Jesus Dub: Theology, Music and Social Change

Dub is the process whereby a reggae musician takes apart a record and transforms it into a new sound. In Rastafarian culture dub is a political and spiritual practice, creating radically enriched reworkings of commercial tracks. Jesus, says Robert Beckford, exemplifies dub. He transforms scripture, and works the existing world into new structures and meanings. When Jesus preaches, hypocrisy and failure change into compassion and forgiveness. The hearer of Jesus dub is always enhanced and renewed. Jesus Dub sets up a dialogue between dub and Christianity to propose a more inclusive theology for everyone. Engaging with the Black church and Black society, the ‘crack age’, hip-hop theology and TV, it offers dub as a tool in which Christians can find new empowerment and purpose.