I was reading a comment over at BCC http://www.bycommonconsent.com/ and there is a discussion on race in the church.
This discussion reminds me of my second companion on my mission. He was from Utah and was fairly well off and had a black and white (no pun intended) view of things. I remember that his jaw dropped when I told him that I once hitch hiked when our car broke down. "That's illegal" he said.
Anyway, this one time he told me a racist joke. I can't remember if it was against blacks or mexicans or what, but I said something like "Do you think Jesus would tell that joke." He said something like, "Do you think that Jesus would get his certification?" (for those of you who might not know, missionaries usually memorize scriptures and read specific books to get "certified").
Anyway, I really doubt that he was really racist, but it seems that this attitude is too rampant among people in the church. It makes me sick to my stomach to see people who claim to be so righteous, be so un christlike when it comes to racism. There is nothing funny about racism at all. There is nothing harmless about racist jokes. I suppose that it's ok for someone from that background to tell them. I suppose I could tell a white person joke.
A few months ago, I found out that the church has an organization specifically geared towards blacks in the church. It's really interesting. It is officially sanctioned by the church.
http://www.ldsgenesisgroup.org/index.html
I have also been reading some arguements against the church folklore about the blacks being decendents of Cain and Ham etc. etc., while that is definitely not church doctrine, I have yet to be convinced that it's not true. Even if it were true, I think that in no way justifies racism. It in no way implies that the lord loves the decendents of Cain or Ham any less.
I grew up in Georgia and one of my best friends (because I didn't really have many friends) was very racist. His god father, my neighbor, was in the KKK. We used to buy wood from this family and they showed up on Sally Jessie Raphael because they were in the KKK. (needless to say we quit buying wood from them). I have seen it's evils, I did not like the things I saw growing up there.
The lord will do what he will do, but he does not condone racism or hatred for any of his children.
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4 comments:
good post. i have encoutnered this as well...it's so troubling and sad.
It is sad indeed.
I'm convinced there is nothing to the idea that the descendents of Ham were black.
The truth is, we don't really know anything about the decendents of Ham other than what we have heard by Brigham Young and others. The truth is, the wider Christian world beleived that the Blacks were the decendents of Ham. Perhaps they were trying to justify slavery. BY might have just kept the doctrine.
I think it's clear though that there was some revelation not allowing the blacks to have the priesthood. I suppose all will be revealed eventually...
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