Few Christians Want to Apologize for Racism



One can get a bit cynical learning that only 16% of Christians think the faith should apologize for its racism of the past. While this was the finding of a survey, I don't think it correctly reflects what reasoning of the average believer.

I've found there is widespread belief that the Christian faith had nothing to do with racism. The average white person does not see him or her self as racist, does not encounter it at church so believes the faith has always disapproved of it. And, it is true certainly there were Christians who always opposed it and helped bring an end to both slavery and segregation.

The fact is, however, slave holders and later die hard advocates of segregation were deeply embedded in Christianity. The largest Protestant denomination, Southern Baptist Convention, opposed interracial marriage and its sister, racial integration. To say Christianity was the solution to segregation and not the problem does not reflect the broad parameters of what went on.

Even if one's own denomination is not raciest and does not have a history of it does not mean it is entirely blameless. Every Christian denomination shares the faith's weakness of being so vague all kinds of mischief is ready for any group that come along and wants to take advantage of what they find in the Bible.  It accomplishes little to claim one's own denomination is free of guilt while the faith includes those who are guilty.

To me, racial issues make a mockery of the faith's claims. There is the narrative people die and go to heaven or hell based on sin or the forgiveness of sins. Slavery and segregation are the cruelest of human impulses. The were the norm of humanity for perhaps thousands of years.

Are all the slave holders and later advocated of segregation now in hell or were they given a pass by the gatekeeper? Because the faith is so vague the answer can be yes or no and be considered correct.

Comments

  1. Matt NoahOctober 16, 2019 at 1:55 PM

    Well, the only people advocating slavery in America today are the KKK and Democrats. The KKK is frustrated more people don't like Blacks, Catholics and Jews. The Democrats need to keep certain voter blocs enslaved by poverty to coalesce their power. No one will ever accuse Democrats of being devout Christians. In fact, they seem to mostly be atheists, secularists or both.

    As for the Heaven and Hell question you pose with the most insecerest of intentions, the answer is simple. We don't know who is in Hell. The only ones in Heaven are the angels and saints of whom we know very few, e.g. St. Mary, St. Luke, St. Peter, St. Mother Teresa, St. John Paul the Great, etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ardy BOctober 17, 2019 at 6:24 AM

      Matt: “The Democrats need to keep certain voter blocs enslaved by poverty to coalesce their power.” How many voters are currently “enslaved by poverty” and how would you free them? “We don't know who is in Hell.” So “hell” could be empty or not exist at all and the gated community called “heaven” is populated by a few elite Catholics and some spirit slaves that cannot die whose only purpose throughout eternity is to serve the master and carry out his will.

      Delete
  2. Matt NoahOctober 16, 2019 at 2:04 PM

    Jon, now that you've declared, "Slavery and segregation are the cruelest of human impulses." just how far down do you rank (1) opposing access to abortion, (2) protecting the US border, (3) approving Ten Commandments statues on public property, (4) opposing transgendersim, and (5) supporting President Trump for re-election?

    Don't be shy or cowardly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Matt NoahOctober 16, 2019 at 9:59 PM

    Catholic and homosexual? Yes - https://www.inforum.com/lifestyle/faith/4725826-Gay-man-finds-a-home-again-in-Catholic-Church1

    ReplyDelete

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