Religious Worldview of Racism: the Bible vs Vedic Teachings

INTRODUCTION

·         Tell me what you are going to do (see the list above)

This entry will comparatively analyze religious reviews in relation to a social issue. The issue at hand is racism, and it seeks to understand Biblical and Vedic teachings about racism. In order to conduct this analysis, a summary of the Bible quotations related to racism is presented, together with Vedic teachings on the same topic. The materials are summarized and comparatively analyzed to highlight differences and relationships between these worldviews.

·         Tell me what your topic is and why you have chosen it

The reason for choosing the topic is that racism is a reoccurring issue and has been since mankind. On the same note, the world cannot progress under racism because all activities in the world are interconnected. Even the simplest of things in our homes, such as toothpicks, are a product of interconnection – starting from sourcing the wood, to manufacturing and distribution, down to consumption. Therefore, if there was no harmony, life would be difficult, and racism is the main factor that causes disharmony in society.

·         Tell me that you will look at what the Bible says and also your chosen worldview

The study will look at what the Bible says and also the Hindu Worldview. A comparative analysis will be conducted between these two in order to determine similarities and differences. Recommendations will be made on comparative analysis.

BODY PART 1

·         Tell me about your chosen topic

For this study, the chosen topic is racism.

·         Tell me what it is

The root form of the racism ideology is racial discrimination (Wilson, 1999), which is the presumption that the cultural or biological features of a given individual are superior to those of people from other groups, and this is the justification for how people from certain groups are treated inferiorly and socially positioned. Based on this process of racialization, the perceived patterns of physical differences—such as the shape of one’s eye, the color of skin, and others—are used to differentiate people from diverse groups, and in the process, have these people classified into "races" (Langtiw, 2021). Racism is then emergent in cases where this racialization process involves a series of social hierarchies and consequential valuations (Clair & Denis, 2015; Ward et al., 2020).

·         Tell me why this is an issue

In today’s world, racism is a serious social issue because of the damage it causes. The most enduring harm of racism is the persistent discrimination and inequality against the affected race. These inequalities are visible in health, wealth, criminal sentencing, housing, credit markets, persistent racial discrimination in recruitment, and persistent rejection of policies directed at alleviating such inequalities (Vestal, 2020; Bobo et al., 1997; Fiske, 2010; Massey & Denton, 1993; Pager & Shepherd, 2008).

·         Tell me why it is important that it should it be addressed

The importance of addressing racism was pointed out by Oliver (2020), stating that a respectful and tolerant society is usually harmonious. In order to get through the challenges of the 21^st century, the human race will need to overcome the issues of bigotry and racism, and this is why it is important to address them (Thulin, 2020). Humans remain the most cooperative species in the world, connecting through a huge network of interconnected systems. Humans have been able to build big cities with a global resource system of roads, together with optical fibers and shipping lines, connecting these cities. Even seemingly simple objects like pencils being used across the world are products of the work of thousands of people all over the globe. Therefore, the overall sustainability of the human race, together with advancements being made across different aspects of life, can only survive if the issues of racism are addressed.

·         Give me some contemporary example of this problem

A good example of contemporary that sent shockwaves all over the world is the video of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis policemen (Washington Post, 2020). The event triggered strong protests all over the world, bringing the issue of high-profile deaths of the black American race into a renewed light and perspective. The issue is that similar things have been occurring in the past decade, an ongoing systematic racism in the American judicial system.

In Australia, funding inequality is one of the ways in which institutional racism is still sustained based on the fact that the funding of healthcare services for the Aboriginal healthcare system is far below their extra health needs (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2001, 2003); it is also far below the general funding for other races in the country. One could go around the world, highlighting elements of racism in each country. Thus, the issue is very pronounced in the daily lives of people all over the world.

Racism is also pronounced in sports. Taking European football as an instance, there are many cases where foreign players (especially Africans) have been racially abused on the pitch like having banana, bottle or other harmful objects thrown at them while playing for their teams. Even among the management, their contract offers are do not align with offers for nationals in some cases.

BODY PART 2

·         Now tell me what the Bible says about this topic by referring to your chosen verses and making comments on what they mean to your topic

There are numerous verses in the Bible that have been linked to racism, but the majority of these verses push against any form of racism. For instance, Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus"; John 7:24 "Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly"; John 13:34 " "A new command I give you: love one another." As I have loved you, so you must love one another "; and Acts 10:34-35 "34 Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism, but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right." Essentially, the bible promotes unity and harmony and is against any form of racism.

Going further, it is stated in Deuteronomy 10:17-35, "17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes." 18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and widow, and he cares for the foreigner who lives among you, providing food and clothing.19 And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. 20. Serve and fear the Lord your God. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. 21 He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed the great and awesome wonders you witnessed with your own eyes for you.22 Your ancestors who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky. "

·         Summarise your thoughts

The book of Deuteronomy summarizes the Bible’s view on racism, stating the need for people to be treated equally and fairly, irrespective of their social or racial position and whether they are nationals or foreigners residing in a new state. The expected outcome is that they will increase in number and value as the Lord made them numerous from their ancestors that went to Egypt. Thus, it is evidenced that the Bible is supportive of a harmonious world.

PART 3 OF THE BODY

·         Tell me what Hindu worldview or holy book might say about the same topic

Rocess (2020) looked at the Hindu worldview and Vedic studies’ view on racism, and found numerous examples of racial classification. The Veda is the basic Hindu Scripture, and in a hymn from the Purusasukta of the Rig Verda, Hindu society is classified into four main categories based on class and vernameans (color). In this classification, the highest cast of the Brahmin (priest) are those that are born from the Supreme Deity Brahman’s mouth; the next in rank are those born from the arm of the deity, known as the Kshatriya (warrior), followed by those born from the stomach of the deity Vaishya (businessman or trader), and finally those that come from the god’s foot Shudra (menial or servant) (Rocess, 2020).

