Racialigious? [Series Introduction - Racialigious]
by Latoya Peterson
I’ve been fascinated by religion most of my life.
This is probably because I wasn’t raised with one.
When I say this, people – particularly other black people – tend to hear what I say and interpret it as “lapsed Christian.” As in, a girl who used to go to church and doesn’t go anymore.
Before the age of 21, I can count how many times I’ve been to church on one hand. With fingers left over. All my knowledge of Christianity comes from what my friends tell me and pop culture. And my knowledge of Judaism. And atheism. And any other religious belief system or lack thereof.
So, over time, I think I came to like listening to stories about religion and why people choose their specific belief systems. It’s interesting to listen to the reason for belief (or non-belief) and the battles to fight misconceptions. It’s even more interesting when analyzing the effect of race, gender, and class on religious practice and religious perception.
In launching Racialigious, we hope to explore where race (among other things) intersects with religious practice and belief.
Submissions welcome.
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
Marcy Webb wrote:
What sort of submissions are you seeking?
Posted 23 Jul 2009 at 8:38 am ¶
BSK wrote:
Just to clarify, will this be a thread on racialicious? Or are you starting a new blog?
Posted 23 Jul 2009 at 9:20 am ¶
Julia wrote:
Love this idea! Like you, I was raised without religion — but we were culturally Christian, celebrating all the holidays etc. I have never believed that Jesus died for me, yet I appreciate all of his teachings. I get annoyed when people assume that if you are black, you must be a Christian. And also, when people think if you are raised outside of a religion then you don’t have morality. It’s important to explore race and religion and I look forward to reading more Racialigious.
Posted 23 Jul 2009 at 11:47 am ¶
Irene M. wrote:
I am so excited! Finally, two of my favorite topics coming together on one awesome blog series. As someone who is mixed race (albeit white-looking) and changed religions/denominations, I must say that race and religion intersect in some interesting and powerful ways.
By submissions, do you mean suggest topics (I’ve got a couple in mind) or suggest posts from other bloggers?
Posted 23 Jul 2009 at 2:35 pm ¶
Black Ivy wrote:
As another black woman who was raised without religion I totally feel you. I would be interested in reading about the degree of alienation that one feels as a result of being a black person in America without religion. I too am not a lapsed Christian. While my father was raised Christian he never practiced it as far as I know once he left the home and my mother’s father is Muslim. (The black panther/political dissident/the revolution will not be televised/I still drink and dont practice any part of the religion except for abstaining from pork kind of Muslim). Her mother was very experimental making her kids do transcendental meditation etc for a while and was a Buddhist while I was growing up but now as she has aged has turned to Christianity. My mom instilled a mild distrust of religion in both my brother and I purely accidentally I think. Now my brother is an atheist and I am agnostic but am curious about religion as well. Specifically, I am curious as to how educated, thoughtful people hold certain beliefs, and am very appreciative of those who have managed to stay spiritual and honest to themselves while embracing modern science and acknowledging the flaws of their doctrine. Also, I am interested in discussions about the origin of morality as I am frequently told that either I must have no morals because I have no religion, or that I wouldn’t know what morals were if not for religion. Its always nice to be called a heathen
At any rate, I look forward to reading more.
Posted 23 Jul 2009 at 2:51 pm ¶
Morpho wrote:
I’m looking forward to dialoguing on this topic. I’ve plenty of fodder to add, being an American black Jew and all, but I’m anxious to discuss any religion system issues that arise here.
Posted 23 Jul 2009 at 3:14 pm ¶
Mammith wrote:
Interesting topic, I’ve a few stories about being raised in an Atheist household in an overwhelmingly religious area and how that relates to race. For example, apparently being an atheist = ‘acting white’!
Posted 23 Jul 2009 at 3:34 pm ¶
johnjihoonchang wrote:
I love the name. Is this going to be launched as a separate page?
Posted 23 Jul 2009 at 3:48 pm ¶
Fiqah wrote:
@LDP: I am also looking forward to these posts and loving the name. Although you know when you say “Racialigious” aloud, some nice person is bound to overhear you and go, “Oh, gesundheit!”
Posted 23 Jul 2009 at 4:07 pm ¶
Medusa wrote:
Julia and Black Ivy-
Good Lord. Agreed. I was not raised without religion. In fact, I was raised in a highly religious household (on my mom’s part anyway) and attended a Christian school in Japan, which I think was even more intense than if I had gone to a Christian school elsewhere. However, after I moved and no longer attended the Christian school and the God stuff wasn’t crammed down my throat from dawn til dusk, I became atheist and you’re right, people ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS assume that I’m Christian. If I say “no” then they default to Muslim. I’m really looking forward to this series as well.
