Racism was rife during the South African Apartheid regime.
“ The disappearance of colonial regimes or situations of racial discrimination has therefore not always meant the end of racism in States which have become independent in Africa and Asia. Within the artificial borders left behind by the colonial powers, cohabitation by ethnic groups with different traditions, languages, cultures and even religions, often runs up against obstacles of mutual hostilities that can be characterized as racist.” [ 3 ]
A more modern form of racism is:“ Ethnocentricity. This is a very widespread attitude whereby a people have a natural tendency to defend its identity by denigrating that of others to the point that, at least symbolically, it refuses to recognize their full human quality. This behavior undoubtedly responds to an instinctive need to protect the values, beliefs and customs of one’ s own community which seem threatened by those of other communities.” [ 4 ] The evolution of Rastafari in Jamaica and The Nation of Islam in The United States
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Point Action Plan:
Change racist attitudes, within the church first by:
1. Accepting the fact that we are all one human family.
2. Appealing first of all to the moral and religious sense of
Forms of Racism Today
of America developed in response to the domination of a Euro centric God that was associated with white supremacy. The Klu Klux Klan on the other hand promoted white supremacy in the name of God to protect their interests.
A resurgence of the deadly myth of eugenic racism.“ Adolf Hitler has his place well marked in history for being the fore runner and the main propagator and sponsor of this notion of an Aryan super race. Nazism has long been abolished but the resurgence of neo Nazism as a hydra that will not die, has produced many attendant forms of race superiority ideologies. The truth of the gospel is the only antidote to this poisonous venom.” [ 5 ]
The Terror of Tribalism“ Tribal oppositions at times endanger, if not peace, at least the pursuit of the common good of
people.
3. Giving biblical facts using loving persuasion.
4. Asking God to change hearts.
5. Offering a place for reconciliation.
6. Promoting initiatives of welcome and exchanges of mutual assistance as regards men and the society as a whole. They also create difficulties for the life of the Churches and the acceptance of pastors from other ethnic groups. Even when the constitutions of these countries formally affirm the equality of all citizens with regard to one another and before the law, it is not rare that some ethnic groups dominate others and refuse them the full enjoyment of their rights” [ 6 ] In the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda Christians were caught up in the mayhem of tribal massacre. The Times of India reports:“ Lahore bombing: Dozens of children and mothers among victims of Easter Sunday suicide attack.” [ 7 ] Christians were murdered by suicide bombing during the Resurrection Sunday observances in India on 27, March 2015. Muslim Indians murdered Christian Indians because of religious differences. What is the righteous response to these atrocities? Christ called us to love our enemies. We need a heart change where we see evil as the enemy not people.“ Laws can contribute to protecting the basic application of this morality, but they are not enough to change the human heart.” [ 8 ]
women belonging to other ethnic groups.
7. Proposing and living the message:“ Every person is my
brother / sister.”
Conclusion: if you are a part of the Kingdom of God racism must be left outside the door.
[ 7 ] Jess Staufenberg, The Independent. 2016. Lahore bombing: Dozens of children and mothers among victims of Easter Sunday suicide attack. [ ONLINE ] Available at: http:// timesofindia. indiatimes. com / world / pakistan / Lahore-bombing-Dozens-of-children-and-mothers-among-victims-of-Easter-Sunday-suicide-attack / articleshow / 51584429. cms. [ Accessed 09 March 16 ].
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