Sunday morning Segregation

[Wicked Pilot]

You all know what I mean. All across America you have do different types of Christian churches, the white church, and the black church. Now you would think that a religion that teaches "love", "compassion", and "equality" would never accept this, but it does. Obviousily this has been going on for literally centuries now, so you can't blame current church leadership for causing it. But you must wonder, couldn't Falwell and Robertson take a little time away from their bashing of athiest, homosexuals, liberals, etc. and try to bring about the end of the Segregated Sunday? Afterall, that's more money for them to fund the ACLJ so they can piss all over the First Admendment. This whole issue brings me to two questions:

Why is no one doing anything major about this problem?
Should we even care about the problem? Afterall, divided fundies are weaker than united fundies.

[Zoink]

You'd be asking irrational people to admitt that a church teaching a "slightly" different version of Christianity is equally right. You might as well go all the way, and show them the circular logic that drives their beliefs. You would probably have equal success.

However, if blacks want to congregate in black churches, and whites in white.. I don't really see a problem as long as its driven by cultural differences (they're going to the religion / type of church they were brought up with) and each group is not resticted access to the other church. I don't see a need to force the two groups together because it looks politically correct.

[Darth Wong]

That's a result of general racism. Canadians visiting America are usually shocked to see just how informally segregated American society still is (especially in the southern states).

[ElBlanco]

Its not so much the Churches as it is the areas. The whole neighborhood, town, county etc may be one race or ethnicity. But, its not like the Church sanctions segregation. The respective Church is just a representation of its congregation.

[haas mark]

Its not so much the Churches as it is the areas. The whole neighborhood, town, county etc may be one race or ethnicity. But, its not like the Church sanctions segregation. The respective Church is just a representation of its congregation.

Sometimes. But it's always funny to go to the Church I USED to go to and see that the first Mass was always the old people, the next one was all the white people, the next two (the immediate following being the Spanish Mass) be almost exclusively Hispanic.

[AdmiralKanos]

And I've had the Bible thrown in my face as justification for racism before (by my in-laws, who told me that it was against the will of God for me to date their daughter); it's not as if it doesn't happen and/or it can't be used that way.

[TrailerParkJawa]

I think its more a cultural thing than religion. Many neighborhoods are segregated because of class or choice. Im not even sure if its fair to call it racism. Ive lived in extremely diverse areas my whole life and people will still naturally segegrate themselves by choice.

My only pet peeve is when every group but "whites" is allowed to seek the company of their own race. I remember in high school the attitude was if white people want to hang out with other white people they are racist and unwilling to open their minds. If black kids want to hang out with black kids, then its embracing heritage. ( /minor rant )

[C.S.Strowbridge]

And I've had the Bible thrown in my face as justification for racism before (by my in-laws, who told me that it was against the will of God for me to date their daughter); it's not as if it doesn't happen and/or it can't be used that way.

That's such a stupid argument. If God is all powerful and it's against the will of God then it ain't going to happen. End of story.

[NecronLord]

And I've had the Bible thrown in my face as justification for racism before (by my in-laws, who told me that it was against the will of God for me to date their daughter); it's not as if it doesn't happen and/or it can't be used that way.

Would you like us to pay a visit Lord Wong?

[C.S.Strowbridge]

That's a result of general racism. Canadians visiting America are usually shocked to see just how informally segregated American society still is (especially in the southern states).

I know, a friend of mine went to Washington D.C. on a business trip a last year. He was mortified at how everything on the news was in terms of black and white.

[Shadow WarChief]

I'll just interject an little comment here:

Judging from your comments, it appears that the churches in San Francisco are pretty well integrated.

Way back when when I was a christian, I never noticed any racial seperation in the churches that I went to.

Everything seemed to be in proportion according to the racial make up of my neighborhood. Never noticed anything off.

Could any of you elaborate on your experiences of seperation by choice in churches?

[Durandal]

I think its more a cultural thing than religion. Many neighborhoods are segregated because of class or choice. Im not even sure if its fair to call it racism. Ive lived in extremely diverse areas my whole life and people will still naturally segegrate themselves by choice.

I hate to break it to you, but the religion is a major part of the culture.

