A 3-part discussion about the victims of church politics and polities, and potential movements towards reconciliation. These deal specifically with sexism and racism, but can be extended in philosophy to any of the -isms the church is so fond of perpetuating.
Part 1 – Of course, within this charter was given the rights and privileges to own, and do commerce with, the resources and populations of the conquered indigenous nations in the name of the monarchy of Spain. Above all else, however, it officially sets a policy in which European Christians were considered superior to, and dominant over, all other ethnic and religious groups. If it had been unclear before, the church had now become unabashedly racist.
Part 2 – Despite the various civil rights efforts over the decades, people of color and women, to mention but two specific categories of people marginalized by society, experience impoverishment, exclusion and diminution in society and in church. With this heritage, 21st century Christians face a paradox: participation in the economic and political realities of our time while simultaneously challenging them as counter to our values because they perpetuate oppression and domination.
Part 3 – From this point forward, this paper follows a fairly radical ethical line – one based on Mat 16:25-26,
“For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?” (NRSV)
Rev Andy Little
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