The development of a concept of God in the thought of Benjamin Elijah Mays, James Hal Cone, and James Deotis Robert

The purpose of the dissertation is to determine how, why, and what concept of God the selected philosophers and theologians employed in their respective descriptions of God. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the study and presents materials relevant to the problem and its setting, a review of related literature including concepts of God in contemporary thought as well as concepts of God in the thought of Mays, Cone, and Roberts. Also, the importance of the study is included in the chapter.;Chapter 2 describes Benjamin Elijah Mays's concept of God including historical perspective, theological methodology, and transcendence and immanence. The purpose is to set forth Mays's concept of God the Deliverer.;Chapter 3 describes James Hal Cone's concept of God including historical perspective, theological methodology, and transcendence and immanence. The purpose is to set forth the meaning of Cone's concept of God the Liberator.;Chapter 4 describes James Deotis Roberts's concept of God including historical perspective, theological methodology, and transcendence and immanence. The purpose is to set forth the meaning of Roberts's concept of God the Reconciler.;The conclusion consists of a contrast and comparison of the viewpoints of Mays, Cone, and Roberts, an evaluation of their positions, and a determination of the findings of the study. In Mays's concept, God is the Deliverer; Cone claims God is the Liberator in the struggle for oppression; and Roberts maintains that God is the Reconciler. Also included are discussions on the future direction of black theology and a perspective of God in the post-civil rights era.