Religion

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts) Wed Apr 3, 2019, 01:58 PM Apr 2019

The American Church's Complicity in Racism: A Conversation with Jemar Tisby

From the article:

The fraught racial history of the United States has infiltrated and influenced all of its institutions, including the Christian church. Though certain figures and movements did join the struggle against slavery, segregation, and violence at various times and places, the majority of white American Christendom fell somewhere on the spectrum between open endorsement and quiet acceptance. Today, as debates over racism continue to dominate our national conversations and controversies, religious influence remains central to the context.

In his new book, The Color of Compromise, Jemar Tisby surveys this history with an eye toward the innumerable moments when white American Christians could have interceded on behalf of racial justice, but did not. Taken together, he argues, from the founding of the United States to the present, these moments constitute an ignominious timeline spanning four centuries of suffering, so that today’s headlines are connected to seemingly ancient atrocities. By the end, it is clear that past and current events retain a striking similarity regarding the church and race.

16 replies

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Highlight:

The American Church's Complicity in Racism: A Conversation with Jemar Tisby (Original Post) guillaumeb Apr 2019 OP

Also worth noting: trotsky Apr 2019 #1

You're reading it wrong. Act_of_Reparation Apr 2019 #3

You also need to throw in something about a formal assertion... trotsky Apr 2019 #4

So long as there are secular organizations perpetuating racism.... Major Nikon Apr 2019 #5

I agree. guillaumeb Apr 2019 #6

Absolutely! trotsky Apr 2019 #7

If this is your best, understood, guillaumeb Apr 2019 #8

Yep, tons of evidence in there backing up everything I've said. trotsky Apr 2019 #9

Again, nothing. guillaumeb Apr 2019 #10

To the contrary, a treasure trove of evidence presented directly to you. trotsky Apr 2019 #11

Backing you up 100% Lordquinton Apr 2019 #16

How convincing. guillaumeb Apr 2019 #12

You're re-responding to the same posts again. trotsky Apr 2019 #13

Remove the beam. guillaumeb Apr 2019 #14

Come over here and I'll help pull it out of your eye. trotsky Apr 2019 #15

Ignominious, indeed. MineralMan Apr 2019 #2

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

1. Also worth noting:

Reply to guillaumeb (Original post)

Wed Apr 3, 2019, 02:27 PM

Apr 2019

JT: Martin Luther King Jr. once said that, when it came to issues of justice, the church was often the taillight rather than the headlight in society. By that, he meant that the church often followed along after changes in the racial status quo were already taking place in different arenas, from politics to entertainment to corporations, and that’s what we often see throughout U.S. history. Though many Christians were actively engaged in struggles for racial equality, they tended to be in the minority. The majority of white Christians, at least, did change, but only as the national sentiment was already moving toward more openness and more equality. The change was slow and a little reluctant.

The reason why racism and the Christian church have such a long history is that racism is not only found in the bible, but supported by it. The same character that says "love your neighbor" also gives instructions for beating one's slaves. The "mark of Cain" was interpreted by many Christian sects as a reason to be prejudiced against those with darker skin color. It is important not to disregard these historical realities and push the notion that the religion and its foundational text are pure and perfect, and it's only bad people who are responsible for all racism.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)

3. You're reading it wrong.

Reply to trotsky (Reply #1)

Wed Apr 3, 2019, 02:48 PM

Apr 2019

Because I don't like the way you're reading it.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

4. You also need to throw in something about a formal assertion...

Reply to Act_of_Reparation (Reply #3)

Wed Apr 3, 2019, 02:52 PM

Apr 2019

as if we were in a official debate session or a courtroom, and by failing to adhere to the queen's rules on debate, I therefore forfeit, nana nana boo boo.

Major Nikon

(36,900 posts)

5. So long as there are secular organizations perpetuating racism....

Reply to trotsky (Reply #1)

Wed Apr 3, 2019, 02:57 PM

Apr 2019

It’s impossible for religion to be blamed.

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)

6. I agree.

Reply to trotsky (Reply #1)

Wed Apr 3, 2019, 06:19 PM

Apr 2019

And if you find any posts that support your point:

It is important not to disregard these historical realities and push the notion that the religion and its foundational text are pure and perfect, and it's only bad people who are responsible for all racism.

please highlight them for us all.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

7. Absolutely!

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #6)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 07:29 AM

Apr 2019

Just go to this link and click the Search button to see a bunch from the past year.

You're welcome!

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)

8. If this is your best, understood,

Reply to trotsky (Reply #7)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 01:03 PM

Apr 2019

So, in essence, you have no actual evidence as understood in a legal or scientific sense.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

9. Yep, tons of evidence in there backing up everything I've said.

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #8)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 01:10 PM

Apr 2019

Feel free to peruse at your leisure!

I am now putting forth exactly as much effort as you've ever shown for me. Annoying, isn't it?

guillaumeb

(42,649 posts)

10. Again, nothing.

Reply to trotsky (Reply #9)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 01:11 PM

Apr 2019

And that is the problem with making sweeping accusations. Absent evidence, they show much about the accuser and nothing about the accused.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

11. To the contrary, a treasure trove of evidence presented directly to you.

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #10)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 01:14 PM

Apr 2019

You can insult me as much as you want, but you are only insulting yourself.

Lordquinton

(7,886 posts)

16. Backing you up 100%

Reply to trotsky (Reply #9)

Thu Apr 4, 2019, 04:03 PM

Apr 2019

on both the posts existing, and the amount of effort put forth.

Plus there is the fact that he's used those demands to them go and delete said posts, then act as if he didn't do anything wrong.