St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

Race, Faith, Culture ... and Riots

“Racism” is an ugly thing. The trouble is that the word is often used to cover a multitude of different issues, making it very difficult for anyone to make any sensible comments at all. At a time of riots, accusations of racism don’t help.

Discrimination on grounds of race were once made on what people thought were scientific grounds: maybe people from one genetic strand had greater cranial capacity, or gentler hormones, or more artistic intuition? Modern science has shown that most of these ideas are simply wrong.

Discrimination on religion runs like this: if our religion is right, it logically follows that others are wrong. That may be so, but it doesn’t mean we should use force to “convert” others or to get rid of them if they refuse to change their views. A “Christian country” (if we live in one) means a country where we treat people the way Jesus said we should. Jesus’ kindly treatment of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) gives us the example.

And there are discriminations over culture. One woman’s good dress sense is over-exposed indecency in a different setting. One man’s friendly gesture or act of hospitality can be mistaken for an insult or an intrusion into privacy if you are used to reserved distance.

These three are not the same, and one of the things we need is a way of speaking which keeps them separate. Jesus somehow managed to rise above them all: he was equally at ease among rich and poor, religious and secular, simple and intellectual folk. He chatted with a Samaritan woman; he was anointed by a “loose woman”, he kept company with tax-collectors and “sinners”. Jesus believed there was only one way to God, and yet he spoke out against all forms of discrimination. He argued religion but he never indulged racism.

In Bradford today I don’t think the fault is all on one side. There are people of both colour who have been abused by the other colour. There is deprivation in white estates as well as in black ones. Protest riots will not correct these faults.

I think the Ouseley report has the right idea. There need to be meeting points between people of different races, religions and cultures. Maybe our schools need to be these meeting points. If we get to know our neighbours we can build a future together. A future in which we can value people for who they are, irrespective of their race or their culture, and where we can seek to introduce people to the one way they can have peace with God - through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John Hartley

	*St Luke's Church, Eccleshill - The Link* magazine** The Link is published monthly at 40p (Senior Citizens 35p), and we deliver free within the parish and post copies (at the reader's expense) to those who request it. Please contact us if you would like a free copy for a trial period. August 2001, Page 1.
Home Page. Index of articles. Vicar's Letters: index, Jesus risen, World faith, General election. Joint services, Race & Faith, Twinning. Race & Faiths: index, Multifaith, Racism, World faith, Riots, Twinning. In this issue: (August 2001) Vicar's Letter, CW Books, Money, Question.	Race, Faith, Culture ... and Riots “Racism” is an ugly thing. The trouble is that the word is often used to cover a multitude of different issues, making it very difficult for anyone to make any sensible comments at all. At a time of riots, accusations of racism don’t help. Discrimination on grounds of race were once made on what people thought were scientific grounds: maybe people from one genetic strand had greater cranial capacity, or gentler hormones, or more artistic intuition? Modern science has shown that most of these ideas are simply wrong. Discrimination on religion runs like this: if our religion is right, it logically follows that others are wrong. That may be so, but it doesn’t mean we should use force to “convert” others or to get rid of them if they refuse to change their views. A “Christian country” (if we live in one) means a country where we treat people the way Jesus said we should. Jesus’ kindly treatment of the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4) gives us the example. And there are discriminations over culture. One woman’s good dress sense is over-exposed indecency in a different setting. One man’s friendly gesture or act of hospitality can be mistaken for an insult or an intrusion into privacy if you are used to reserved distance. These three are not the same, and one of the things we need is a way of speaking which keeps them separate. Jesus somehow managed to rise above them all: he was equally at ease among rich and poor, religious and secular, simple and intellectual folk. He chatted with a Samaritan woman; he was anointed by a “loose woman”, he kept company with tax-collectors and “sinners”. Jesus believed there was only one way to God, and yet he spoke out against all forms of discrimination. He argued religion but he never indulged racism. In Bradford today I don’t think the fault is all on one side. There are people of both colour who have been abused by the other colour. There is deprivation in white estates as well as in black ones. Protest riots will not correct these faults. I think the Ouseley report has the right idea. There need to be meeting points between people of different races, religions and cultures. Maybe our schools need to be these meeting points. If we get to know our neighbours we can build a future together. A future in which we can value people for who they are, irrespective of their race or their culture, and where we can seek to introduce people to the one way they can have peace with God - through Jesus Christ our Lord. John Hartley
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