racism

What is ‘racism’?

- discrimination on the basis of race

- Racism was made illegal in the UK by the Race Relations Act (1976)

- In the past, Christians from Europe went to Africa, Latin America, and the Far East to convert indigenous people to Christianity

- The assumption their culture and traditions were inferior was a form of racism

Why do Christians believe racism is wrong?

• Romans

Jews hated Romans for 2 reasons:

• They were pagan- worshipping may gods

• They were an oppressive army of occupation

The Centurion has faith so Jesus heals his servant

• “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel”

What is ‘racism’?

- discrimination on the basis of race

- Racism was made illegal in the UK by the Race Relations Act (1976)

- In the past, Christians from Europe went to Africa, Latin America, and the Far East to convert indigenous people to Christianity

- The assumption their culture and traditions were inferior was a form of racism

Why do Christians believe racism is wrong?

• Romans

Jews hated Romans for 2 reasons:

• They were pagan- worshipping may gods

• They were an oppressive army of occupation

The Centurion has faith so Jesus heals his servant

• “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel”

Why do Christians believe racism is wrong?

• The Good Samaritan

Jews hated Samaritans for 2 reasons:

• They had married non-Jews in the time of the Exile in Babylon so were racially impure

• At that time, they set up their own Temple which implied they worshipped another God

The story answers the question. “Who is my neighbour I should love?”

• The priest and Levite has reasons of ritual purity not to touch a bleeding man

• The audience would expect the Samaritan to attack and rob the man

• The answer is… you must love even those you consider to be your enemy

• “Which of these do you think was a neighbour to the man? The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him””

Why do Christians believe racism is wrong?- Peter and Cornelius

Early Christians debated whether Gentile (i.e. non-Jewish) converts had to become Jews first (circumcision etc was discouraging)

• Peter is told to eat Kosher and non-kosher animals (ie not to worry about Jewish food laws)

• Faith in Jesus is what matters, not having been circumcised

• Believers are ‘kosher’ no matter their background

• “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean”

What is ‘positive discrimination’?

• favouring a person or group to try and rectify negative treatment in the past; it is unlawful in the UK according to the Equality Act 2010

What is ‘positive action’?

• putting things in place to help overcome disadvantage, or to meet the needs of protected groups/ people with protected characteristics, in order to help them fully participate in an activity or workplace

What are ‘protected characteristics’?

- Equality act 2010

• Age

• Disability

• Gender reassignment

• Marriage & civil partnership

• Pregnancy & maternity

• Race

• Religion or belief

• Sex (gender)

• Sexual orientation