Posted 23 Jul 2009 at 6:16 pm ¶
x0x wrote:
If we’re gonna talk about the intersect of race religious practices and beliefs, I think it goes without saying that there should be plenty of mention of the oppressive role religion has had on racialized groups across the globe. Slavery, anyone?
Posted 23 Jul 2009 at 6:39 pm ¶
GueraLola wrote:
i’m atheist and I love to discuss religion in this blog. Personally I was think to write a my rant on atheism and poc/ or specifically with of people who came with very strong ties with religion.
Posted 23 Jul 2009 at 6:49 pm ¶
Haitian Joe wrote:
I am a Haitian American and an atheist. I am in the closet about my lack of religious beliefs because I still live with my religious nut mother. I also have not told my aunts, uncles, or cousins about my atheism.
I have told my co workers that I am atheism. Some white co workers were surprised because they never met a black atheist, but many seem to be understanding and accepting. On the other hand black and Latino co workers think that lightning is going to strike me dead for not believing. One Christian colleague from Ghana, she rarely speaks to me after I told her.
I have been an atheist since 16 years old and I am now 29 years old. I have rarely met other black or other minority atheists. The few I have met were on the internet message boards. A friend that I knew in high school, who is also Haitian American, I just recently found out that he is an atheist on Facebook.
Posted 23 Jul 2009 at 8:00 pm ¶
evita wrote:
Brings to mind a interesting book “Mighty Like a River: The Black Church and Social Reform,” by Andrew Billingsley. The book, in part describes the role of the Black Church in lives of Black people ie: part social government, part political force.
And as you alluded to, the assumption that every Black person’s experience with religion is the same. Very Christian centered, that is to say the Southern Baptist tradition.
I had an interesting conversation with a faculty member (Black faculty) who said that the (social and political) liberation can only be facilitated by the Black Church. I said but Americans as a whole, which includes Black people, are becoming more and more secular. He disagreed.
Look forward to reading more about what everyone has to say. I certainly have my own ideas.
Posted 24 Jul 2009 at 3:10 am ¶
veebot wrote:
I am an american born Nigerian (lived there for 10 years) and im an atheist. Im am also in the closet. My family is not even that religeous, i was raised catholic by my dad and my mom was born a muslim but has been a christian for many years.
i just cant say it out loud. I told one friend of mine her reaction told me i wasnt ready to let everyone know. this should be interesting.
Posted 24 Jul 2009 at 3:45 am ¶
Jennoschmello wrote:
I’m glad you launched this discussion. For starters, and to give you a clearer context, I am Asian/Caucasian. Specifically, Filipina and Caucasian American (Dad is from NY).
Given that, it’s common knowledge that the majority of Filipinos are Catholic. Of course, this does not apply to smaller percentages who are non-Catholic Christian, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic, etc.
Religion has had a place in my family for years, albeit it was not that prominent. In other words, religion was fundamental but not all-consuming. My father is a non-practicing Methodist and my mom is a former Catholic. Aside from their different denominations, my parents still taught me right from wrong with my mom taking things a step further by instilling (to the best of her ability) Catholic traditions during my childhood. It worked, but only to a limited degree.
For the most part, my parents let me decide for myself what to believe in, which I appreciated. They did not shove religion down my throat (so to speak). At this time (and for many years), I am a non-denomination Christian who believes in the trinity and other important aspects of Christianity. However, I do not see (or use) my religion as a means to differentiate myself from any other practitioners of different faiths (or none at all) nor do I see my faith as something that is institutionalized or routine. For me, my faith is a personal nature in which I have a personal relationship with God.
After having said that, I do take an interest in people with different religions and/or faiths and will have friendly conversations with them where the objective is to learn more about the person and how their religion shapes them as an individual, but not to proselytize or try convert someone to my religion. Religion, to me, is of a personal matter and it is up to the individual what they chose to believe in (or not). Christianity is a religion of election and not by birth.
Okay, I will leave it at that.
In regards to this forum, I look forward to future discussions and applaud Racialicious for starting up this topic. I have noticed how religion can shape us as a community, people, and race (whether you are Middle Eastern, African American, Jewish, etc), and am interested in learning more about this dynamic.
Thanks again for starting this up!
