0swy

Obviously the Bible is a complex collection of texts and open to interpretation, but I'll ask anyway.

In the UK we have a far-right racist party called the BNP (British National Party) who, among other things, regard themselves as defenders of 'Christian values'. Now although I'm an atheist I can't help feeling that the broad thrust of contemporary Christian theology is likely to reject and condemn racism. Are there any specific passages which make racism difficult to defend? In particular does the NT and the teachings attributed to Jesus shed any light on what a Christian should make of racism? At the same time, I'm aware that in the US there is, or was, a racist organisation, the KKK, which has presented itself as Christian, so is it possible for Christian theology to defend racism also?

rhutchin

The Bible says nothing about racism (from what I have read) and never concerns itself with the idea. King Solomon entertained the Queen of Sheba but nothing is made of the color of her skin. The Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8 was a Jew.

There is also this:

And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. (Numbers 12:1)

The complaint was probably that the woman was not a Jew rather than anything to do with the color of her skin.

TheRealityOfMan

BNP activists would know shit all about the bible anyway most likely. I doubt these self-appointed guardians of Christianity have ever been to church much. It's just moronism.

I imagine that when they talk about defending Christianity they are using it as a code word for defense of British indigenous culture versus multiculturalism. Beneath the Daily Mail rhetoric you will find true racism and true racists -but they are talking a big game about traditional culture and traditional values. They know they can't win support by saying things like "Yea we're a true racist party like we really want white supremacy" -they would have said these things in the 1970s when they were called the National Front but now they switch to things like "white culture".

In recent years they have really exploited fears of Islam. This is another reason they talk up about Christianity as this is the 'white religion' verses the 'alien religion' (they ignore the fact that English Christianity owes its membership to Africans, Poles and other 'aliens'.)

So I don't think Christians in Britain need hardly bother repudiating their faith from these guys. If they ever bothered to go to church they would find that they are the very hotbeds of interracial mixing.

Toto

Race is a modern concept. You wouldn't expect the Bible to say anything, any more than the Bible would contain advice on TV watching habits.

0swy

Sure, but it's possible that Jesus is offered up in the Bible as saying things which nevertheless still contradict racism. What if there's a passage in the Bible where Jesus says "each should love all men as his brother" or something similar? See what I'm getting at?

rhutchin

Race, where people can be differentiated by the color of their skin, has always been around. What is new, presumably, is the determination of human worth based on skin color.

rhutchin

How about:

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Philippians 2:3)

Ben C Smith

Paul writes things that seem inconsistent with modern racism. Bear in mind that Jews and Greeks (gentiles) were two dominant (and often competitive) people groups in his background.

Romans 10.12:

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on him.

Galatians 3.28:

There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; there is not male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3.11 (by pseudo-Paul, IMHO):

...there is no Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Ben.

Toto

Yes, but Paul wrote those stirring words, but never expected slaves to be the equal of their masters in the broader society, or advocated full equality between men and women.

rhutchin

But, that is not a racism issue.