How to Remove Racism in Christianity

 

 

by Mohamed Ghounem & Abdur Rahman

 

Dear Christians,

 

This is not an attack on Christianity because if the valid suggestions in this topic work, then the result will be a stronger Christianity, therefore this topic is aimed to help and not attack.

 

Muslims are not anti-Christ as some Christians portray us, Muslims believe in Jesus as the Messiah and that Jesus was sent by God.

 

The only outcome of this topic can be a united and stronger Christianity. If I point to some truths in Christianity, it is not to demonize the faith; it is to address the concern.

 

Furthermore, just to clarify, the question on "How to end racism in Christianity" is not one I invented or made up, nor another Muslim.

 

I was reading through the Soc. Religion Christian newsgroup when I saw a very similar question, furthermore I was watching the "Promise Keepers at Washington Live" some time back when a Christian Priest of African descent said some words that stuck in my head.

 

Those words were "10 am on Sunday is the most segregated hour of the week" I did not invent this, I'm sure transcripts of the transmission can be ordered from CSPAN. Now having studied images and their effects, I have a suggestion that may help.

 

As some may know, human pictures are not allowed in Muslim Mosques because the Prophet states that angels do not enter buildings with such images.

 

My theories, which anyone can take as their own if they like, are that the absence of pictures in the Muslim place of worship has another powerful effect also.

 

It eases and even removes racial tensions between the members.

 

My suggestion is *Remove All Images Within the Church*

 

My reasoning is:

 

Some white Christians consider pictures of Jesus as an African as a lie. Similarly a picture of a white Jesus is considered by some people of African descent as a lie. Therefore you have the tension of the two calling each other a liar over the image of Jesus.

 

Negative results: A person of African descent and who is a Christian who believes that Jesus was an African would not sit in a White church with pictures of a white Jesus because that person who is Christian is not going to lie to his or herself, especially while praying.

 

Solution: Remove the pictures, therefore, both groups can comfortably pray within the church and can mentally portray Jesus whatever color they want. Also the picture does not have to stare them in the face to force them to accept a certain color or image.

 

When the pictures are removed in this scenario, the members can picture in their minds their own personal Jesus and can portray him any color they want, but to put up pictures is to ask other members to accept a certain color of Jesus without respecting their differing views which can cause tensions within the church and even cause certain members to seek a church which meets their views.

 

You will rarely find a white Christian praising an African Jesus Icon. A person of African descent when asked to praise a white Jesus Icon may feel a discomfort.

 

Negative results: Again this will cause tensions and may again result in goers with opposing views seeking to go elsewhere to give thanks.

 

Solution: Removing the African Icon or White Icon will again ease the tensions. My theory also is that these Icons can have a major effect on the attitudes of the goers.

 

The pictures in a church that portray life in heaven with a group being one color for example, most of the time we see that heavenly members are portrayed as exclusively white while if we see evil Biblical figures are portrayed as "Dark in Skin," or non-White.

 

Negative results: This effect gives a non-verbal message to the darker skin goers that they will not be in Heaven. If Heaven exclusively or majority include white people and Hell includes a majority of darker skin people according to the pictures, then this gives a loaded message.

 

Solution: Removal of the bias pictures. If a church must keep them, then integrate the pictures. This will have to include many images including people of Asian descent.

 

It is the classical good person bad person stereotyping that the pictures emit.

 

When the pictures are removed then you will have people thinking for themselves, and nothing portraying one group better then the other. Many scholars discussing the effects of images, past and present, of course have confirmed all this.

 

Dr. King had a dream to end racism, let us not let his life's work be in vain, let us contact the churches with the mono-color images and politely ask them to remove the images based on psychological ethical reasons, and also contact other Christian groups to do the same.

 

Let's keep Dr. King's dream alive and end this ongoing nightmare.

 

 

"Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best

and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from his path, and who receive guidance."

 

Qur'an 16:125

 

 

"The most disastrous aspect of colonization which you are the most

reluctant to release from your mind is their colonization of the image of God."

 

- Dr. Frances Cress-Welsing

 

Another article of interest

 

 

Beyond Words Village

Give us your thoughts and opinions!

 

The authors give full permission to use any of the above material as your own to distribute for free.

This article was published courtesy of Mohamed Ghounem & Abdur Rahman

Copyright © 1998 Mohamed Ghounem & Abdur Rahman

 

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