Faith in Color: Racism and Atheism
Contributor Carole McDonnell’s short stories and essays appear online and in print, in speculative fiction, ethnic, and Christian publications. She lives in New York with her husband, two sons, and their pets. Wind Follower, published this month by Juno Books, is Carole’s first novel. Her point of view adds plenty to our discussion, so I welcome Carole and her column Faith in Color to Allaboutrace.com.
The Internet enables people to meet a cross section of people throughout the world. As a black person and a Christian I have met many people. Unfortunately, I have met many who are very racist and very anti-Christian. In that way, the information highway is like any other highway. One never knows whom one will meet.
If you don’t believe that, go into any chat room and tell them you’re one or the other or both. It never fails. Cyber-bullying rises, showing it’s intolerant teeth. This recently happened to me after I posted an article about faith-based charities on blogcritics. Not only did I get the usual sarcastic comments, but I also got tons of enlightening email sent to my email address. One person went so far as to send my website and email addresses to his atheist friends in the Beltway Atheists. I was not only overwhelmed with cruel snide anti-Christian comments but I ended up with quite a number of people trying to enlighten me and convert me from Christianity to atheism.
The weird thing was how weirdly similar all their emails were. Whenever a white atheist hears that I’m a Christian, the first thing he brings up is Christianity and slavery. When they do this, I wonder: “What ploy do atheists use against white Christians? Does they use arguments that have nothing to do with race? And do they all go to the same school, a school which tells them that when talking to a black Christian they must always discuss slavery and race?”
This kind of communication also happens whenever I meet an atheist at a party. They also bring up slavery. Okay, I’ll accept that the first thing they notice about me is that I’m black. And because I’m black AND a writer, I suppose they think that I should behave like a true enlightened black person – one who is free from the evils of Christianity. But why this fixation on slavery? Don’t they see blacks as nothing else but a symbol of the evils of slavery? Come now, I certainly wouldn’t mind white atheists trying to destroy my faith by philosophical and existentialist arguments. When they argue religion with white folks, that’s the route they probably take, right? So why do they always use race and slavery to knock down my little tower of religion? Don’t they think I’m deep enough to discourse about Hegel, Mill, Pascal, or Nietzsche?
No, no Hegel for me. Whenever the atheist speaks to me, he either tries to shame me or to enlighten me. Or both. And the tool he uses is solely slavery. I am always bombarded with one story or another about the Western Passage, the Mason-Dixie line, and KKK lynchings. Why they think this should matter to me is beyond me. I am aware that there are those people in the world whose choice of a religion is based on what the white man did to their ancestors years ago. I am aware that the KKK was created by a Baptist minister who was bent on romanticizing “whiteness” and who stole the Flaming Cross from an old Sir Walter Scott story. I am also aware – at least my white non-church-going southern friend tells me this– that the same people who invited him to religious “camp-meetings” and revivals were also the same people who invited him to join the KKK and other white Aryan groups.
I am also aware that atheists such as Joseph Stalin and Mao Tse Tung have done as much damage as Christians and other religions. Christianity does not proclaim mass murder or mass slavery for those who don’t believe (unlike one particular religion) but it is not immune from society either.
The history of Christianity in the west cannot be separated from the history of the west. The west was racist, elitist, imperialistic. And after Constantine co-opted Christianity – as many modern politicians also co-opt it—religion and politics, church and state could only lead to trouble. It became aligned with power and although it improved the ancient western world in many ways, much of the vices of the ancient world – the love of power, for instance—also affected the religion. As yet, we do not know what Christianity would be like in a non-western, non-racist, non-imperialistic setting. Evangelical Christianity is growing across the world, however, and the majority of modern Christians are not white.
I will not go into a long detailed explanation of why I love God, Jesus, and the Holy Bible. But I will say that the common assumption is that those who believe in Jesus are simply bowing to tradition. I will honestly say that we’re not and that God has proved himself to be living, loving, and a very present help in our troubles. And I look forward to seeing what beauties will rise from my religion when the non-western world (including the western atheists) get their chance to proclaim it.
