Unraveling the Mysteries of God’s Providence and Progress

This chapter summarizes a major theological concern of Douglass’s post-Civil War life: the nature of God’s providence and the place of moral progress in history. Contrary to conventional wisdom, which posits that Douglass increasingly doubted divine providence later in life, this chapter reveals how Douglass continued to adhere to a strong believe in God’s providential work in history to affect great social and moral improvement. This confidence in God’s providence proved foundational to Douglass’s enduring prophetic faith.

The Crisis of the Union

This chapter describes Douglass religious interpretation of the cataclysmic events of the American Civil War. It details how Douglass believed God worked through the conflict to end slavery. The chapter emphasizes Douglass’s deep hopefulness, even in dark times, that God would mysteriously move in history to eradicate slavery.

The Young Abolitionist Orator

This chapter describes Douglass’s first years as a free man living in Massachusetts. It explains why Douglass had a difficult time remaining a member of any Christian church in the North. It also recounts Douglass’s initial exposure to the abolitionist movement and his early career as a paid abolitionist lecturer—culminating in the publication of his first autobiography in 1845, which succinctly captured his prophetic faith.

Religious Awakenings in Baltimore

This chapter covers Douglass’ early childhood years in Baltimore. It focuses especially on Douglass’s conversion to Christianity and his secretive effort to learn to read and write. The chapter explains how both of these “awakenings” laid the foundation of Douglass’s prophetic faith.

Frederick Douglass Is Not Dead!

The conclusion recounts the story of Douglass’s final day on earth and his funeral service in Washington D.C. The conclusion reveals how the leading eulogies for Douglass quite strongly emphasized the prophetic character of his faith and public witness. The conclusion ends with a summation of the main elements of Douglass’s faith and its contemporary relevance.

At the Dark Dawn of Jim Crow

This chapter covers the final years of Douglass’s life, as he lived to see the onset of the system of Jim Crow segregation and disenfranchisement. It describes the final phase of Douglass’s public life, as he once again used his prophetic faith to denounce injustice in America—in this case, the emerging Jim Crow order. The chapter explains the religious foundations of Douglass’s opposition to Jim Crow, and his prophetic hope in God’s eventual deliverance from oppressive systems of segregation and disenfranchisement.

An Antislavery Constitution and a Righteous Violence

This chapter describes the most important intellectual development in Douglass’s adult life prior to the Civil War—his evolving views on the U.S. Constitution and the role of violence in the antislavery struggle. The chapter explains how Douglass came to believe that the Constitution was antislavery, not proslavery as he previously believed. The chapter also explains Douglass’s complicated views on the sometimes-appropriate role of violence in liberating slaves. For both topics, the chapter shows how the core convictions of Douglass’s faith shaped his views.

Bearing Witness in Great Britain

This chapter describes Douglass’s extended speaking tour of Great Britain following the publication of his first autobiography. It shows how Douglass’s time abroad helped solidify the core convictions of his prophetic Christian faith. Attention is paid to two particular religious controversies related to slavery embroiling Great Britain at the time—one concerning the Free Church of Scotland, the other concerning the Evangelical Alliance.

From the Valley of Shadows to Freedom

This chapter describes Douglass’s final years in Maryland prior to his escape—the most trying years of his life as a slave. It details the violent, hypocritical, proslavery Christianity that Douglass encountered in white Marylanders, and how that faith hardened certain religious convictions central to Douglass’s understanding of Christianity. The chapter also recounts Douglass’s escape to freedom.

God and Slavery on the Eastern Shore

This chapter describes Douglass’s life from his birth until his move to Baltimore as a young child. It describes his exposure both to the religion of local slaves and the proslavery Christianity of local masters. The chapter also details Douglass’s earliest encounters with evil and suffering, and how those encounters shaped the foundation of his religious outlook