Thursday, August 30, 2007

New Thinking on "Race"?

Wow. I just stumbled upon an incredible conversation.

This Article was written by Thabiti Anyabwile. It is denying 'race' as a concept from a biblical and theological perspective. But it's not what you think. It's a bit lengthy, but it is fascinating and profound, not to mention groundbreaking.

As this is a hot-button issue for many, it has led to lots of talk. Here is one response to the above article, and Anyabwile's response to that.

If you actually get through all of that, a) kudos b) How realistic is it to think that abandoning 'race' as a societal and biological construct in favor of 'many ethnicities' would curb, in any way, the violence and atrocities that occur in relation to the color of ones skin? Personally, I'm not sure it would matter. At root it is a sin issue, a pride issue, that causes man X to see man Z as he chooses to see him, not how man Z (or society) defines himself, or how man Z is defined by God for that matter. But that aside, I really appreciate how Anyabwile brought out that biblical race is defined by whose line you are standing in; Adam's or Christ's. That is tremendously helpful. I never quite thought about or at least made the connection between race as a biblical construct and as a societal one. I think both existed in separate compartments in my head, until now.

HT: Nine Marks Blog

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