Jennifer
Posted 24 Jul 2009 at 9:18 am ¶
mizztcasa wrote:
Can’t wait to read these posts either! Just yesterday I was told by my folks that I was “lost” because I am not a “believer” anymore. To date, I haven’t labeled my spirituality. I just believe in a Higher Power, that it lives in me, in others, the world, and yet is above it all. I believe that no one religion can claim hold to the truth and get spiritual guidance from a variety of sources.
I’ve come out to all my friends and family about my spiritual beliefs (still working on that bisexual part…) anywayz, its still difficult to talk about my beliefs without being put down or looked at as immoral, naive/ “young”, or crazy. My family definitely think I’m a lapsed Christian and am living a world life and thus once I grow up I will get married and be a good little Christian (or burn in hell – quite lovely right?). The thing is my spiritual path is leading me a different direction than that…and as a black female, I definitely feel out of place. So I look forward to reading the stories of others on these interesting subject. Who doesn’t love race and religion?
Posted 24 Jul 2009 at 12:06 pm ¶
ichoosethesun wrote:
Bravo! As an African-American female who does not identify with any organized religion but has a strong belief in a Creator whom I choose to call God, I was “in the closet” about my spiritual beliefs for many years. Occasionally I still find myself unable/unwilling to disclose my beliefs – particularly in social settings with my African-American peers. Discussions about the strong role (or hold as xox says) Christianity has in the African-American community and the experiences of those who do not conform are rarely broached. I applaud you Racialigious for being willing to ‘go there’.
Posted 24 Jul 2009 at 2:05 pm ¶
Miztification wrote:
I’m definitely looking forward to this topic/series of posts as well.
@Latoya, Julia, and Black Ivy- I fall into the same category you all do.
It’s hard enough to have strangers, friends, co-workers, or casual acquaintances look at you as a “heathen”, but when members of your own family do too…to me, that’s even harder to take.
Posted 24 Jul 2009 at 3:08 pm ¶
Eunice wrote:
While I identify as Episcopalian, I have an agnostic father and a Pentecostal mother. Growing up, especially in Nigeria where everything is religious, was different, to say the least. I never really understood Pentecostalism, and felt more comfortable listening to my dad’s ideas about religion, and we agreed more often than we disagreed.
Most Nigerian and Nigerian-American Christians are Pentecostal, Roman Catholic or Anglican. I don’t consider myself Anglican (especially with the schism going on in the CoE), and had various denominational changes (I was even a Calvinist once!).
Posted 24 Jul 2009 at 3:55 pm ¶
pockysmama wrote:
Hello Haitian Joe! I, too, am a black atheist and even better than that, I live in the Deep South. Boy, do I have fun living here!
Black Ivy, “heathen” is one of the nicer things I’ve been called. A couple of well-placed shots about the “Sky Fairy” usually shuts people up, though.
Looking forward to the new series!
Posted 24 Jul 2009 at 6:57 pm ¶
Winn wrote:
I am thrilled to see this topic being discussed here. I can definitely relate to those who have faced the assumption that because they are African American they must be Christian. I was raised in a very religious household; my grandmother was a lay minister at her own Holiness church – the Heavenly Lighthouse Sanctuary of Jesus Christ (isn’t that a great name?). Only a few relatives know that I am a Pagan, and have been since age 14. I discovered the Craft at that time, and it felt like coming home to me. I thought for a long time I was an atheist, because I had been presented with the idea that if you weren’t a Christian, the only alternative was atheism, and I knew I wasn’t a Christian from a very early age. But I could be more accurately termed a seeker, as I believed in both immanent and transcendent deity, just not the Judeo-Christian one. Paganism answered those questions for me, and presented me with a worldview that made sense and incorporated the wonder of the natural world that had always been the foundation of my spirituality.
There are a whole host of issues inherent in being a person of color practicing a faith steeped in European folk magic and pre-Christian traditions. I’ve had to do some heavy lifting over the years regarding how I fit in the Pagan community, especially considering some of our more extreme elements.
By the by, if someone calls me a “Heathen”, I don’t usually bother to explain that that term is for a member of our community who practices Norse traditions, like Asatru, as I know that’s not what they mean! I usually just crib Christopher Lee’s line from “The Wicker Man”: “A heathen, surely, but not, I hope, an unenlightened one.”
