
African origin says Dr. Ben. His conclusion leads one back to his introduction where he
poses what he calls the "first question:"
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6. How much longer are we to remain outside of the religions we originated in our
"Mysteries" in Egypt and other High-Cultures along the Nile?
Source of text http://www.raceandhistory.com/Historians/ben_jochannan.htm
Dr. Ben writings and e- Books for download:
RBG Black and Africana
Studies e-Books Collection
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7. Books by Dr. Ben for purchase
African Origins of Major "Western Religions"
by: Yosef A.A. Ben-Jochannan
publisher: Black Classic Press, released: 01 December, 1991
price: $24.95 (new), $23.29 (used)
Africa: Mother of Western Civilization (African-American Heritage Series)
by: Yosef Ben-Jochannan
publisher: Black Classic Press, released: 01 August, 1988
price: $34.95 (new), $14.95 (used)
Black Man of the Nile and His Family
by: Yosef Ben-Jochannan
publisher: Black Classic Press, released: 01 June, 1989
price: $24.95 (new), $14.50 (used)
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8. Our Black Seminarians and Black Clergy Without a Black Theology
by: Yosef Ben-Jochannan, Dr. Yosef A.A. ben-Jochannan
publisher: Black Classic Press, released: 31 May, 1996
price: $14.95 (new)
The Myth of Exodus and Genesis and the Exclusion of Their African Origins
by: Yosef Ben-Jochannan
publisher: Black Classic Press, released: 01 December, 1996
price: $14.95 (new)
The Need for a Black Bible
by: Yosef Ben-Jochannan
publisher: Black Classic Press, released: 01 March, 1996
price: $16.95 (new)
Our Black Seminarians and Black Clergy Wit
by: Yosef Ben Jochannan
publisher: Black Classic Press
price:
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9. A Chronology of the Bible: Challenge to the Standard Version (B.C.P. Pamphlet)
by: Yosef Ben-Jochannan
publisher: Black Classic Press, released: 01 June, 1991
price: $4.00 (new)
From Afrikan Captives to Insane Slaves: The Need for Afrikan History in Solving
the "Black" Mental Health Crisis in "America" and the World (Truth & Sanity
Reprint Series)
by: Yosef Ben-Jochannan
publisher: Native Sun Publishers, Inc., released: 01 November, 1992
price:
We the Black Jews: Witness to the "White Jewish Race" Myth/ Vols 1 and 2 in One
by: Yosef A.A. Ben-Jochannan
publisher: Black Classic Press, released: 01 January, 1993
price: $12.29 (used)
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