Abstract

The significance of this study is that while a great deal has been researched and written by African Americans about the Black Church and the African American religious experience, very little has been researched or written about the perceptions of non-African Americans of the African American religious experience. As an action-oriented research project that used multiple methods to gathered data, disseminate questionnaires, pre and post survey methods, and phenomenological modalities, the methodology provided a focused look at a particular problem. The inquiry captures the essence of the experience of the participants. This investigation further explores, and examines the immediate experience of the individual rather than the systematic and objective structure of traditional philosophical discussions. ;The result of this research is an in-depth understanding of the role that religious experience plays in race relations in societal life. In spite of the differences in denomination, religious or non religious affiliation, socio-economic backgrounds, participants shared the view that racism does exist within the religious community but that Christian faith is incompatible with racial exclusiveness, and we are obligated to make clear we are open to all people of all races and ethnic persuasions. Limitations of this study and implications for further research in the area were discussed