My intention was to try to understand the ways in which my original comment was perceived.
You are correct that our definitions of words like racism and privilege are critical in conversations like these. I believe that I am operating out of different definitions than you have indicated here.
Good point. I love that teaching from the Catechism.
I want to make sure that I am honoring the ninth commandment in that spirit for my brothers and sisters who have darker skin tones than I as well. From my experience, too often in our world, both historically and currently, the good name of people of African descent is denigrated. I should not denigrate others in response, but I do desire to speak truth regarding historic and current expressions of racism.
Thanks for your reflections Joshua. I also believe it is critical to acknowledge my own prejudice as well as the ways in which I benefit from participation in a racist society. Therefore, I too acknowledge my sin of racism. I also think that it is possible to strive in as much as God gives me the grace to be an anti-racist, working against these internal and external forces and systems that diminish and dehumanize people based on their skin color. May God continue to open my blind eyes and give me courage to strive for justice and racial righteousness. Blessings on your journey and thank you for your bravery to share these reflections.
Eric, I appreciate the opportunity to digitally dialogue about this. I hear you saying that you are feeling judged by Joshua's statement "if you're white, you're probably a racist too and just don't know it." And your feeling is that his statement actually "diminishes and dehumanizes" you as a white person. So the hatred that has been initiated towards our black brothers and sisters is now being reciprocated and is causing more division. Is that an accurate assessment of your post?
Thanks for these thoughts. It is helpful in understanding your perspective and the errors you desire for the Church to avoid.
My desire is not at all to encourage hatred or generalizations of any people group. But I desire that we as a Church would be mindful of the ways in which prejudice has been embedded in our own thinking as well as in the ways that our society is not yet providing equitable opportunities for all people.
I affirm the ways in which Joshua is pursuing this in his life and his desire for others to do so as well. While I understand the language of labeling another person as "racist" is not generally helpful, I hope that his invitation for all of us to consider our own hearts and the ways in which our organizations function is not completely lost.
The struggle with "sensations of orientation" is so true for me and my friends in Detroit as well. Even when "old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new," the newness can be disorienting. May God bless you as you seek to re-orient yourself and your friends in the grace of Christ.
Posted in: Hello, I Am a Racist
My intention was to try to understand the ways in which my original comment was perceived.
You are correct that our definitions of words like racism and privilege are critical in conversations like these. I believe that I am operating out of different definitions than you have indicated here.
Posted in: Hello, I Am a Racist
Good point. I love that teaching from the Catechism.
I want to make sure that I am honoring the ninth commandment in that spirit for my brothers and sisters who have darker skin tones than I as well. From my experience, too often in our world, both historically and currently, the good name of people of African descent is denigrated. I should not denigrate others in response, but I do desire to speak truth regarding historic and current expressions of racism.
Posted in: Hello, I Am a Racist
Thanks for your reflections Joshua. I also believe it is critical to acknowledge my own prejudice as well as the ways in which I benefit from participation in a racist society. Therefore, I too acknowledge my sin of racism. I also think that it is possible to strive in as much as God gives me the grace to be an anti-racist, working against these internal and external forces and systems that diminish and dehumanize people based on their skin color. May God continue to open my blind eyes and give me courage to strive for justice and racial righteousness. Blessings on your journey and thank you for your bravery to share these reflections.
Posted in: Hello, I Am a Racist
Eric, I appreciate the opportunity to digitally dialogue about this. I hear you saying that you are feeling judged by Joshua's statement "if you're white, you're probably a racist too and just don't know it." And your feeling is that his statement actually "diminishes and dehumanizes" you as a white person. So the hatred that has been initiated towards our black brothers and sisters is now being reciprocated and is causing more division. Is that an accurate assessment of your post?
Posted in: Hello, I Am a Racist
Thanks for these thoughts. It is helpful in understanding your perspective and the errors you desire for the Church to avoid.
My desire is not at all to encourage hatred or generalizations of any people group. But I desire that we as a Church would be mindful of the ways in which prejudice has been embedded in our own thinking as well as in the ways that our society is not yet providing equitable opportunities for all people.
I affirm the ways in which Joshua is pursuing this in his life and his desire for others to do so as well. While I understand the language of labeling another person as "racist" is not generally helpful, I hope that his invitation for all of us to consider our own hearts and the ways in which our organizations function is not completely lost.
Posted in: Dazzling and Cruel Transitions
The struggle with "sensations of orientation" is so true for me and my friends in Detroit as well. Even when "old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new," the newness can be disorienting. May God bless you as you seek to re-orient yourself and your friends in the grace of Christ.