Whiteness is wicked
Critical Race Theory (CRT), a framework that originated in legal studies to address racial inequalities, has made significant inroads into various spheres of society, including education, corporate culture, and now, religion. The integration of Marxist principles with CRT has raised concerns among religious communities, particularly in how these ideologies intersect with traditional religious teachings.
At the Sparrows Women's conference, Marxist supporter and evangelical preacher Ekemini Uwan a Nigerian-American public theologian gave a speech on Whiteness telling her audience their concept of race was incompatible with the Bible.
“So then when we talk about white identity, then we have to talk about what whiteness is. Well, the reality is that whiteness is rooted in plunder, in theft, in slavery, in enslavement of Africans, genocide of Native Americans, we are sitting on stolen land, if you are in America, we are sitting on stolen land, everywhere in America, this is the reality of land that was stolen from Native Americans and we have to recognize and acknowledge that.”
“…we have to understand something — whiteness is wicked. It is wicked. It’s rooted in violence, it’s rooted in theft, it’s rooted in plunder, it’s rooted in power, in privilege…”
The Roots of CRT and Marxism
CRT draws on Marxist ideology, which views society through the lens of class struggle, and applies it to race relations, framing society as a conflict between oppressed and oppressor racial groups. In this view, all aspects of society, including religion, are influenced by systemic racism.
The Intersection of CRT and Religion
In recent years, some religious institutions have begun incorporating CRT into their teachings and practices. Proponents argue that this integration helps to address racial injustices within religious communities. However, critics warn that applying CRT in religious contexts can distort traditional religious doctrines and focus more on social justice than spiritual teachings.
For example, some churches have begun reinterpreting biblical narratives through the lens of CRT, emphasizing themes of oppression and liberation in ways that align more closely with Marxist thought than with traditional Christian theology. This shift has led to debates within religious communities about the appropriateness of these interpretations and the potential for CRT to overshadow core religious beliefs.
This fusion of CRT and Marxism brings with it a set of practices and beliefs that, for some, resemble the "struggle sessions" of Mao Zedong's China—a disturbing parallel that raises significant concerns for those who value traditional religious teachings.
Understanding Struggle Sessions in Mao's China
Struggle sessions were a hallmark of Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution in China, where individuals were publicly humiliated, forced to confess to ideological "crimes," and denounced by their peers. These sessions were designed to enforce ideological conformity and suppress dissent by making an example of those who were seen as enemies of the state or insufficiently loyal to the Communist Party. Victims were often made to confess to fabricated or exaggerated offenses against the state, and this public shaming served to reinforce the power of the ruling ideology.
The Resemblance to CRT in Religious Settings
The application of CRT within religious contexts can sometimes echo these struggle sessions, albeit in a more subtle and intellectualized form. In some congregations, members are encouraged—or even pressured—to confess their complicity in systemic racism, regardless of their personal beliefs or actions. These "confessions" are often public, and failure to participate can lead to ostracization or labeling as an ally of oppression.
This dynamic mirrors the power structures of Mao’s struggle sessions, where individuals were coerced into aligning with the dominant ideology under threat of social or professional repercussions. Just as Mao's regime used struggle sessions to enforce conformity, the integration of CRT in some religious settings can pressure individuals to conform to specific ideological views on race, regardless of their personal convictions or the teachings of their faith.
The apology issued by the Sparrow Women's Conference is nothing short of an example of the struggle sessions demanded by Mao.
While their apology is sincere in that they want healing and peace for everyone, it is an example of people who feel the need to self-denigrate due to factors that are immutable such as the color of their skin.
However, Old School Hip-Hop Head, and Public Theologian @Sista_Theology had other opinions posting on X, "This is not an apology. This is a terrible PR clean up job and a terrible one at that. I went into that racist space and did what I was supposed to do, tell the truth as a fully embodied BLACK woman. Instead of being thanked for truth I shared in grace and love..."
The intersection of Marxist Critical Race Theory and religion introduces practices that can undermine traditional faith-based teachings and create divisions within religious communities. The resemblance to Maoist struggle sessions highlights the dangers of imposing ideological conformity in settings that have historically been havens of spiritual growth and personal redemption. As CRT continues to influence religious institutions, it is crucial to examine the implications for freedom of belief, expression, and the preservation of religious traditions. Apology is never enough.
Marxist theory often involves a critique of traditional institutions, such as religion, which Karl Marx famously called the "opiate of the masses." The idea is that religion can be used to pacify the oppressed by promising a better life after death, thus diverting attention from real-world struggles for justice and equality.
When it comes to the infiltration of Marxist Critical Race Theory (CRT) into religious spaces, some argue that it represents a form of ideological subversion. CRT, which examines the intersection of race and law in society, sometimes challenges traditional religious narratives by focusing on systemic injustices and historical oppression. Critics argue that this focus can shift the emphasis away from spiritual teachings and towards social and political activism, essentially making the state, or a secular ideology, the "master" instead of a higher spiritual authority.
This perspective sees the introduction of Marxist ideology into religion as an attempt to reframe religious teachings in a way that serves a political agenda, possibly subordinating spiritual concerns to the pursuit of social justice as defined by Marxist principles. The "struggle sessions" from Maoist China, where individuals were publicly humiliated and forced to confess to ideological deviations, are seen by some as a precursor to the type of social pressure exerted by CRT in modern contexts, where individuals might feel compelled to confess to and denounce their "privilege" or "complicity" in systemic racism.
The underlying fear is that this ideology does not merely seek to reform but to replace traditional religious values with a new moral order dictated by the state or by political ideology, thereby making the state or ideology the ultimate authority or "master." This is a controversial and heavily debated topic, with strong opinions on both sides.
Marxist influences in religion often see it as an attempt to serve a greater power—whether that be the state or an ideological agenda—by undermining traditional religious values and replacing them with a new form of secular morality.
"There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in the means of achieving the same ultimate end: communism proposes to enslave men by force, socialism — by vote. It is merely the difference between murder and suicide." ~Ayn Rand
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