As a very committed atheist, I’d like to feel offended by this article, but unfortunately what the writer says rings sadly true: far too many of us non-believers ever feel the need to treat people of faith, and especially Christians, with simple respect. On the other hand, I do find it a little strange to hear about white atheists piling onto black Christians, as atheists in America do tend to be urban lefties of the sort prone to giving a pass to black church culture. Either way, apologies on behalf of my poorly behaved brethren.
Hello Erik, welcome to the conversation.
I know a number of committed atheists as well. They perceive me to be basically intelligent but think I’m stupid to believe in Christ. I haven’t gotten the slavery argument, but it sounds spot on. My atheist friends and I agree to disagree and get on with it. But, one more note, of the 10 or so atheists I know, only one could be described as an ‘urban lefty.’ Interesting,huh?
I DO have some good agnostic friends. Good souls, but they tend to be Jewish and they understand how minorities are treated. They don’t tend to be so race-centered. Plus they know me. They know I can discuss Hegel etc if I want to. I think I’m just annoyed at the way folks assume things about Christians, and assume things about blacks…and God help the poor black Christian. All the assumptions pour in at such a fast rate! I’m always amazed at what people think about Christians. Some of us — not me– are quite intellectual. Many of us are very intelligent. Most of us are not judgemental toward our friends or our enemies. There are a few unkind folks out there but not me, and not my friends. -C
I’m an atheist, I know (directly or indirectly) a thousand atheists, and the behavior you describe seems quite atypical. Of course, there are no membership requirements for atheism other than disbelief in the existence of God: We don’t screen for intelligence or character any more than Christians do.
On the other hand, We atheists do tend to think that religious belief is absurd and ridiculous. If a Christian lays a God rap on me, I won’t be shy about talking about my point of view. Christians are often personally offended that I won’t take their position seriously.
Carole, you wrote
“All the assumptions pour in at such a fast rate!”
Amen!
Hello Barefoot Bum, welcome to the conversation. I completely agree that some people want to “lay a God rap” on you. And I believe that you should not be at all shy about saying…back up! I think Carole’s post points to the seemingly opposite situation that is exactly the same as the one you describe. Funny, huh?
[...] it doesn’t end there. McDonnell has another article up. In fact, it was this latest article that sent me to the first one. What’s the point of the [...]
No one should be criticised for their belief because it is a very personal and distinctive understanding that can only be explained through an individuals life experiences. Question: Does anyone go back further in realization that ancient tribal faiths were of original belief. Christianity was forced upon many and that Jesus was depicted as fair skinned with blond hair? Frankly, from that region would be more likely with a darker complexion and hair. I am by the way of religous belief. Just some food for thought.
So, the obvious reality that christianity and slavery are connected is so inconvenient to you that you feel offended? You as a christian don’t want to be bothered with reality? Typical.
Many cultures have been involved in slavery.
It’s part of the human condition.
Western Europeans who were slave-holders were racists but Christianity is not racist. If one reads the Bible, one sees that Christianity was such a tiny unimportant religion during the Roman Empire that they had no power to change or fight against slavery. Yet, they were the only religion where slaves and masters sat and ate together as brothers.
The culture with the longest slave trading history is the Arabs, and Islam. Their city Marrakech was built on slavery. And Even now slavery is rampant in the Sudan. Yet Americans don’t seem to get worked up about this.
Americans have short and provincial memories. They don’t think about the past and they don’t think about what is distant. They think only about the here and now. I know many people — blacks, especially– who speak hateful words against Christianity because of slavery. Yet, they never seem to show the same anger about Islam and slavery. And they don’t seem to get particularly worked up about present slavery…only past slavery. So, it’s apparent that they simply don’t like Christianity. It’s not about slavery.
I am black, female and atheist.
My view is I have seen and experienced the damaging effects of belief in the supernatural (Christianity is included in this category).
Belief in the supernatural prevents people, black or otherwise, taking responsibility for themselves. The bible is a document which has been created and edited for the specific purpose of controlling people, in relation to slavery it was used as a tool of oppression – to calm the masses of slave revolts – and it is still working.
I do believe that we should share our views openly – but we should now shift our focus to putting aside historical wrongs as much as possible (on all sides) and focusing on the here and now, ‘living in the moment’ and our future.
