It’s Christmas! Check out the new fun ways our atheist and satanist friends are celebrating Jesus’s birth this year! Then Phil and Skye are joined by guest Theon Hill to discuss the church’s role in addressing systemic racism in a post-Ferguson America. Atheists and Satanists and racists! Oh my!
To view Dr. Theon Hill’s talk on Ferguson and race, visit the following link:
https://vimeo.com/114390518
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Hello, I recently started listening to the podcast, and have just caught up with the current podcast (took 3 months). I appreciate the hilarious commentary on current issues. While I sometimes disagree on certain points represented on the the show, I often enjoy the alternative perspectives to my own; the best example is the interpretation of Genesis 1 (Yeah, I’m one of those 6-day 6,000 year Institute of Creation Research ‘nuts;’ even had some YouTube comment debates, but I was glad to find a credible rational for Christians to allow evolution. I still don’t agree with it, but that’s not relevant now).
All that said, I would like to comment on this topic, because there were some problems I had with the view presented. Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed the podcast, and agree with some parts (like that the Church should help ease racism where it exists, and that the view of humans presented in the Christian worldview doesn’t allow for racism), I do not agree that systemic racism is widespread in America, at least against African Americans. I won’t pour out an argument against it here, because the general problem of racism (and anti-racism that all too often is just anti-white) is serious.
I am a proponent of the “colorblind society” which Mr. Hill chuckled at. Funny enough, it appears that Mr. Hill is actually a proponent of it as well, as shown by his further comments. Basically, the “colorblind society” is the idea that race should be treated like eye color, height, and bellybutton type (an aid in describing physical appearance, nothing more), which I’m pretty sure is the ideal which Mr. Hill described.
So, what do I think we do to get rid of the remaining racism and militant anti-racism (which, more often than not, is just ‘anti-white’) and approach the colorblind society? I’ve come up with the following measures:
1.) Promote the Christian view of humanity, as was emphasized in the podcast
2.) Stop talking about race. As mentioned in the podcast, race is a social construct. If anything, everyone is of the race of (in the classic meaning of “being descended from”) Adam, and more recently, Noah.
3.) Remove all references to race from government policy/laws (including anti-discrimination laws and affirmative action). This is really just a more specific part of step 2. Whatever role these had in the past of “kicking in the door” in the past is now just perpetuating that stereotype of helplessness mentioned in the podcast. Remember, the Irish coming over during the potato famine were dirt poor and discriminated against (Catholic!), and they turned out fine.
Finally, I’m sorry my first comment had to be contrary, just a fluke of when I caught up. So, I present the positive paragraph!
I love the show, you have great guests, funny jokes, wonderful voices, interesting theology, an amiable manner, and thoughtful commentary. Oh, I’m also a fan of Plinky Pete! Thanks for putting this out every week!
LOVE your podcast. A friend pointed me to this one in particular knowing I’ve been wrestling with the whole Ferguson ordeal and where Jesus fits into it. Really appreciated Theon’s points and glad you facilitated the conversation. Definitely think the church should be proactive in building bridges. Here’s my tempered entry into the discussion:
http://darnsermons.com/ferguson-calling/
Peace
Brian