Abstract
Racism has no scientific basis or definition. It is a learned behavior that puts one group of people above all others. Racism puts a burden on the society that artificially crafted it, and it suffocates the Church infected by its ideology. The Church can overcome racism by more intentionally creating a beloved community that transcends the pillars that sustain racist theories. Christians and non-Christians are responsible to promote the enduring values that have defined humanity, such as generosity, kindness, perseverance, and humility. Incidental characteristics, such as the color or tone of one’s skin, when highlighted, insidiously give an unfair advantage to one group over another. The psychological damage caused by racist ideology can become inconsequential when the Church takes the risk to become a beacon for the promotion of justice. If the Church fails to overcome racism and neglects the role of becoming the champion of a beloved community and nurturing a race-transcending society, the Church has lost its heritage and its hope.
Keywords
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.