Jon Ivan Gill_Toward Afrodiasporic and Afrofuturist Philosophies of Religion

Based on the categories of mainstream philosophy of religion, we must ask the question if said categories are adequate to describe the conceptual frameworks of traditions not philosophically dependent on Western theistic understandings, such as religious traditions and philosophies of life emerging from the continent of Africa and appearing in the United States, the Caribbean, North, Central, and South America, and Europe. This book host students from Pomona College and Pitzer College (Claremont Colleges, Claremont, California) who have analyzed the field of philosophy of religion as it stands to determine which of its insights can be applied to Afro-diasporic and Afrofuturist notions of “religion” and which ones cannot. Their reflections in these chapters will ask: how do we define Afro-diasporic religion, what would a robust philosophy of religion of Afro-diasporic and Afrofuturist religions draw from, what categories would/should it contain, how would we construct such a non-Western methodology of philosophy of religion, and what sources would we use to construct such a philosophy of religion? In an attempt to aesthetically experience what Afro-diasporic and Afrofuturist philosophies of religion are/could be, the text will rely heavily on fiction novels, poetry, music, movies, and texts written by Afro-diasporic people from various social locations and perspectives on some African notions of religion, among other centers of reflection.

“Toward Afrodiasporic and Afrofuturist Philosophies of Religion is an imaginative and illuminating must-read primer for anyone interested in indigenous religious philosophies. The volume offers a compelling challenge to well-worn Eurocentric approaches to and presuppositions about ‘religion.’ Burgeoning fields like hip hop spirituality and controversial viewpoints on gender/sexuality are reappraised through a decolonial lens. The array of assembled essays signal, perhaps more importantly, the long-lasting vitality of the ancestors on present-day scholarship.”


—Roy Whitaker, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, San Diego State University





“This book is a remarkable model for interrogating Eurocentric theories with expansive understandings of religion and a deep grounding in aesthetics, experience, and Africana philosophies. Each essay breaks open and constructs new ways of understanding both Africana culture, its own self-understanding, and the unique way art harnesses hope. This book includes crucial ideas for anyone interested in philosophy of religion, aesthetics, or Afrofuturism.”


—Monica A. Coleman, Professor of Africana Studies, University of Delaware





“Jon Ivan Gill is the philosopher of religion many of us need for the twenty-first century. Here, Gill’s innovation and courageous experimentation shines as he gives voice to the often unheard—the young, those from historically marginalized groups, and those who espouse and sustain the rich legacy of Black thought. Contributing to the ongoing conversations about Afrofuturism and its relationship to religion, Gill curates a fine set of essays useful for new and seasoned philosophers of religion alike.”


—Christopher Driscoll, Assistant Professor of Religion Studies, Lehigh University