Posted 25 Jul 2009 at 11:01 am ¶
daniel cunningham wrote:
I look forward to a discussion on religion, already all-too complicated even before introducing race into it
I think it’s a little funny (in a truly good humored way) the number of comments about “people assume I’m Christian because I’m black.” I think most people, in the US, just assume that if you’re Black or White (or Korean :> ) that you must be Christian. Certainly, being white, my choices are generally “Christian” and that’s it.
I also think it’s funny that if I indicate that I am not that a good many people then ask, generally surprised, “Oh, you’re Jewish?!” (As I’m blond haired, etc. and that apparently at least disqualifies me from being Jewish in some people’s view… I think?)
Explaining to people that you are atheistic is generally about a 50-50 split between boredom and entertainment.
I had surgery yesterday (and I’m on percocet today, I apologize if I’m rambling) and when they admitted me one of the questions was my religion and the choices I was given were “Catholic, Christian, or other.” I kind of wanted to say “Shinto” or “Bo” to throw them, but I controlled myself and just said “Atheist.” I was asked the same question the day before over the phone during pre-admission and was given several other choices, so I kind of assume there was an assumption based on my color when I was asked in person.
I am used to that, however. Being Atheist is a minority… opinion. That said, I often think about the poll that ABC (or Pew?) did a year or so ago where people were asked their preference for a hypothetical candidate based on religion and Atheist ranked last, below Muslim, even given the fear the average American feels for all things Islam.
Hopefully this isn’t too rambling, though I already know I’m firing off anecdotals. In any case, eagerly looking forward to further posts and experiences.
Posted 25 Jul 2009 at 5:49 pm ¶
Sobia wrote:
@ daniel cunningham:
What was the purpose of them asking your religion? In most situations this is illegal no?
Posted 25 Jul 2009 at 9:36 pm ¶
SciAngie wrote:
Like many of the other commentors here, I too look forward to this series.
Talk about timing, I was just talking with my neighbors about their beliefs. They are two Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) missionaries and I am a black women who was raised in an uber-Christian environment, but I am ironing out what I believe in.
Learning about Mormonism from two believers in that subset of Christianity was very interesting. I noticed how white-euro centric it was. Not that this is uncommon to most Christian subsets (Jesus and other biblical characters being portrayed as Anglo-Saxon) but from what they told me, they believe that a group of white people broke away from the old world at the time of the fall of the tower of bable and settled in the Utah/Nevada area. The people were the ones that created the gold plates of the book of Mormon that Joseph Smith (founder) found and translated.
While they were telling me this, all I could think of was wonder what the Racialicious editors think of this?
Posted 26 Jul 2009 at 9:52 am ¶
MizDezigner wrote:
That’s so funny that many people came across the stereotype that if you are black you must be Christian. I used to live in Philadelphia which has a large Muslim population. It was always a 50/50 chance whether someone who was black was Muslim or Christian.
I am black and consider myself spiritual but not religious. I really don’t like the idea of churches, commandments, rules, etc… On my own choice as an adult, I will never attend church services. I don’t ever get asked or questioned about my religion (I guess everyone knows I am not that religious).
Posted 26 Jul 2009 at 11:32 am ¶
Free wrote:
I am looking forward to reading this series which I hope includes at least on article on atheism. The last time that I expressed my atheist views in the US, everyone in the group, Christians and Muslims all, looked at me like I was evil. I quickly assured them that I believed in their right to worship God or Allah: they did not respond in kind. I have never met a POC atheist and after reading the comments section I understand why. I am open about my views in the US and I don’t give a damn about negative reactions. But in Egypt, when I am labeled a Christian I agree by saying, yes, I am from a Christian country.
Posted 27 Jul 2009 at 5:11 am ¶
Joy wrote:
I’m excited about this new series (blog?) as well. I hope we we can have interesting, enlightnning, and civil conversations.
(Everyone seems to be throwing out their non/affiliations, so I’m a Christian, LOL.)
Posted 27 Jul 2009 at 3:30 pm ¶
Yetunde wrote:
I’m a Nigerian-American atheist. I swear I thought that I was the only Nigerian or even black atheist on the planet! Years ago, one of my aunts (one of the few Nigerians I have revealed my atheism to) told me about a Nigerian educator named Tai Solarin who believed that religion was the cause of many of Nigeria’s problems. Anyway, Solarin is deceased and until now the excitement I felt at finding out there were other Nigerian atheists had faded. Are any of the black atheists who have commented here a member of the facebook group “Black Atheists”?
This was a great post! I there are similar posts to come!
Posted 22 Aug 2009 at 8:08 am ¶