Strange ideas

[Tom 1]

Probably this is a very narrow minority view, but the people concerned are employed by the state. Reading this just made me curious if this is actually an idea that some churches still promote in the US:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...l-member-went-further/?utm_term=.a44bb0016d2d

If you don't want to read the article this is one of the people working for local government in this small town:

“I’m a Christian and my Christian beliefs are you don’t do interracial marriage. That’s the way I was brought up and that’s the way I believe,” he said. “I have black friends, I hired black people. But when it comes to all this stuff you see on TV, when you see blacks and whites together, it makes my blood boil because that’s just not the way a Christian is supposed to live.”

All I know about small town America is based on one short visit to the US and what Bill Bryson has to say about it. Are ideas like this widespread?

 

[ripple the car]

I don't think it is. But there are some Christians who feel that inter-racial marriage and parenthood is a sin. I have heard that they exist, especially in the American South, but have never met one.

 

[brinny]

Probably this is a very narrow minority view, but the people concerned are employed by the state. Reading this just made me curious if this is actually an idea that some churches still promote in the US:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...l-member-went-further/?utm_term=.a44bb0016d2d

If you don't want to read the article this is one of the people working for local government in this small town:

“I’m a Christian and my Christian beliefs are you don’t do interracial marriage. That’s the way I was brought up and that’s the way I believe,” he said. “I have black friends, I hired black people. But when it comes to all this stuff you see on TV, when you see blacks and whites together, it makes my blood boil because that’s just not the way a Christian is supposed to live.”

All I know about small town America is based on one short visit to the US and what Bill Bryson has to say about it. Are ideas like this widespread?

Are ideas like this widespread?

No. They're antiquated and do not reflect the reality of most of the Church congregations/families/relationships/beliefs across the U.S.

 

[JacobKStarkey]

I know such people, all in the South.

They are not numerous.

 

[A Realist]

All I know about small town America is based on one short visit to the US and what Bill Bryson has to say about it. Are ideas like this widespread?

Not any more. The only folks who believe this nonsense anymore are small groups of bible fundamentalists and "white power" nut-jobs.

 

[mama2one]

our neighborhood is getting more diverse and there are two families with children who have white mothers/black fathers

haven't heard any complaints about diversity in our neighborhood

 

[Chesterton]

Probably this is a very narrow minority view, but the people concerned are employed by the state. Reading this just made me curious if this is actually an idea that some churches still promote in the US:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...l-member-went-further/?utm_term=.a44bb0016d2d

If you don't want to read the article this is one of the people working for local government in this small town:

“I’m a Christian and my Christian beliefs are you don’t do interracial marriage. That’s the way I was brought up and that’s the way I believe,” he said. “I have black friends, I hired black people. But when it comes to all this stuff you see on TV, when you see blacks and whites together, it makes my blood boil because that’s just not the way a Christian is supposed to live.”

All I know about small town America is based on one short visit to the US and what Bill Bryson has to say about it. Are ideas like this widespread?

No, they're not widespread. I've never met anyone like that, although I've heard of black people who feel the same way. I guess they're entitled to their opinions, but it's their personal opinion, and I defy them to show me how this is a "Christian belief".

 

[PloverWing]

I grew up in the 1960s in a southern state. At that time and place, sentiments against interracial marriage were common, and interracial marriage was illegal in my state until 1967, when a Supreme Court decision put an end to such laws. I have heard Scripture used (badly) in Sunday School to defend bans on interracial marriage, back when I was younger.

Fortunately, I hear these sentiments less and less often. Many of the people who held this view have died of old age. I hope it dies for good when my generation dies.

What I find most encouraging in the Washington Post's story is that there has been fierce opposition to the racist view that was expressed. The opening line to the story is "A Georgia mayor is facing bipartisan calls to resign following a report that she dismissed a candidate for a top city position based on his race." There in a little town in Georgia, racism is now so abhorrent that the major is being called on to resign. It gives me hope for the future.

 

[GodLovesCats]

I don't think it is. But there are some Christians who feel that inter-racial marriage and parenthood is a sin. I have heard that they exist, especially in the American South, but have never met one.

Why would anybody think inter-racial marriage is a sin? What matters is Christians marry other Christians instead of Jews, Muslims, etc.

It is not as rare as you think. In 2000 the U.S. Census added multiracial on the list of demographics. That year, 2 percent of Americans were multiracial. Less than 10 years later we had a multracial President.

 

[Happygal]

Probably this is a very narrow minority view, but the people concerned are employed by the state. Reading this just made me curious if this is actually an idea that some churches still promote in the US:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...l-member-went-further/?utm_term=.a44bb0016d2d

If you don't want to read the article this is one of the people working for local government in this small town:

“I’m a Christian and my Christian beliefs are you don’t do interracial marriage. That’s the way I was brought up and that’s the way I believe,” he said. “I have black friends, I hired black people. But when it comes to all this stuff you see on TV, when you see blacks and whites together, it makes my blood boil because that’s just not the way a Christian is supposed to live.”

All I know about small town America is based on one short visit to the US and what Bill Bryson has to say about it. Are ideas like this widespread?

I live in Asia, never heard of interracial of the same beliefs is a sin. I have many friends who is Chinese who married Indian but of same faith

 

[GodLovesCats]

No, they're not widespread. I've never met anyone like that, although I've heard of black people who feel the same way. I guess they're entitled to their opinions, but it's their personal opinion, and I defy them to show me how this is a "Christian belief".

I think black people worry about being treated badly for having white spouses when people find out about the skin color difference. For a long time it was considered taboo for blacks to marry whites and very rare but those days should be over. Whites marrying Latinos certainly does not create a firestorm.