Contemporary Christian theology continues to struggle with the tragedy of inexplicable human suffering and the endurance of evil. The pressing issue of "Where is God?" in seemingly godless situations provides the focus of Were You There? Godforsakenness in Slave Religion. In this book, David Emmanuel Goatley investigates the doctrine of God in relation to the experience of those living under conditions of extreme oppression. In this experience of "Godforsakenness" Goatley finds an echo of Jesus' poignant cry from the cross, "My God, why have you forsaken me?" Were You There? approaches this question through a narrative methodology, particularly by examining the slave narratives as well as the spirituals that were products of the same era. Both these sources provide important ways of viewing the experience of "Godforsakenness" and the problem of God's presence or absence in the extremities and absurdities of human suffering. Using these insights as a hermeneutic, Were You There? then proceeds to an interpretation of Jesus' cry of dereliction in Mark.

*Kris Kristofferson *Leonard Cohen *Bob Dylan *Marijohn Wilkin *Joe Wise *Tom T. Hall *W.B.Yeats *T.S.Eliot *Longfellow *Gerard Manley Hopkins *Emily Dickinson *Shakespeare Poetry first rented a room in my mind in English literature class at Borromeo Seminary in Cleveland. A Christian understanding serves as a flashlight in a cave: You can see more. The attributes of Christ - truth, beauty, and goodness - shine forever and keep verses alive. That's why poems live on. Songs continue to occupy my mind. I view most songs as poetry set to music. I greatly admire people who write poems and songs. Some create both lyrics and music like embroidery, and their works greatly affect others. I desired my favorite songwriters and poets to be in one book. I suspect someday Kris Kristofferson, Leonard Cohen, William Butler Yeats, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and many others will be best friends. They all toiled in God's vineyard, producing good fruit. I'm hoping this book gets published before they all pass, so they can enjoy this tribute to their "fine wine." Poets and songwriters who speak to those searching for truth take time to admire beauty, and are uplifted by acts of goodness. Poetry and songs were meant to be enjoyed, recited, and sung throughout the day. One can experience encounters with God through such works. These show the best side of mankind.