The Dalits, or the untouchable, are the "unborn" and they emerge from the creator’s body, having no physical link to the deity and almost viewed in the form of a different species, like animals. The untouchable are described by another Hindu scripture, Manusmriti, as "unclean" and "polluted" from birth. By their very existence, they violate the obsession of the Brahmanical with hygiene, and as described by Dumont, they are perpetually filthy (Rocess, 2020).

The development and continuation of the system was predominantly based on race. Those that claim Aryan heritage were clearly accorded more benefits. Based on Orthodox scholarship, the Aryans in Indian society were interpreted as being the importers of high civilization, the Vedic Hindu Texts, bringing Sanskrit and the caste system. Thus, the system was racial based on the fact that linear was used to classify people and determine the nature of benefits they could access. People's social status is determined by the family into which they are born, which influences the discriminatory political, economic, and social impact they have on those from lower castes. Thus, the range of occupations that those from the lower class could occupy was limited, and they were cut off from gaining positions of power as well as forced into practicing social rituals that oppressed and demeaned them (Dwivedi, 2009). In essence, racism is pronounced and encouraged in the Vedic (Hindu) teachings.

BODY PART 4

·         Compare the two approaches

The two religious views are divergent. This is because while the Bible preaches more harmony and unity (fair treatment for all irrespective of their race, religion or social status), the Vedic (Hindu) teaching encouraged racism as people from certain castes (Aryans) were considered superior to others and they enjoyed more benefits. On the same note, those from minority castes were put through demeaning treatments that undermined their overall human existence.

·         What is the same and what is different?

The teachings are in no way similar, as they hold opposing views on racism. Although the Bible God is generally considered the God of the Jews, discrimination was not encouraged in any of the Bible verses talking about race. Instead, the Israelites were reminded that God had multiplied them from their seventy ancestors into a multitude of people, and they were to treat others with equality before God and man. This is totally different from the caste system of the Vedic (Hindu) teachings, where the part of the deity people come from determines their social status. It is also institutionalized in the sense that offspring from these castes are made to face the same fate as their father, negative or positive.

CONCLUSION

• Now summarise what you have just done

This entry outlines the differences and similarities between two religious views on a social issue. In this case, racism was chosen as the social issue under contention, and the two religions were Christianity (Bible) and Hinduism (Vedic). The analysis focused on the preaching of these religious groups about racism. Evidence from the analysis showed that the Bible had a clear stand against any form of racism, reminding Christians that all are created equal and are equal before God, and God will treat all according to their deeds without preferentialism or puritanism. The Vedic preaching, on the other hand, had opposing views because people were classified based on caste and the extent of benefits they could access. Those in the high caste have their lives at ease, while those from the low caste are subjected to different forms of demeaning treatment.

·         Tell me what you have leaned about what the Bible says by taking on this assignment

Based on this analysis, the researcher has learnt that the Bible adopts more of a positive approach to life, speaking against any form of racism or discrimination and encouraging more peace, harmony, and coexistence. Thus, it is concluded that the Bible offers a sound and encouraging approach to addressing the issue of racism in the world.

REFERENCES

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2001). Expenditures on health services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 1998–1999. Canberra: AIHW.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2003). The health and welfare of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Canberra: AIHW.

Bobo, L., Kluegel, J., & Smith, R. A. (1997). Laissez-faire racism: the crystallization of a ‘kinder, gentler’ anti-black ideology. In: Martin, J.K., Tuch, S.A. (Eds.), Racial Attitudes in the 1990s. Greenwood, Westport, CT (Chapter 2).

Clair, M., & Denis, J. S (2015). Racism, Sociology of. International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2nd edition, 19, 867-864.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.32122-5

Dwivedi, D. V. (2009). Thoughts For Human Rights In Vedic Tradition. The Indian Journal of Political Science, 70(4), 1021–1034. http://www.jstor.org/stable/42744017

Fiske, S. T. (2010). Interpersonal stratification: status, power, and subordination. In: Fiske, S.T., Gilbert, D.T., Lindzey, D. (Eds.), Handbook of Social Psychology, fifth ed. Wiley, New York, pp. 941–982.

Langtiw, C. (2021). “Why It’s Important to Address Racism as a Public Health Crisis”. YWCA. https://www.ywca.org/blog/2021/04/26/racism-as-a-public-health-crisis/

Massey, D. S., & Denton, N. A. (1993). American Apartheid: Segregation and the Making of the Underclass. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA

Oliver, T. (2020). “Why overcoming racism is essential for humanity’s survival”. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200403-how-to-overcome-racism-and-tribalism

Pager, D., & Shepherd, H. (2008). The sociology of discrimination: racial discrimination in employment, housing, credit, and consumer markets. Annual Review of Sociology, 34, 181–209.

Rocess (2020)

Thulin, L. (2020). “What ‘Racism Is a Public Health Issue’ Means”. Smithsonian magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-racism-public-health-issue-means-180975326/

Vestal, C. (2020). “Racism Is a Public Health Crisis, Say Cities and Counties”. PEW. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2020/06/15/racism-is-a-public-health-crisis-say-cities-and-counties

Ward, J., Watson, E., & van Kessel, C. (2020). “The Importance of Addressing Racism in the Classroom”. University of Alberta. https://www.ualberta.ca/the-quad/2020/06/the-importance-of-addressing-racism-in-the-classroom.html

Washington Post (2020). “Resources to understand America’s long history of injustice and inequality”. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/06/08/understanding-racism-inequality-america/

Wilson, W. J. (1999). The Bridge over the Racial Divide: Rising Inequality and Coalition Politics. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA.