Racism and eugenics

[dumbseeker]

Can anyone please give me some biblical arguments that oppose racism and eugenics?

 

[Ruthie]

Against racism:

…for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. Gal 3:26-29 (RSV)

And:

Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scyth’ian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all.
Col 3:11 (RSV)

Not literally, but spiritually and morally against eugenics (emphasis mine):

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, 15 as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.
John 10:11-16 (RSV)

More easily understood:

The next day, as they were on their journey and coming near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 And he became hungry and desired something to eat; but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

…
and he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit any one of another nation; but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.
Acts 10:9-16, 28 (RSV)

 

[Blade_and_Blood]

Can anyone please give me some biblical arguments that oppose racism and eugenics?

“Thou shall love thy neighbor.”

That one is the best. Mainly because it’s very universal; you can use it to oppose any form of hate on others.

Ironically Yours, Blade and Blood

 

[jcrichton]

Can anyone please give me some biblical arguments that oppose racism and eugenics?

*I think that there is a misunderstanding when we read the Old Testament and come to passages that seemingly require that Israel remains in “racial purity.”

Though there are many passages that command Israel to abstain from intermarrige with the various nations among them, these mandates are to maintain purity of worship:

Leviticus 18:1-30
Deuteronomy 7:1-6; 12:29-31

These requirements are present in the New Testament also:

Ephesians 4:17-32
1 Corinthians 6:12-20

This separation/selection is evident from the very beginning:

Genesis 4:1-7

Clearly this separation, due to Yahweh God’s determination, is not that of race/national origins:

Exodus 12:48-49
Leviticus 19:33-34
Numbers 15:14-16

Jesus brought forth the new Covenant and the new form of Worship:

St. John 4:7-24

…the Apostles understood this to be true:

Acts 10:44-48; 15:14
Romans 3:29-31; 15:7-12
Ephisians 3:1-6; 2:11-22

Maran atha!

Angel*