www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Is Racism A Sin?

Dear Mexican,

Interesting and insightful post.

In Christ,
Alice

Partly depends, I would say, on how you define "racism." As some say, "Stereotypes are based upon learned behavior." I teach my students to distinguish between stereotypes, prejudices and bigotry. Bigotry is a negative attitude, based upon stereotypes and prejudices, which refuses to be educated. A prejudice is a predetermination made based upon stereotypes. A stereotype, however, is often a good baseline to go one, as it is just a form of categorization. E.g., most men, given a certain set of circumstances, are likely to act such and such a way, but that doesn't mean *all* men will do that.

We have to remember that "race" is connected with three other things:

1) Ethnicity
2) Evolutionary adaptation
3) genetics and history.

So, for example, men and women respond to climate situations differently because of our different hormones, body mass, etc. Similarly, white-skinned people have genetically adapted for colder temperatures, whereas darker skinned people are genetically adapted for warmer environments.

This leads to various issues of conflict between men and women or whites and blacks, when we try to interact. I used to work at an office where the men and women, particularly the white men and the African American women, were always disagreeing over the temperature controls. The men generally wanted the temperature lower. It was a factor of race, gender *and* difference in attire.

That doesn't mean that whites and blacks shouldn't work together, or that men and women shouldn't work together. What it does mean is that we cannot simply say "Race doesn't matter." We have to realize that we have certain biological differences that go along with race, as well as cultural differences, and that those must be taken into account, and not merely dismissed.

In a similar way, I get annoyed by people who say "differently abled" as opposed to "disabled." I am disabled. There are physical differences between me and most other people which mean that I can't do things the same as other people do. Those differences have to be acknowledged and accounted for in order for me to function properly with other people. To merely act like they don't exist creates friction.

Also, "race" is inherently tied to the history of an ethnic group, in *many* ways. Certainly lack of forgiveness for old grievances is a factor in racism, but so is the passing on of traits, through both nature and nurture.

Again, I'm not at all saying taht people should be discriminated against or hated because of these factors.

But too often we act as if it constitutes "racism" to say these factors exist at all.

Certainly doesn't strike me as Christian behavior no matter who does it, and that's all that counts. I'm not sure what purpose abstract discussions over such an absurd proposition serves. Why are you wasting your breath arguing with this guy? He is obviously disconnected from his faith if he even considers debating such a thing.It ain't Christian and that should suffice.

I agree, absolutely, that racism is a sin. And, I would offer that any secularist who chooses to disbelieve in the concept of sin, should feel no differently. (Though he or she might not categorize it the same way, they should recognize racism, bigotry, prejudice, and stereotyping as incredibly ill-informed choices to make in the face of the historical contributions made to humankind, in every imagineable field of endeavor, by persons of diverse race, color, ethnicity, nationality, gender, physical and mental disabilities, socio-economic class, political persuasion, and faith - or lack thereof.)

On a bit of a tangent, reviewing the list of contributors to this thread, almost all of whom I consider that I "know" fairly well - either through their posts here over the years and/or through private exchanges in PM - I'm extremely impressed with the diversity that we represent. Given the nature of this setting, one would expect diversity based on our members belonging to various Catholic and Orthodox jurisdictions.

In respect of folks' privacy, I won't elaborate on their particulars, however, the actual picture presented on this thread is one that far exceeds the bounds of "Church", as a differentiating factor. It speaks, both in participation and the essential unanimity of opinion, highly of the "community" that we like to boast exists here. We can be proud of that!

Many years,

Neil

Amen, Subdeacon. (And everyone else...)

Authentic racism is absolutely a sin, and I too have seen my share of it growing up in the Southland, where sometimes it is out front and in your face and other times cloaked by a gentile manner.

From a truly Catholic perspective (in the sense of universal fullness) we should recall that Christ came to plant the mustard seed that would turn into a mustard plant where many birds (nations) could come and make their nest. This principle of a universal kingdom where the peoples of many nations (including many races) come together to form a single people (spiritual kinship) in a New Israel is intrinsic to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

But those who make use of concerns over an authentic issue in order to silence or shame those in opposition to their political views are simply exploiting the exploited in order to serve their own personal and political ambitions. They have a vested interested in ensuring that others (including their own) maintain the perpetual feeling of being an underclass...otherwise they won't be needed anymore!

That said, I think it is important that we realize that we are not in the 1930's, 40's, 50's and 60's here in the US. While the principles of equality and charity remain the same, the situation most certainly has fundamentally changed. The very fact that we have a president whose heritage is at least half African-American should be seen as quite the watershed event for our country (despite the color of his politics).

As a side note, yesterday I visited Fort Sumter, the site of the first shots of the Civil War. While I have always been sympathetic to the principle of subsidiarity advocated by the Southern Democrats in the build up to secession from the Union, their absolutizing and application of this principle in order to protect the so-called "property rights" of slave owners was unconscionable and the nation paid the ultimate price in that terrible war. (I am also at present reading William Freehling's "The Road to Disunion: Volume 1: Secessionists at Bay (1776-1854). It is an interesting portrayal of life in the South in the build up to 1861.)

While racism has not been defeated in the hearts of many (on both sides of the race aisle) I pray that one day we can all be one without suffering the loss of our unique and divinely ordained individuality.

In ICXC,

Fr. Deacon Daniel

PS: I recall two of my spiritual heroes, Catherine Doherty and Dorothy Day, had some incredibly choice words about the problem of racism in the 1950's and 60's. I was searching for a few quotes, but could not locate them. Does anyone have any handy?