- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
While I also wish that the Church leaders could/would be more clear in recognizing mistakes of the past, I believe that our history is much better than most. Racism in the early church may be considered a product of the times. Almost everyone in the 1800’s was a racist then to some degree. The realities that our ancestors had to live with get lost when viewed by our politically correct 21 century sensitivities. Consider these historical realities of our progenitors: White America has been highly racist ever since the first boat loads of slaves were brought to this country. Bigotry soon became the way white Americans justified such inhumanity to the Blacks.
Other conservative religions were also racist. Southern Baptists, for instance, split from other Baptist to retain their “right” to have slaves in the 1840’s. Racially segregated congregations became the norm, especially in the south. A major reason Mormons were driven out of Missouri by mobs was that Joseph Smith publicly denounced slavery in editorials.
Abraham Lincoln stated that Negros were not the equal of whites, should never marry whites, and should be resettled outside our country. He openly promoted racial segregation. Freeing the slaves was not a stated justification for the civil war until near its end. Furthermore, The US had institutionalized segregation until the 1960’s… a segregated military for over hundred years.
Yet, no time in the LDS Church’s history have congregations been segregated by race. Occasionally wards are set up for singles, language and/or culture. People are then free to choose if they wish to attend those “special interest” wards or stay in their geographical wards. But no ethnic group has been barred from being baptized or attending any ward.
In 1978 Blacks were given the LDS priesthood
in 1990 Southern convention apologized for its racism.
Racism is not justifiable by any religion, but Mormons were certainly not alone. As bad as the priesthood ban was, it wasn’t on the same level as legalized humans-as-property. Yet, the US has been allowed to move on from that disturbing chapter in its history, and the church should be allowed the same opportunity.
dash1730 wrote:While I also wish that the Church leaders could/would be more clear in recognizing mistakes of the past, I believe that our history is much better than most. Racism in the early church may be considered a product of the times. Almost everyone in the 1800’s was a racist then to some degree. The realities that our ancestors had to live with get lost when viewed by our politically correct 21 century sensitivities. Consider these historical realities of our progenitors:
White America has been highly racist ever since the first boat loads of slaves were brought to this country. Bigotry soon became the way white Americans justified such inhumanity to the Blacks.
Other conservative religions were also racist. Southern Baptists, for instance, split from other Baptist to retain their “right” to have slaves in the 1840’s. Racially segregated congregations became the norm, especially in the south. A major reason Mormons were driven out of Missouri by mobs was that Joseph Smith publicly denounced slavery in editorials.
Abraham Lincoln stated that Negros were not the equal of whites, should never marry whites, and should be resettled outside our country. He openly promoted racial segregation. Freeing the slaves was not a stated justification for the civil war until near its end. Furthermore, The US had institutionalized segregation until the 1960’s… a segregated military for over hundred years.
Yet, no time in the LDS Church’s history have congregations been segregated by race. Occasionally wards are set up for singles, language and/or culture. People are then free to choose if they wish to attend those “special interest” wards or stay in their geographical wards. But no ethnic group has been barred from being baptized or attending any ward.
In 1978 Blacks were given the LDS priesthood
in 1990 Southern convention apologized for its racism.
Racism is not justifiable by any religion, but Mormons were certainly not alone. As bad as the priesthood ban was, it wasn’t on the same level as legalized humans-as-property. Yet, the US has been allowed to move on from that disturbing chapter in its history, and the church should be allowed the same opportunity.
Yep. Perhaps an acknowledgment and simple apology would go a long way…..it would certainly help me.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2
mormonheretic wrote:I really don’t like the argument against an apology for fear of the fact that the weakest saints may fall away. The saints need strong leadership in order to grow more godly, and I think that “no unhallowed hand will stop the work from progressing.” We shouldn’t be unduly concerned with critics or the weak if God is at the helm.
Yes, I totally agree. Honestly, when deciding between telling the truth, however much it hurts, and making sure no one is offended, I believe the moral choice is definnetly to tell the truth.
Won’t those members who are built on a sandy foundation fall away eventually anyway?
It seems that you can’t find a single major organization in this world anymore that isn’t tangled up in some form of political correctness propagandist manipulation. I, myself, did not even find out about the priesthood ban or polygamy until I was in my teens, even though I have been going to church since the week I was born.
Quote:Won’t those members who are built on a sandy foundation fall away eventually anyway?
No, they won’t necessarily leave. Some people – MANY people, continue in faith that others wouldn’t accept as a sure, solid foundation. I really admire them, frankly, and don’t want to do anything to shake their faith unnecessarily.
The idea that the weak eventually will leave anyway, imo, is a stereotype used to explain why people leave. It’s easier to believe that than to give serious thought to what has to happen among the “believers” to help people stay.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.