Uncovering the Role of White Christian Churches in Perpetuating White Supremacy in America
Title: White Christians and the Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity
In recent weeks, the United States has been reckoning with its racist past, tearing down monuments and removing Confederate flags. However, little attention has been given to the role of white Christian churches in perpetuating white supremacy.
Public opinion polls have shown that white Christians are more likely to deny the existence of structural racism compared to whites who are religiously unaffiliated. This pattern is consistent across different white Christian denominations, from evangelical Protestants in the South to mainline Protestants in the Midwest and white Catholics in the Northeast.
Research has revealed that white Christians hold racist attitudes at a higher rate than non-religious whites. Even when controlling for demographic factors, the connection between holding racist views and white Christian identity remains strong.
Contrary to the belief that attending church reduces racism, the opposite is true among white evangelicals, where more frequent church attendance is associated with holding racist views.
The history of American Christianity, both Protestant and Catholic, has been intertwined with white supremacy. From the practice of slaveholding whites taking enslaved people to church with them to sermons justifying white dominance, white Christian institutions have long upheld racial inequality.
As the country grapples with its history of white supremacy, there is a call for white Christians to confront the truth about their complicity in perpetuating racism. It is time for white Christians to dismantle the Christian worldview that has justified white supremacy for generations.
The legacy of white supremacy in American Christianity must be acknowledged and addressed if true progress towards racial justice is to be made.