Racism a sin?

[wwjd32]

I have heard of people that are racist and claim that races are not equal and blame other races for the depression and I have questioned them and said that they are sinning and they said what proof do I have and I realized that I have none besides its wrong but what makes it wrong?? Didn’t the Hebrews have slaves and I’m just trying to get facts so what’s some proof
Thanks

 

[Ponyguy]

Sinful? Depends upon the situation, I imagine…
But if you make a blanket statement, then probably so…

I thought that the issue was pretty much settled and laid to rest when someone wrote:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

 

[PeaceSerenity]

God created only one “race”, the human race. The account of Genesis doesn’t say that God created the asians, caucasians, africans, etc. just men and women, all in His image and likeness.

In fact, in James 2:4, this behavior is condemned: “Have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

And we know that God has commanded us to love on another, as He loved us, so a blanket hatred for a specific race is definitely unacceptable.

A few interesting verses to consider:

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. (1 John 2:9)

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. (John 7:24)

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12)

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." (Acts 10)

 

[Glennonite]

"

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12)

"

I think this would have been a perfect opportunity to say whether slavery was good or bad… Just sayin’.

Also, I think Timothy says, "Treat your slaves as brothers. " but not “Let them be free.”

Glennonite

 

[puzzleannie]

I have heard of people that are racist and claim that races are not equal and blame other races for the depression and I have questioned them and said that they are sinning and they said what proof do I have and I realized that I have none besides its wrong but what makes it wrong?? Didn’t the Hebrews have slaves and I’m just trying to get facts so what’s some proof
Thanks

I have no idea what you are talking about.
How on earth does racism cause depression?
What has the ancient Jewish practice on holding slaves have to do with either topic?
If you are not a priest in confession you are not in a position to tell anyone they are sinning unless God has given you the supernatural gift of reading hearts and souls. You may remind people with whom you are on good terms, in a gentle and charitable way, that their remarks, speech or actions are offensive, or if they profess to be Christian, you can remind them that those actions are not very Christ-like, but you cannot ever tell someone else he is sinning.

 

[PeaceSerenity]

I have no idea what you are talking about.
How on earth does racism cause depression?

I think they were referring to an economic depression (not a mental/psychological one ) People were blaming other races for the economic downturn.

 

[Bookcat]

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20010829_comunicato-razzismo_en.html

 

[Bookcat]

Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church:

1. The centrality of the human person and the natural inclination of persons and peoples to establish relationships among themselves are the fundamental elements for building a true international community, the ordering of which must aim at guaranteeing the effective universal common good.[880] Despite the widespread aspiration to build an authentic international community, the unity of the human family is not yet becoming a reality. This is due to obstacles originating in materialistic and nationalistic ideologies that contradict the values of the person integrally considered in all his various dimensions, material and spiritual, individual and community. In particular, any theory or form whatsoever of racism and racial discrimination is morally unacceptable.[881]

vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html#THE%20EQUAL%20DIGNITY%20OF%20ALL%20PEOPLE

 

[ANNE_2]

I have heard of people that are racist and claim that races are not equal and blame other races for the depression and I have questioned them and said that they are sinning and they said what proof do I have and I realized that I have none besides its wrong but what makes it wrong?? Didn’t the Hebrews have slaves and I’m just trying to get facts so what’s some proof
Thanks

Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to “love God first” and then “love our neigbhor”.

He did not say we should only love particular neighbors based on skin color, eye color or whatever.

Here’s the proof :-
Mt 22:37-39 (New Testament)
and
CCC - "1935 The equality of men rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it.
Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design."

 

[puzzleannie]

I think they were referring to an economic depression (not a mental/psychological one ) People were blaming other races for the economic downturn.

so how does racism cause economic depression? I still don’t understand the question

 

[hazcompat]

Racism is gave matter.

peace

 

[wwjd32]

I think they were referring to an economic depression (not a mental/psychological one ) People were blaming other races for the economic downturn.

Yea like the Nazis and I’m starting to think that the people I was talking about are Neo-Nazis and I’m not sure but I’m guessing they’re racist and to the person that said that I shouldn’t be saying that people are sinning well that’s your opinion but if someone was saying stuff against Jesus wouldn’t you say something it’s kinda like that and they were saying stuff about illegal immigrants and Mexicans and how there taking our jobs and that’s how they were causing an economic depression

 

[kbwall]

Racism certainly qualifies as not loving your neighbor as you love yourself. You’re supposed to love undonditionally. Racism is a form of hatred, and hatred is a sin.

 

[mark_a]

I have heard of people that are racist and claim that races are not equal and blame other races for the depression and I have questioned them and said that they are sinning and they said what proof do I have and I realized that I have none besides its wrong but what makes it wrong?? Didn’t the Hebrews have slaves and I’m just trying to get facts so what’s some proof
Thanks

Exactly how have these Southern Baptists convinced so many that racism=slavery?

 

[PeaceSerenity]

Yea like the Nazis and I’m starting to think that the people I was talking about are Neo-Nazis and I’m not sure but I’m guessing they’re racist and to the person that said that I shouldn’t be saying that people are sinning well that’s your opinion but if someone was saying stuff against Jesus wouldn’t you say something it’s kinda like that and they were saying stuff about illegal immigrants and Mexicans and how there taking our jobs and that’s how they were causing an economic depression

The bible is pretty clear on not judging others even if they are making mistakes:

“So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” - John 8:7

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." - Matthew 7

I don’t think anyone on this thread would argue that racism is acceptable in the Church, or that it should be tolerated, but I’d have to agree with puzzleannie on this one. It isn’t good for us, or for others to condemn them as sinners. If they will not take to kind correction, then I’m not sure there is much else you can do (since passionate debate and arguments never really help)…

[And in case puzzleannie is still puzzled about the depression thing, I believe the intent was this: Some people blame immigrants/other races for the economic depression, as mentioned a few posts ago]

Peace

 

[catharina]

I have heard of people that are racist and claim that races are not equal and blame other races for the depression and I have questioned them and said that they are sinning and they said what proof do I have and I realized that I have none besides its wrong but what makes it wrong?? Didn’t the Hebrews have slaves and I’m just trying to get facts so what’s some proof
Thanks

Racism is a vile sin.
It equates some people to “less than” based on physical characteristics,
when the Divine Law says we are to love one another as God has loved us.

Does God love us based on certain racial attributes or characteristics?

NO.

 

[jmcrae]

so how does racism cause economic depression? I still don’t understand the question

I suppose racism could cause economic depression by arbitrarily excluding talent based merely on the skin colour or native language - thus reducing overall productivity.

I don’t think that was the question, though.

 

[Suspicious_Mind]

I fail to understand why there needs to be such a long debate over such a simple matter, the long and short of it is: Yes, it’s a sin whichever way you look at it; biblically, morally, socio-politically.