From “With Liberty and Justice for Some: The Bible, the Constitution, and Racism in America” by Susan K. Williams Smith Karen Armstrong writes in The Case for God that in spite of the fact that all of the world’s faiths insist that “true spirituality must be expressed consistently in practical compassion,” that rarely happens. The […]
Racism isn’t a matter of melanin; it’s a matter of power Read More »
by Susan K. Smith Ten days after Dylann Roof murdered eight people and their pastor at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, Bree Newsome traveled to Columbia, the state capital, intent on shaking the smug complacency of white supremacy. She had had enough, long before the tragic murders at the church, but this incident
The Confederate Flag, Fear, and a Woman Named Bree Newsome Read More »
by Susan K. Williams Smith I was fascinated when I heard Dr. Miguel de la Torre say in a lecture, “I no longer speak truth to power. I speak truth to the powerless.” The powerful already know the truth, he said, and they ignore it. It is those who feel they have no power who
To Whom Do We Speak Truth? Read More »
Even within Christianity itself, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of denominations all claiming to know the true message of Jesus the Christ. Now, as in ancient and pre-biblical days, we have a polytheistic system in which gods are competing with each other. In addition to that, as much as we might want to claim
The religion of empire Read More »
Our beloved Bible gave us the Great Commandment, found in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is significant that these words are found in all three of the Synoptics, which indicates that they are the heart and soul of the Christian faith. In all three Gospels, Jesus the Christ is asked, “What
In many instances unwilling to abide by it Read More »
As slavery continued to thrive in the United States, slave traders, many of whom called themselves Christian, participated in the business of selling human beings. As the economy of the South was growing, more and more labor was needed, and so many enslaved Africans who lived north of the deep South were sought as laborers
Weak from the start Read More »
Americans have never had a monolithic view of Jesus, nor have they had a monolithic understanding of what Christianity is. In fact, so-called liberals and conservatives are miles apart when it comes to race. While it does not seem to be the case that evangelical conservative Christians are all Christian nationalists, what is clear is
This book is laid out upon a few assumptions. FIrst is that in order to be a Christian, one must read, know, and follow the words and commandments of Jesus Christ. I am making the case that calling oneself Christian does not make it so. Celebrating Christmas and Easter does not qualify one for Christian
Some Assumptions In This Book Read More »
If it was puzzling to me how, in spite of the presence of God and the Bible there could be such racism, I was comforted to learn that I was not the only one. The history of this hypocrisy. Throughout history, the pro-slavery and anti-slavery proponents argued their case for their points of view. The
Diametrically Opposed Belief Systems Read More »