[Howedar]

You all know what I mean. All across America you have do different types of Christian churches, the white church, and the black church. Now you would think that a religion that teaches "love", "compassion", and "equality" would never accept this, but it does. Obviousily this has been going on for literally centuries now, so you can't blame current church leadership for causing it. But you must wonder, couldn't Falwell and Robertson take a little time away from their bashing of athiest, homosexuals, liberals, etc. and try to bring about the end of the Segregated Sunday? Afterall, that's more money for them to fund the ACLJ so they can piss all over the First Admendment. This whole issue brings me to two questions:

Why is no one doing anything major about this problem?
Should we even care about the problem? Afterall, divided fundies are weaker than united fundies.

So segregation by choice is proof of racism?

[Darth Wong]

Segregation by choice is proof of individual racism as opposed to institutionalized racism. You don't "choose" to stay with whites and avoid black people unless you're a white racist (or conversely, you don't "choose" to stay with blacks and avoid white people unless you're a black racist). The historical enmity between blacks and whites is a large hurdle to overcome in many parts of the US. How can "segregation by choice" not be racist? One does not choose to segregate unless one is racist.

[Sea Skimmer]

Segregation by choice is proof of individual racism as opposed to institutionalized racism. You don't "choose" to stay with whites and avoid black people unless you're a white racist (or conversely, you don't "choose" to stay with blacks and avoid white people unless you're a black racist). The historical enmity between blacks and whites is a large hurdle to overcome in many parts of the US. How can "segregation by choice" not be racist? One does not choose to segregate unless one is racist.

Unless you have reason to believe that the other group is racist against YOU. In that case, avoiding them is hardly racist on your part. This is often been my experiance. Going to call me racist for not wanting to be around people who'd threaten to kill me for sitting at there table because of my color?

[Darth Wong]

There are lots of blacks out there who are not prone to violence. The violent ones are usually just as obvious as the violent members of any other race.

[Sea Skimmer]

There are lots of blacks out there who are not prone to violence. The violent ones are usually just as obvious as the violent members of any other race.

I'll sit with anyone who will accept me. Actually where I normal sit a lunch is a third black and half Asian. Me and my two white firends are very much a minority, even though my school as a whole is 70% white.


However I will not sit with other blacks who are racist. Yet you say that the only reason for that could be racism on MY part. In fact it’s because that the people I wont sit with are them selves racist and violent about it.

[The Dark]

The church I attend back home was largely white up until last year because the area it was in was almost entirely white (I believe it's about 80%). There's a "black" denomination church two blocks away that had almost the entire population of African-Americans attending, until a group of them became dissatisfied with their pastor and came to our church. We gladly welcome anyone who wishes to attend services, whether they are of our race or not, our denomination or not, or even of our sexual preference or not. There may be some narrow-minded people within the congregation, but they do not speak up because the majority will not stand for it. I believe a large part of it is where you are and what the history of the area looks like.

And as an aside, one of the defectors is the only person in our choir with a good singing voice. About time we got some decent music.

[Pu-239]

at my church they have a vietnamese catholic mass once a month. My mother claims that she wants me to understand more vietnamese. She also claims to not understand english well. Therefore she makes me go. I might be stereotyping but I also think most vietnamese catholics are borderline fundies.

[haas mark]

at my church they have a vietnamese catholic mass once a month. My mother claims that she wants me to understand more vietnamese. She also claims to not understand english well. Therefore she makes me go. I might be stereotyping but I also think most vietnamese catholics are borderline fundies.

I think it be the same with a lot of Hispanic Catholics.

[TrailerParkJawa]

How can "segregation by choice" not be racist? One does not choose to segregate unless one is racist.

This is not true. Are you telling me a recent immigrant from Beijing is racist because he rather live in Campbell CA which has a large mandarin speaking population than in some place where he would be the only chinese individual in the entire area ?

There is a difference between not wanting anyone of another race to move in your neighboorhood and wanting to find a neighborhood where you might share similar backgrounds.

[Steve]

Considering that most white churches are dull and full of fire and brimstone sermons, while most black churches tend to be exciting and full of love and brotherhood sermon, I prefer the black churches anyway.

Kinda like Third Rock from the Blues Brothers movie.

[Steve]

How can "segregation by choice" not be racist? One does not choose to segregate unless one is racist.

This is not true. Are you telling me a recent immigrant from Beijing is racist because he rather live in Campbell CA which has a large mandarin speaking population than in some place where he would be the only chinese individual in the entire area ?

There is a difference between not wanting anyone of another race to move in your neighboorhood and wanting to find a neighborhood where you might share similar backgrounds.

That is also a good point.

[HemlockGrey]

I might be stereotyping but I also think most vietnamese catholics are borderline fundies.

Given their history, that is not surprising.