I don’t believe in ‘heaven’ or ‘hell’, I don’t believe that when we die we will be judged on what we have done in our lives. When we die we are dead. We have no evidence to the contrary.
I understand the reasons why people believe and I’m sure a belief in the supernatural provides some (temporary) comfort to people in times of stress, etc. But I refuse to believe that the loving ‘god’ is the same one who allows innocent children to be striken with painful illnesses like cancer, to be drowned like in Katrina, to be born into famine stiuations, to be born with and be afflicted by HIV/AIDS…the list could go on.
I would like people to study the history of their beliefs and that means reading books by people like Joseph Campbell (he talks about the origins of myths and symbolism), Carl Sagan, Bertrand Russell, Neil Tyson deGrasse (- more info about him at:
http://www.rationalatheist.com/biographies/Neil_deGrasse_Tyson.html).
The information is out there. Living free of the supernatural – all forms – means living free, choosing your own path and does not make you immoral, debased, evil or any other negative words which theists have been taught in order to perpetuate the memes which has been visited upon humanity.
I would be very interested in all views – for or against my comments!
Thank you for your time and also for this site as I know just how much is involved in creating and maintaining a good blog/site!
Regards,
Zee
[...] ran across this interesting article by Carole McDonnell describing some of her experiences, as a black Christian, dealing with white [...]
The reason atheists like myself use slavery as an argument against Christianity is because there are several passages in the bible (Leviticus 25:44-46, Exodus 21:2-6 and Luke 12:47-48 to name but three) that condone slavery, and it is therefore a very good rebuttal against those Christians who claim atheism will bring about immorality and degrade humanity at the expense of religious faith.
“Come now, I certainly wouldn’t mind white atheists trying to destroy my faith by philosophical and existentialist arguments. When they argue religion with white folks, that’s the route they PROBABLY take, right? So why do they always use race and slavery to knock down MY little tower of religion?”
Your use of the word ‘probably’ robs these two questions of much of their credibility, since it implies you have no evidence to support them, but are making assumptions that atheists (and possibly people in general) will discuss separate topics depending on the ethnicity of the person they are talking to.
In any case, I’m sure you would mind people using philosophical or existentialist arguments to ‘destroy your faith’, just as I take umbrage with people attempting to convert me through similar polemic discourse. We always take offense at challenges to our opinions, otherwise what’s the point of having them?
I have to admit that this new evangelical atheist movement is pretty perplexing until you remember that Lenin and Mao banned religion. In the world of the socialist, there can be only one correct way of thinking.
I fail to see how you made the jump from atheism to the notion that we are all socialists, though at least you did note that uniformity of thought was the reason for the secularism of the USSR and Mao’s regime
As a black male Atheist living in the bible belt. I understand why you may question this but it is valid because why would you take on a faith that is so foreign to your own heritage or beliefs. Belief in the supernatural is dangerous anyway look at what’s going on in the middle east it is embolded by belief in the supernatural. A few people are controlling the masses through their fears and tribal groups using religion as a primary lightening rod. The old I got god on my side argument or god must be truely with who wins but that is all stupid.
I also realize many black women use religion as a form of therapy because of the issues they go through on a daily basis but I think you could free yourself of these notions by other means a lot better. Those are only my thoughts and not facts but I would suggest you try it.
I don´t have the time to write a large comment, i will only say, that i was racist until i left my religion, as a free thinker atheist, i m not racist or homophobic anymore.
@Joan;
Many more people were racist as atheists only to become non-racist on joining a religion. I was racist until I left the religion of atheism and became a Christian. What is free thinking about atheism? Most atheists just follow whatever Dawkins/Harris/Hitchins/Dennet tell them to think. How is atheism against racism? Christianity condemns racism. The Bible doesn't categorize people according to their race. Christianity raises people out of the physical materialism of atheism which judges them according to their race/skin color. Christianity teaches that people are living persons of equal value and dignity and that all Christians are brothers and sisters.
Ethiopia was one of the first Christian nations and has been a black African Christian nation for over 1900 hundred years, long before any European nations. In Ethiopia Jesus is painted as a black man. It is only natural that artists paint people as having similar coloring and features to themselves and models that are available. Among Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Christians Jesus has been portrayed as having tanned skin, black hair and brown eyes. Atheists seem to think the whole world is America. Everyone is welcome in God's family.
