In Race: A Theological Account, J. Kameron Carter meditates on the multiple legacies implicated in the production of a racialized world and that still mark how we function in it and think about ourselves. These are the legacies of colonialism and empire, political theories of the state, anthropological theories of the human, and philosophy itself, from the eighteenth-century Enlightenment to the present.
Carter’s claim is that Christian theology, and the signal transformation it (along with Christianity) underwent, is at the heart of these legacies. In that transformation, Christian anti-Judaism biologized itself so as to racialize itself. As a result, and with the legitimation of Christian theology, Christianity became the cultural property of the West, the religious ground of white supremacy and global hegemony. In short, Christianity became white. The racial imagination is thus a particular kind of theological problem.
Sounds like a challenging—and likely controversial—thesis. Perhaps if we were more willing to confront race as a theological issue, it would change the cultural conversation for the better. What do you think? If you get a chance to read the book any time soon, please let me hear your thoughts.
No, Sir.
Race is a practical problem.
As president I will see to it that more
negroesAfrican-Americans can serve as soldiers for their country in Iraq. The’d be the first I’ll send to Iran so that they can earn honor.Wow! Where can I buy this! I want 20 copies… Ok maybe I am a little too zealous but I have wanted to tackle the above mentioned issues and I am excited to see what this brother has uncovered. I just read his book called…
“Where are all the Brothers” and I liked his simplicity in dealing with some very real and complex issues in the black community. It was a good start but I hope this book is much more in depth… It seems like it would have to be considering the thesis.
Anyway I am on board for real! Thanks Ed for the heads up!
Grace and Peace,
John,
That is so funny man!!! I literally began to lol in the coffee shop!
Priceless!
Aaron,
Just to be clear: The book “Where Are All the Brothers?” is by Eric Redmond, whose blog brought the other book to my attention. “Race: A Theological Account” is by J. Kameron Carter.
Ed,
Yeah bro I gotcha… I meant to make the distinctive but I didn’t. I am with you though. Again thanks for the link homie!
Grace and Peace,
Good job handling fake Johnny Mac, Ed.
Fake politicians commenting on blogs = awesome!
Dear John McC***,
Sorry. I had to edit one of your comments and delete two others, including the one where you call me a “[expletive] communist censor.” I’d prefer not to censor comments, but this isn’t a blog for unnecessary profanity or obscenity. There’s plenty of other places for that. You’re welcome to comment, and everyone appreciates humor, but you’ll need to cool it with the obscenities and personal insults.
Ed G.
Wow! I thought John McC… was just someone messing around. Didn’t know that it was some body causing trouble. My bad for encouraging him Ed.
Grace and Peace,
Ed,
I really want to get a hold of this book. I found out about it when a couple days ago and am putting a post on my blog about it as well.
Think of race as theological is an amazing perspective. We have come into an era where more are conversing and seeing the idea of Racial Reconciliation as something that has to do with theology, but the sheer concept of Race has not be dealt with – although the racialization of theology and the Christian tradition is so popular.
I am going to try to get a copy of these book, maybe I can convince my wife to give me an early Christmas gift.
I knew of Dr Kameron-Carter’s work on this book. It’s a pleasure to read the blurb. This is the level of discourse which leads us to the roots of this cancer: a Christian heresy, a form of idolatry.
Judgment from YHWH will come, if not dealt with seriously, at the level of the destruction of social and cultural symbols which support this worldview, so that God “may be all in all,” in the same way that the destruction of the Temple(s) served the same purpose for the people of Israel.
Several years ago, I had the opportunity to explore what makes today’s Christianity Christian as my senior college research paper for my degree in religious studies.
For me, it would appear, the method and madness of the white male dominated European culture managed to THINK it represented the lifework of Jesus, the Nazerene, perfectly. BUT, as we would discover, their behavior and personally distructive decisions simply supported a deluded lifestyle whose outcome would eventually become their demise. In this endeavor race would simply become the most definitive example of their choice to lack in judgement.
What amazed me most, throughout my studies, were the always steady flow of intuitive characters whose lives seemed more willing to penetrate through the perilous opinions of their leadership to become the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus. As they lived out this spiritually intimate journey, they would come to define innovative and universal way to feel in some form or another connected to The One (God).
In essence, those who would call their Self Christian and play party to violent crusades were a deluded and mentally ill lot setting out to prove one thing and one thing only. They set out to prove that a life filled with abuse as a child is more apt to profer a life, as an adult, promoting abuse of others as “the happiest we will ever be.”
Thanks for the great topic and chance to reflect on that paper long forgotten.
AngllHugnU2
Author of IM with God
I think race approached as a spiritual matter is the best way for the Church to handle it. The appointment of the first deacons of the church was born out of racial tension. Look at Acts 6:1. The Greek believers were discriminated against and Hebrew believers got the preferencial treatment. How was it handled? “Select 7 men who are well respected and are FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WISDOM…” (vs 3)
Racial/Cultural problem – Spiritual solution.
[…] WordPress allow hundreds of thousands of people to access the blogging world for little or no cost. Check out article on race and religion . Looking at race as a theological problem. Good conversation; successful economies that last […]
[…] This looks fascinating (race as a theological problem). […]
Ed. I bought this after reading Eric’s entry. I LOVE new books. Every now and then I think I get something over my head (like Miroslav Volf’s Exclusion and Embrace, and Mark Gornik’s To Live in Peace). usually they are in fact over my head, but if I read the book about 5 times I start to get it. . The above 2 books have turned out to be very formative for my thinking. I hope I don’t have to read this one that many times to stay with him but it is HEAVY!
I’ll hit back when I can come up for air. . !!
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. 🙂 Cheers! Sandra. R.