I've been away for a while, and have been active on another Christian discussion board. It's a large board and has sections for a very wide variety of categories. There are bunches of threads going on at any given time. Several participants are from overseas. There's all kinds of personalities too, from jerks to jewels.

Theologically it's extremely diverse, with everyone from atheists to Catholics to Charismatics to Fundamentalists to Messianic Jews participating. Its busiest section appears to be the political section, but there are sections for science, history, prophesy, and many different theological persuasions. Some are open to the public, while others are protected so people of a particular theology can fellowship in private. I got involved with one of these by signing up for the Evangelical forum.

There's even a section where people can vent their complaints about life in general. It's called the "Whine" section, and can be humorous.

Out of all these conversations, NO ONE is talking about race. There isn't a single race related thread. Not one! Even in the political section nothing is said about race. It's all liberal vs conservative, or in a few cases nation vs nation (I've already been dogged out by a Canadian over Iraq. What fun!)

As I've said before, preoccupation with racial issues seems to be unique to the African-American community and church. As I surf the web the African-American boards are unique in that they have racial issues on the front page nearly all the time.

What's going on??? Is this healthy? I think not.

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2004

Answers

You came from over there to here to talk about race. So what's up with you?

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2004

Well, Rob you have come home again. I pray all is well with you and your family. Rob, whether you admit it or not you are a part of our ame discussion board family. And we have had this same conversation for 4 years. So we are not going to take the bait and disrupt the board again.

We will respond with love and patience. So Rob I have a question for you?

I am working on putting together some new praise songs to teach my congregation. And they really liked the songs from I think it was "Hill Song" do you have any other suggestions for praise songs. You do seem to keep your finger on the pulse of new praise songs around the world.

We have all kinds of music in my church. For founders day we had an Irish harp and in two weeks for homecoming we will have a violin quartet playing classical music.

This week I will be drumming and singing gospel songs and spirituals.

So let me know your thoughts on Praise songs.

No matter what Rob, we ame's are going to love you!!!!~

-- Anonymous, September 07, 2004

Brother RP,

Its been a while. I trust all is well with you and yours. I'm writing to address your questions. You assert that in your travels around the net, no one is talking about race. You then say that preoccupation with racial issues seems to be unique to the African American community and church and then ask, What's going on???

Let me offer this. It is as you say - African Americans are particularly preoccupied with race - why? Well, simply, we are the ones who have been consistently injured by racial prejudice, sterotypes, discrimination and hatred. What other people in this country have been enslaved - as a race? What other people have been defined - by the law of these United States - as 3/5th of a person? What race of people were forbidden to learn to read or write, to hold public office, to drink from public fountains or use public facilities that were not specifically labeled for use by thier race? What people have been systematically and institutionally herded into poverty and prisons?

Honestly, as an intelligent, thinking person - as a Christian, you don't know why African-American are preoccupied with race!!? Ignorance is the great common denominator, and only ignorace could account for the questions you ask. Ignorance is not a sin, but its not an excuse either. In you surfing around the net, seek out information about the history of African Americans. Answer your question with sincere discovery, rather than ask your question in a disengenuious, patroinzing tone. There's an old saying that goes something like this...

'Its better to keep your mouth shut and have people think you a fool, than to open your mouth an prove it so.'

In Christ,

-- Anonymous, September 09, 2004

You're a cut above Ron. You admit the preoccupation (can we say obsession?) exists. I respect that.

I've read why it exists many times over on the board, though it's never stated in plain terms. Bottom line is there is an inability to let go of the past. You see the same thing in the Middle East where they're still mad about the Crusades and colonialism. You see it in the tribal feuds that dog many peoples around the world, and you even see it among white Southerners who continue to obsess about the Civil War.

At minimum this results in eccentric behavior. I have a friend who is always telling me of the glory of the Confederacy, and I love to tease him by saying in spite of all his victories General Lee surrendered in the end. That gets him! :-)

At worst it causes wars. What's bin Laden's main malfunction? I mean other than the fact he's driven by the demonic. He's mad about what Richard the Lion Heart did in the Middle Ages.

At what point can we ask people to move on? Generally speaking, never. It's an excellent tool of the devil, and he'll use it among Earth's inhabitants until he's thrown into the pit.

But there will be individuals who will rise above past injuries. Christians should be first among them.

-- Anonymous, September 10, 2004

Brother RP,

There is indeed preoccupation, even obsession. Not just with things past as you postulate, but rather with the present. The people in the Middle East have past grievance its true, but what about the present day treachery perpetuated on them by greedy, evil men whose wickedness knows no bounds? You may not like what Bin Laden does, but he's no doubt a religious man, calling upon the name of his god fighting with all his might that which he calls evil.

Likewise, I as an African American male have never felt the sting of a slave owners whip or had to drink from a colored water fountain or sneak to learn to read. But I do know the humilation of racial profiling; a father's pain in explaining to his child what racial slurs mean, and the injustice of being judged by the color of my skin rather than by the content of my character. These are not past, this is now. I am blessed to be a child of God though, having this day no regard for the things of this world and thus able to bear with confidence and comfort the assaults of the adversary.

Racism is the devil's workshop and ignorance is his tool. You say people have an inability to let go of the past? There truth in that. But the whole truth is that these days are evil and grievance arises not from yesterdays ills, but from today's.