Slavery was widespread throughout the ancient world. Luke 12:47-48 is a parable about a servant. Nothing to do with slavery, let alone race-based slavery, let alone condoning or instructing it. Exodus 21 deals with employed servants who were free to leave at the end of their contract. Leviticus was something necessary at the time and is not to be taken too literally but even it mentions slaves being released in the Year of Jubilee.
It was not until around the 1680s that the popular idea of a racial-based slave system became reality, a time when Enlightenment Atheism and Deism had diminished Christian influence. African slaves were bought from African and Arab slave raiders. It was Christians, not Atheists who fought to abolish slavery. In 1801, American Methodists made anti-slavery sentiments a condition of church membership.
“God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and Reformation of Morals”
- William Wilberforce (English Christian MP)
“Slavery is the foulest blot and may have to be washed out in blood.”
- Charles Spurgeon (English Baptist preacher)
“Human bondage is the sum of all villainies”
- John Wesley (Methodist founder)
“In my prayers and preaching, I so often alluded to slavery, and denounced it”
- Charles Finney (Presbyterian minister)
By denying the supernatural, Atheism denies human consciousness, love, emotions, respect and anything else that makes us human. It turns us into mere physical objects, robots or mindless animals. The middle east is dominated by Muslims who have very different values from Christians. Christianity is the truth for everyone and is not foreign to anyone. God made us all and Jesus died for everyone. Atheism is dangerous and lets a few people control the masses such as Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot. On a more individual level, the Atheist Cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer ate 17 people in the name of Atheism. He later admitted that his Atheism drove him to do it.
Atheism often makes people racist:
Atheist scientist Dr. James Watson said that he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – whereas all the testing says not really”.
“The highest civilization and culture, are found exclusively among the white races”
- Arthur Schopenhauer 1788 – 1860 (German Atheist philosopher)
‘National Socialism and Christianity are irreconcilable.’
- Martin Bormann (Senior Nazi and committed Atheist)
Atheism has been around a long time too and helped start the Transatlantic slave trade:
“life in the state of nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”
- Thomas Hobbes 1588 – 1679 (English Atheist philosopher)
Ethiopia was one of the first Christian nations and has been a black African Christian nation for over 1900 hundred years, long before any European nations. In Ethiopia Jesus is painted as a black man. It is only natural that artists paint people as having similar coloring and features to themselves and models that are available. Among Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Christians Jesus has been portrayed as having tanned skin, black hair and brown eyes. Atheists seem to think the whole world is America. Everyone is welcome in God's family.
Slavery was widespread throughout the ancient world. Luke 12:47-48 is a parable about a servant. Nothing to do with slavery, let alone race-based slavery, let alone condoning or instructing it. Exodus 21 deals with employed servants who were free to leave at the end of their contract. Leviticus was something necessary at the time and is not to be taken too literally but even it mentions slaves being released in the Year of Jubilee.
It was not until around the 1680s that the popular idea of a racial-based slave system became reality, a time when Enlightenment Atheism and Deism had diminished Christian influence. African slaves were bought from African and Arab slave raiders. It was Christians, not Atheists who fought to abolish slavery. In 1801, American Methodists made anti-slavery sentiments a condition of church membership.
“God Almighty has set before me two great objects, the suppression of the Slave Trade and Reformation of Morals”
- William Wilberforce (English Christian MP)
“Slavery is the foulest blot and may have to be washed out in blood.”
- Charles Spurgeon (English Baptist preacher)
“Human bondage is the sum of all villainies”
- John Wesley (Methodist founder)
“In my prayers and preaching, I so often alluded to slavery, and denounced it”
- Charles Finney (Presbyterian minister)
By denying the supernatural, Atheism denies human consciousness, love, emotions, respect and anything else that makes us human. It turns us into mere physical objects, robots or mindless animals. The middle east is dominated by Muslims who have very different values from Christians. Christianity is the truth for everyone and is not foreign to anyone. God made us all and Jesus died for everyone. Atheism is dangerous and lets a few people control the masses such as Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot. On a more individual level, the Atheist Cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer ate 17 people in the name of Atheism. He later admitted that his Atheism drove him to do it.
