Racial Theology

The validity of race has been the topic of the conversation over the last little bit. I have begun reading a book titled, Being Human: Race, Culture and Theology, that explores the impact and role of race, culture, and gender on theology and ontology. The frameworks of theology that are proposed by different races, intricately weaved the condition of their ethnicity into the definition of humanity, directing impacting their theology and Christology. The blatant ethnocentric bent of the theologies were very difficult to read, and even harder to imagine as the belief of a fellow Christian. I felt alienated by their theology and perpetrated as a vehicle of hate, and therefore part of a group that should be actively worked against. Their definitions of humanity were centered on the ultimate realization of their ethnicity, alienating me from a chance at a full life in Christ.
Giving myself some time to think about the impact of these theologies on me and my study of race, I was perplexed about how to even start navigating this new terrain. I am thankful for the shocking nature of these theologies. The whiteness of my theology is entirely invisible to me. It is the water that I swim and think in and it is difficult for me to see its distinctness and impact on my thoughts of my humanity, the nature of God, and our relationship to the world. Perhaps the pervasiveness of race in these theologies is very blatant, but the whiteness of my held theology is a place that needs to be explored to enter into equatable conversations with other Christians of other races.

Thoughts from today:
1. There is a very real difference between conversations about race and conversations about multiculturalism. Culture is a much more comfortable conversation to have. It incorporates norms, food, music, religion, and other facets, elements of society that are easy to compare and contrast as elements that are outside of you. You are never food, or music, or religion and therefore the is obvious space between the person and the conversation. Conversations of race are personal. There is no way to hide, deny, or remain neutral in the conversation (realizing the definition of race is a whole other set of difficulties). It is easy as a person of privilege and majority to have conversations about multiculturalism. It costs us little and requires negligible changes in our lifestyles. The conversation of race cannot and should not be dismissed as 'out of vogue' or in effort to move past an old hat conversation. Race may not exists to you but that is simply proof that you are not forced to live in that conversation continually.

2. Learning about this topic, I feel as though I am giving birth to a new and undiscovered part of my life. I think that it is crucial important for me to make the distinction between my experience/reflection and other people's experience/education. It is remaining in a place of power to analyze the issue of race predominately through my experience of race. Reflection on my experience with race is a different matter than limiting and filtering my thoughts of race through my own. Education is becoming aware of other people's experiences and giving them equal validity with yours. Education causes me to realize that racism exists and it is alive and active. I feel as though I am at a quite place with this conversation and that it is my place to learn and listen right now.

3. White guilt may be okay. Feeling pain and discomfort in this issue is partially equalizing. To desire to avoid guilt on the topic of whiteness is asking for this topic to not cause any pain, when pain has been normal and expected in so many other people's experiences. Guilt may also be an uninformed, entry emotion when a person of privilege enters in. I think that it is a good sign that they are feeling.

4. I am beginning to wonder how I am suppose to separate out certain sections of my life. I was reviewing a power point today that claimed that spiritual formation should be of first priority for youth ministers. I don't know if I believe that my 'spiritual' portion can be carved out and nurtured alone and primarily. I think that God made me holistically and perhaps I should view myself as a whole person, undisectable, and not a summation of parts of gender, class, race, and culture.