On October 2, HFCC played host to Reverend Dr. Benjamin Baker for his presentation entitled “African American Religious Experiences and Expressions.”
Raised in a Christian home, Pastor Baker is a native of Louisville, Ken., where he attended undergraduate school at the University of Louisville and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a Minor in Psychology. During his time at the university, Baker served as the President of the Baptist Student Union and President of the Black Student Union. He then continued his studies at the Southern Baptist Theological seminary in Louisville where he received a Masters of Christian Education, Masters of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry Degree. Following his post-graduate work on the Doctor of Education Degree, he became a graduate fellow and was voted the President of the Graduating Class of 1973.
Since then he has preached all over the world, taught at colleges across the country, and authored fourteen books. He currently serves as the pastor of the Church of Abundant Grace in Southfield, MI and teaches courses on the African-American religious experience at the University of Michigan, and will be teaching the same subject during the Winter 2013 semester at HFCC. Pastor Baker was invited by HFCC World Religion professor William Secrest to speak at HFCC in the first of seven presentations known as the Building Bridges Lecture Series.
“We thought that it would be a great idea to have this lecture series to enhance the process of communicating between the different religious cultures,” said Secrest. “We started a lecture series and Benjamin Baker agreed to be the first lecturer. This will also be a way of letting people know what his course will be like, which will be offered in the Winter semester.”
Taking place during the Fall and Winter semesters, each lecture in the series brings in a specialist to discuss and offer a greater understanding of religion. The lectures are leading up to a conference being held in April of 2013.
“This lecture series is building up to the Building Bridges of Understanding Conference by the Religious Studies program at HFCC and our Council of World Cultures,” said Secrest. “The conference will be held April 4-6, right here on campus, and all seven speakers will be invited to propose a discussion at the conference.”
Baker discussed the history of Africans and the influence of religion on African-Americans. Extraordinarily, Pastor Baker said in order to study someone, you must first understand their views. He explained that it was important to understand that, no matter their religious orientation, many African-Americans are God-conscious; they are aware of God. He also said that most African-Americans believe that doing evil has its punishment and doing good will yield its rewards (karma). He explained that these beliefs are all ingrained in the African culture because on the influence of religion in their lives, dating back to their origins in Africa.
HFCC students won’t have to wait long for the next speaker. On Tuesday, October 23, University of Michigan-Dearborn counselor Dennis Underwood will be present to give a lecture of Mormanism titled “What is Mormanism, Really?” from 11:10 am - 12:30 pm in room L-14 of the Liberal Arts Building.
On Thursday, November 15, Zen Master Koho Vince Anila will give a presentation on Buddhism. A former HFCC honor student, Master Anila has been a member of the Point Buddhist Temple since 2005. Though the final four speakers have not yet been disclosed, they will present lectures during the Winter semester. The lecturers will include a Rabbi, an Imam, a Native American, and a “final, mystery speaker,” says Secrest.