Atheism often makes people racist:
Atheist scientist Dr. James Watson said that he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – whereas all the testing says not really”.
“The highest civilization and culture, are found exclusively among the white races”
- Arthur Schopenhauer 1788 – 1860 (German Atheist philosopher)
‘National Socialism and Christianity are irreconcilable.’
- Martin Bormann (Senior Nazi and committed Atheist)
Atheism has been around a long time too and helped start the Transatlantic slave trade:
“life in the state of nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short”
- Thomas Hobbes 1588 – 1679 (English Atheist philosopher)
You are a black person. So am I. I feel I should tell you that Christianity is holding us down. Shocking, right? I know. I'm not going to go into great detail, but haven't you ever noticed that most of the poorest people in America, the West and Africa and sometimes Europe are black Christians? What, God doesn't answer black people's prayers? Have you ever been to Africa? Parts of it are *FUCKED UP* and Christianity is growing the fastest there. Compare it to Europe or Far East Asia. Do you watch Maury? Who is always on the “dat ain't my baby” episode? Black Christians. You may not realize this, but when you ancestors were brought over from Africa, 90% were not Christians. A few were Muslims; this is where older black ladies get that nice habit of wearing those big hats: their female ancestors were Muslims who also donned headgear. Just turn on your local news and tell me what religion the latest black “suspect” is an adherent to. He loves God and his “momma” too.
Also Christianity causes black people in particular to stop thinking. They just pray and wait, and while they are waiting, commit sin after sin after sin that goes unpunished. White people in this country have done severe psychological damage to Black people and when's God going to get them back? (If you're White and offended, replace “white people” with “Conservatives” and “black people” with “liberals”.) Blacks have been praying for 440+ years for “Jesus” to set them free and my long-range forecast tells me there's no end in sight except to get up and do it yourself. Until then, expect the cycles of poverty, violence, drug abuse, AIDS and especially teenage pregnancy to continue. All the people involved in those cycles may say they believe in God, but they sure don't act it. A very large chunk of Black people certainly are not acting like Christians.
And, Christianity causes Black people to be poor. They give all their money away… well, actually, they spend all their money on cars, clothes, church and chicken, but if I can knock out church, I'll be happy. How come the “passa” has a nice house and a new import but the congregation takes public transit? How come the “building fund” is always getting new money yet the building is almost condemned?
How do you keep Black people's minds closed? Give them a Bible and tell them everything in it is true, thus negating the need for science education. Miseducation is dangerous and produces a nearly unbreakable cycle.
Not only is Christianity the Slave Master's religion, it is Black people's NUMBER ONE link to slavery. It is the most overlooked, yet the strongest. Link number two is your Christian name and link number three is the Civil War. Don't forget that when the very first of our ancestors came over, they were beat repeatedly because they would not abandon their own beliefs for this alien one.
By the way, atheist or not, if a White person is talking to you about slavery, and they are saying anything other than “slavery was good”, not only should you listen, you should take notes.
Belief in god is a lack of belief in ones self.
they don't mention slavery because your black. they mention slavery because it is obviously wrong and yet justified by the bible. same with genocide. obviously wrong, and yet justified by scripture. these crimes against humanity are not the perversion of the bible, they are the fulfillment of the bible. Christianity helped inform and create a racist imperialist setting, it is not simply the result of it….these things are symbiotic and they evolved together. Judaism and Islam are complicit too. you assume that slavery was always racist, that is only true for transcontintnetal slavery after 1400, but slavery was practiced well before the implementation of the castas system of racial hierarchy.
Thank you for writing this article. It's becoming more obvious and apparent to people, and people will make this more of an issue, that Atheists = Militants, Racists and Predominantly White Males. It's no coincidence that as you stated, the Modern Christian is non-white. Atheism = Dead. It was evil men who perverted Christianity, these same evil men justified slavery, death and destruction, expansionism, imperialism and oppression, but the evil acts and thoughts belonged to them. Christianity (Christ) suffered and He has always been with those who have suffered and been oppressed. Christianity is what sets us free.
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