What's wrong with racism?

[JGG]

Why is racism bad? Different people are different (duh). Is it wrong to point that out?

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

.

 

[JGG]

Exactly how enjoyable is it to be discriminated, mistreated, and abused simply for something that is literally skin deep?

But it's more than just skin. It's ethnicity and culture. What if one race, skin, and culture really is better than all the rest?

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

But it's more than just skin. It's ethnicity and culture. What if one race, skin, and culture really is better than all the rest?

No. There is none. God certainly doesnt think that way.

 

[Nithavela]

Racism itself isn't bad.

Everyone is racist to an extent.

We are human beings and can't know every other one of the 7+ billion human beings jerking around on this giant radioactive mudball we call our home. So we group other people together. We differentiate them by the color of their skin, by the way they dress, by the way they speak, what jobs they hold (or don't hold), what their nationality is and from which region of those nations they stem from, especially if they come from the same nation we live in.

In my city, there is the common idea that the people from a neighbouring region, who are identified by their different license plates, are horrible drivers. Why? Easy, because those people from neighbouring regions who come to my city aren't familiar with our streets and city layout, so they make mistakes people in my city wouldn't think about making.

Still, people see them as different, expect a certain kind of behaviour, and when it is observed, it reinforces the prejudice.

But I would contest that holding a prejudice isn't actually a bad thing. As I said, noone can judge everyone fairly on their own personal merits, so we need to simplify our worldview and group people together. Then, we can live our lives in the happy illusion that the world as we see it from our extremely limited viewpoint actually makes sense. This does wonders to ones personal mental health.

In contrast, when people have no prejudices at all, you can basically see them slowly going insane. Some even die their hair red and start exposing their breasts in public in some sort of display of their moral superiority, or they pull masks over their faces and throw firebombs at cars. It appears to be some kind of psychosis.

Of course, you get such behaviours from racists, too, but only when their preconceived worldview is challenged and they have to isolate themselves from reality. Having ones fragile walls of order break down around you can be traumatic, so I think they can be excused from lynching a few people.

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

.

 

[JGG]

No. There is none. God certainly doesnt think that way.

But that's because non-racists start with the idea that people are all the same.

If we start with the premise that one race is better than all of the others then things look different. In that case, what's wrong with racism?

 

[RDKirk]

Modern racism would have confused the ancient Romans. To them, skin color was merely a matter of aesthetics. They paid more attention to the language you spoke, the gods you worshiped, the nation you fought for. If it those were all the same as theirs, you were one of them.

A Roman would not have understood a white man and a black man having been born in the same town, speaking the same language, going to the same school, fighting in the same military, worshiping the same God, eating the same foods...claiming to be of different ethnicities.

 

[Nithavela]

Modern racism would have confused the ancient Romans. To them, skin color was merely a matter of aesthetics. They paid more attention to the language you spoke, the gods you worshiped, the nation you fought for. If it those were all the same as theirs, you were one of them.

A Roman would not have understood a white man and a black man having been born in the same town, speaking the same language, going to the same school, fighting in the same military, worshiping the same God, eating the same foods...claiming to be of different ethnicities.

Jup, and we all know what kind of person that kind of sentiment produces: Caligula.

 

[Petros2015]

If we start with the premise that one race is better than all of the others then things look different. In that case, what's wrong with racism?

Ask a neanderthal.

 

[RDKirk]

Jup, and we all know what kind of person that kind of sentiment produces: Caligula.

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. -- Galatians 3

 

[JGG]

When I think of race, I think of it as the people themselves. Culture is something totally different and not equal as evidenced by each country's success in terms of economics, government, and human rights. You could have a single black guy grow up to be two different people depending if he grew up in Africa or in North America.

Things like race and genetics is nature and there is little you can do about it. Culture is nurture and is subject to change over time. To make a person, you need a mixture of both. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. It really depends on the individual and how they respond to their cards in life.

But race is a group of people. Surely we can make assumptions about them based on our experience?

 

[Nithavela]

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. -- Galatians 3

Nice sentiment, but the human mind doesn't work that way.

 

[RDKirk]

Nice sentiment, but the human mind doesn't work that way.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. -- Romans 12

 

[Nithavela]

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. -- Romans 12

So.. once you're done quoting scripture, would you mind telling us all why it is relevant?

It looks like you're using it more as a shield for deflection.

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

But that's because non-racists start with the idea that people are all the same.

If we start with the premise that one race is better than all of the others then things look different. In that case, what's wrong with racism?

Its not Godly. Racists will have no part in heaven...I'm sure they wouldnt want to be in a place thats not only filled with bliss but people of every nation.

 

[dreadnought]

Why is racism bad? Different people are different (duh). Is it wrong to point that out?

Racism is bad. So is falsely accusing people of being racists.

 

[alsughasoughaiuyfygh]

.

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

So.. once you're done quoting scripture, would you mind telling us all why it is relevant?

It looks like you're using it more as a shield for deflection.

Why would you want to be racist? What does that do or accomplish for you?

Racist sentiments turn into words which turn into actions... What would you gain from snuffing out the life of a person who has a different appearence than your own?
You are not God so you cant say one person is better than any other.

 

[Nithavela]

Its not Godly. Racists will have no part in heaven...

That's what you say. Many racists look very christian to me.