The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission | There’s Nothing Funny about Racism | Comments

Comment 1

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 06:04:06 CST

I promise I am not a church basher, but arn’t we fooling ourselves to point the finger at Mel and Michael while most of us attend a church that would think twice about baptising a member of another race, or hosting a wedding for an inter-racial couple.

Comment 2

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 13:38:46 CST

I agree that racism is well-rooted in the sinfulness of the human heart. Here in America, however, we forget that racism also exists in the minorites as well. If we truly are honest, we usually associate racism primarily with white people. Obviously, this is so because white people are the majority in the U.S. But, let us not forget racism is a two-way street from the perverbial white racist to the black racist, hispanic racist, the asian racist, etc. For racism to be effectively remedied, we also need to point out the same sin in the heart of the minorities, as well.

Comment 3

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 00:56:17 CST

Erik, firstly there is a difference between being a racist and rising up against an oppressor.

Secondly, your description of racism being a two way street reeks of arrogance. You seem to imply there are the ‘whites’ and then the rest of the world.

Comment 4

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 11:33:45 CST

Steve, I believe the issue of racism is sensitive. Just as your comments show, they do indeed stir strong emotion and deep thought in us all. My description of racism as sin is justified in the biblical worldview and expresses, I believe, what most Christians believe racism is--sin. Like all sin, the sin of racism does not escape anyone. I hope we agree on this.

In relation to the two-way street anology, in no way was I insinuating “whites” against the rest of the world. I am well aware that racism can also exist between any two groups with white people not being one of those two groups.

Comment 5

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 22:11:50 CST

Erik, I think racism is immoral. You use the word sin and I assume by this you mean racism in some way transgresses God’s law (I don’t believe in God, therefore, the word sin is somewhat inoperative). Anyway, trying to look at this issue from your ‘biblical world view’ I can’t see how racism could be described as a sin.

If the bible is ‘true’ then with ‘racism’ God got off to a pretty bad start -What could be more racist than declaring that the Israelites were his chosen people? And then the commandments on bearing false witness and coveting wives and possessions etc only apply to “your neighbour”. In other words they don’t apply when dealing with the inferior people outside your tribe!

If you believe in the bible (I don’t) then the above makes sense because God also says “you shall not have other gods before me” this means other gods exist therefore it would be inappropriate for him to make laws for those who follow the other gods. Oh what a tangled web we weave.

Comment 6

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 10:59:52 CST

Steve, first of all, your opinions show clearly a misinterpretation of the Bible. God’s chosen poeple, the Isrealites, were and will always remain His people. However, that in no way constitutes as racism on behalf from God. The Jews hold a special place in God’s outworking of history, because this is the group of people from where Messiah-Jesus Christ-came. The Saviour of ALL MANKIND, Jesus made an invitation for all of humanity to accept Him as Lord. This hardly seems racist.

God, in his perfect wisdom, speaks to us in ways we can understand our reality. When he mentioned “other gods”, He simply was warning His people to avoid the worship of anyone or anything else. During the time of the ancient Isrealites, it was obiviously the man-made idols of stone and wood. In today’s world, people worship other things likes money, power, or fame. God’s mention of other gods was in no way an actual confirmation of them.

Comment 7

Sat, 20 Jan 2007 01:23:42 CST

Erik, There is little to no evidence to support the view that Jesus Christ existed as a historical person - basically the story of Christ is a myth. That said, if he did exist I agree with your comment that his desire to be Lord of the world is not racist. I think megalomania would be a more apt.

As for racism and the bible, history is littered with lives lost due to a non-questioning belief in a book of fiction. The slave trade and black oppression were justified through reference to the ‘inerrant’ book (particularly Southern churches). And Hitler got many of the Christians on side through blaming the Jews for killing Christ (people murdered because of a myth!!).

As for me misinterpreting the 1st commandment - there is no misinterpretation. The 2nd commandment covers all the issues you raised with respect to idols etc. No the wording of this commandment is quite clear - there must be more than one god. Otherwise wouldn’t god have simply said “I am the only god - follow me”?

Comment 8

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 17:51:08 CST

Steve, you’re still not getting the idol worshipping command. God is the only God. He only says not to worship any other god because people create their own gods in their heart. They shape a god that suits their lifestyle and thus creating “another god”. as Erik said, it could be money, fame, money… or even sunday football, food, and porn. Anything you like above God and value it more than u value God himself has become a god to you. This is the “god” that the true God is talking about that we should not serve. basically everything the human mind creates and makes.

Comment 9

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 14:52:20 CST

Sola, are you really expecting me to believe that God called Moses to the top of Mt Sinai, gave him the stone tablets and then said when Moses was leaving - “Oh, by the way can you explain to people down there that my reference to other gods is actually a metaphor for worldly things”.

The spin Christians have to put on the ‘word of god’ to have it make a modicum of sense is really quite amusing.

Comment 10

Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:05:48 CST

i think racism is stupid

Comment 11

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:40:15 CST

Steve-
First of all, how can you say that the story of Christ is a myth just because there is no historical evidence? Was the world actually flat until the 1600s just because we hadn’t found out it was round yet? Nobody can or should reject others’ beliefs, and to do so is extremely disrespectful of you. The words of the Bible can be bent and twisted to back up almost any opinion, and you should not wage war on all Christians because of a few misinterpretations in history.

And seriously now, why are you reading the Bible if you are so violently opposed to it? If you don’t understand it and aren’t going to respect it then just stop now.

Comment 12

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:43:08 CST

Will, you don’t refute that there is no historical evidence to support the existence of Jesus so I’m not sure why my claim he is a myth should cause you any concern.

You claim I’m at war with Christians - that’s not true. My concern is with Christianity. I don’t expect to be able to convince anyone to recant their faith but I do hope that my words may go some way to preventing non-Christians from falling under the spell of the delusion.

In so much as I read the bible: I only do it to gather evidence to demonstrate its irrelevance to today’s world. Christian leaders try to assert their authority in the public square by using the bible to say they’re acting under the authority of God - I just like to point out the stupidity contained within the document from which they quote (did you know, Will, that according to the bible bats are birds?).