I went to an integrated catholic gradeschool (it was a pretty even mix of people). We would all sit in class and be taught the "word of God". But when Sunday came, the whole church was caucasian. It never made sense why we split up and went to seperate churches under a religion that preaches for people to love oneanother.

first, you can go into any black church anywhere in the U.S. and worship. There are no "segration" laws keeping you out.

second, racism runs VERY deep in U.S. society.

and I'm out

Religion, as I've come to experience it, has very little to do with God and everything to do with separation.

I've noticed that non-denominational churches seem to have a more mixed crowd. I don't know if that's a regional thing, or if that's the case everywhere. Maybe churches that aren't one specific denomination get more people from more diverse backgrounds. Don't know...

Yes, racism seems to "run deep" in the US.

Wow, thank goodness racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, and religious intolerance have been solved by the rest of the world! Poor us. We just can't seem to get our diversified shit together here in these United States!

In my opinion, the reason churches are so segregated has more to do with the subtext of intolerance intrinsic to all western religions. I'll refer doubters to the hatred and violence present in the name of religion throughout the world.

For once, can we more accurately blame those who worship, rather than blaming a country that provides freedom of religion and assembly in its constitution. Shut up already, DAMN!

i cant speak about churches however:

i moved out to the wonderfully liberal and progressive bay area in hopes of being part of a better community only to find out its far more segregated then the small hick town i came from...

this view was finally confirmed when i read an article that pointed out that the bay area is one of the least integrated communities in the country...and my hick town, Stockton, Ca is one of the most diverse...

that scurrss me...

TheMax said:

I live in the South, where Churches and business are one and the same and they COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER for members and money alike. Is it any wonder they form packs and cliques and circle the wagons against those who think and believe differently thatn they do?

They enjoy tax free status yet still operate like a big business and influence local politics. I know that's off topic, but it bugs the shit out of me. And NOW, with the "faith based initiative", they're not only able to avoid paying taxes, but they'll get some of the ones we pay...

Supernova said:

That's funny, because the biggest nondenominational church in my town is also the most right-wing Bible thumping Christian church, and is ALL white. Maybe my town is the exception, who knows

Natsume said:

Where's your town, Natsume?

Supernova said:

Bay Area, California - sort of by San Francisco.

because IMHO Technilogy has Advanced, but Man hasn't.

Natsume said:

ohh yeah, we are neighbors...


*slaps a high five to Nastume and then pulls her pigtail.

Funny, most "black" churches I've been to have white people all up in them... in the artwork that depicts Jesus, his disciples, the saints, etc.--They are all white. Black worshippers and white gods, how's that for integrated religion?
[This message was edited Mon Sep 2 22:55:42 PDT 2002 by NuPwrSoul]

My two-cents:
Jehovah's Witnesses are not segregated.
There are no pictures/statutes of Jesus/Mary/saints
of any color on the walls per se.
Blacks/Whites/Jews/ Hispanics/Oriental and all other
racial and ethnic groups worship together.
The only time there may be separate group meetings
is for language barriers.
For example, the deaf witnesses have special
meetings...anyone is welcome. In a city like New York
where there is so much diversity, German speaking
friends meet together; Japanese speaking people;
and so on.
Any and all are welcome to attend.
In the late 60s in Montgomery Alabama, mob violence
was threatened against the witnesses because a
convention was planned that included blacks and
whites. Governor George Wallace, whose grandmother
was a witness stepped in with proctection and the
integrated meeting went on peacefully. That was over
30 years ago in the SOUTH!
It can be done...not by civil laws...but by civil hearts.

-

SkletonKee said:

Teehee! That we are...

Churches are made up of people and really that's it. There are some churches that have made an effort to have mixed congregations but as a whole if you don't have a Pastor that is for integration himself, well your church will remain segregated.

Unforunately, some would hold Christianity, as a belief system, as responsible but I do believe that if Jesus was physically alive today, he would be very angry and destroy many churches as he did the temple. We call ourselves followers of Christ and yet in many cases don't do anything Christ did or said to do.

We also have to realize that early Christians have caused some of this separatism by viewing Christ and his disciples as white in color instead of men and women of color or how Christ was described in the bible.

So because churches are made of people...this is why they are segregated.

Tom said:

Because Christianity may very well be the hull of the "AntiChrist" that people speak of. Most of these people who segregate are blinded by "religion" and follow "the Word" that actually can be translated a million ways. The ones who are racist are obviously deriving their own evil meaning from the Word, and are not getting the message from God, but from their own divination and evil minds.

Religion is in essence the very picture of separatism. Religion is an exclusive society. If you do not believe totally what they are preaching, then you are an outsider. There is nothing wrong with that because it just means that people of like minds come together. For instance, those that visit the org have the common flavor of Prince. Just as those that have the Jewish faith worship together, those that believe as Baptists worship together, and those that believe as JW's worship together. If you are feeling a sense of segregation from the church you attend, perhaps you are worshipping with those that you do not share a common belief with.

Religions imho were created to bring like-minded people together to worship the same belief. Notice I said belief, not God. If it were truly God that a religion was worshipping, then there would be no religion because God is beyond religion imo.

Religions are more about the pomp and circumstance than about the actual worship of God. They are about the rituals. Worship of God comes from the heart, not a religion. When one opens their heart to God, they no longer see an "us" and "them". They no longer see a separate religion, nor do they condemn another to "hell", but rather greet everyone with open arms and an open heart. God is love, plain and simple, and love knows no boundaries, no limits, no time, no gender, no race. Love is just that, love. It encompasses the one that feels it, and spreads out to those that person encounters each second of each day.

So while churches may segregate based on common beliefs, true Worship and true faith does not.

Tom said:

Very good point! What the heck IS the deal??? People need to get out of their little boxes...