In Love, by love and for love's sake,

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2004

Brother RP, what do you mean by the statement in your response to Ron: "Ron, you are a cut above . . . . .". I have had some negative experiences from folk who precede their comments with similiar phrases.

Be Blessed

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2004

No negativity here. Just a compliment recognizing his maturity and ability to admit what so many can't.

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2004

RP,

Have you thought about the reasons you keep coming back to this website?

Jazzman

-- Anonymous, September 12, 2004

First, please tell me why YOU think I do. Then I'll let you know if you're right. I'm just curious about your opinion, and that of anyone else who'd like to answer.

One of the problems with boards like these is people assume they know the hearts and motives of the people. They're probably wrong. So let's see what you all say, then I'll give the answer. Now whether anyone believes me...one can only do so much.

BTW I've said it before on this board.

-- Anonymous, September 13, 2004

No takers eh? Well, it's really nothing mysterious. There's a unique collection of people here in that they're both Bible believing, and liberal. As I've found on other boards, those two generally don't go together. There are a ton of things in one that rule out the other, so it's interesting to hear the thinking of people who manage to cram the two together. As I and others have stated it takes some serious ignoring of certain things to do it, and that's what ya'll do. Abortion is of course the most obvious. You'll compromise your faith and morals on that in order to see people friendly to liberal racial policies put into place.

So you're unique, and interesting. Liberals on other boards are just a step away from paganism or atheism.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2004

RP,

Of all the websites on the internet, why do you keep coming back to this website? This is a direct question that only you can answer.

Jazzman

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2004

See above.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2004

I should add this isn't the only board I keep coming back to. It's one of several. Each is interesting in its own way.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2004

RP

The air was fresh in here until you brought your smelly racist garbage back. Your racism is repungnant and your views border primarily on the ignorant and are almost always irrelevant.

I did not miss you when you were gone and I certainly won't be sad to see you leave again.

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2004

To the Board:

I found this post by RP to be particularly insulting and another example of very un-Christian sensitivity. First of all as African Methodists and as Christians we believe in the primacy of the Scripture.

And our Methodist tradition also means that we interpret scripture in relation to our experience, our tradition, and reason. For RP to assert that we have a pre-occupation with race is absurd.

Race is a part of who we are. African Americans are probably the first people to set aside race in assessing one's motives or character, yet we cannot help but notice when we are not represented in the mainstream of this culture.

Isn't it interesting that it is okay for certain people of a different hue to charge reverse discrimination although all the economic and other financial indicators show that if there is discrimination it is certainly not reverse.

I am a huge fan of the American Candidate on Showtime and I really agree with one of the candidates who said that white people get defensive even when African Americans mention race in any manner.

This has continually been Rp's soapbox and it is time for him to take that drama elsewhere.

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2004

My, my, my. So much to say, so little time.

First to Brother RP

You say Christian Liberals compromise their faith and moral integrity to support those who support them? This is an unfortunate choice of words - obviously. Surely you don't think that Christians of any political persuasion approve of that which is contrary to the Holiness of God - do you? Let me help you with instance you raise about abortion. If you recall the question to be dealt with is not whether abortion is right or wrong, it is rather a question of choice. The pro-choice voice argues that the government does not have the right or the dominion to decide whether a woman will or will not have a child - that this decision is the 'choice' of the woman. The pro-life voice argues that abortion is wrong and that the government should outlaw the woman's 'choice' in this matter. Most if not all would agree that abortion is morally wrong. Only conservatives think that 'choice' is wrong too.

Now to Brother Gibson,

Your language sir is and has been far more venomous than Brother RP's. You say our "Methodist tradition also means that we interpret scripture in relation to our experience, our tradition, and reason." This is a tragic error. The only part of the statement that is true is that our reason is used in interpretation. Its true that we can 'relate' to what the Scripture says via our experience and traditions - but certainly not interpret the Scripture with these. Brother Gibson, I would caution that 'your racism is showing' and is most unbecoming the child of God.

In Love, By Love and For Love's sake,

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2004

Ron:

Perhaps I do not necessarily share your appreciation for the distinction between the "interpretation" and "relationship" of scripture. I submit that my point of view is not "tragic" error but for me, I believe that tradition and experience are involved in the development of our faith and our understanding of scripture. We can agree to disagree on that point.

But it goes to the heart of my lack of anger at your assertion that my "racism" may be showing. Your definition of the word is vastly different than mine and is based on how you have come to understand that word.

I believe that when RP posts a message that criticizes a board of this nature for looking at things from an African American perspective that appreciates that the Black experience in this country is different than that of a Causasisan, it is ignorant and irrelevant.

I apologize to your sensitivities if those words appear venomous to you but once again I am not referring to the person whom I do not know but the points of view of which I am all too familiar.

Be Blessed

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2004

You make some good points. Having read most of RP's posts, I think he falls into the ignorant category and that is not negative; he just does not get it. Now, if he chooses to remain ignorant, that is his fault as I suspect is the case. I can't say for sure because it is so difficult to discern one's motives in email and post communications.

Likewise, black folk who persist in living and re-living the past, concerning themselves only with "black" issues, also place themselves in that "ignorant by choice" category. The argument can be made4 that both are racist. I choose to ignore all who are ignorant by choice.

Be Blessed pastor paris

-- Anonymous, September 18, 2004