King told that: "My parents would always tell me that I should not hate the white man, but that it was my duty as a Christian to love him." He also said: "We cannot truly be Christian people so long as we flaunt the central teachings of Jesus - brotherly love and the Golden Rule." Throughout many speeches and books, quotes of similar nature were used by Martin Luther King Jr. This shows his clear opposition to discrimination on racial grounds and followed the common teaching of Jesus: "Love thy neighbour as thy self.," (Luke Chapter 10). An effective quote of speech King used at the address on the March on Washington shows his view on racial equality: "When we allow freedom to ring............we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands..........Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty we are free at last." Kings believed people should (though not necessarily) love each other regardless of race or creed, and treat each other equally. To have complete and true obedience to God and Christianity, such discriminations must be banished.
Desmond Mplio Tutu is another Christian individual with a similar story. He was a South African clergyman who was a very famous civil rights activist. Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. He focused on racism and lack of black equality in South Africa and helped the struggle against apartheid through peaceful means. He stressed his belief that all men are equal and that no race should be more privileged than another. Tutu's fight against racial separatism is shown here: "A black person is also a human being created in the image of God," "We are still holding out our hands of fellowship and saying to our white compatriots - grasp them, let us talk while there is still time." The last quote is an example of his belief in Christ like forgiveness and loving his opposition, demonstrating that he cared not of the differences between him and others, but he cared for the struggle for equality through peaceful means.
Mother Teresa is one of the best examples of Christian based lack of discrimination. She was a Roman Catholic nun, who devoted her life to helping and giving special attention to the sick and underprivileged - thus following Jesus' similar example as Jesus also gave special attention to these people. A great deal of her work was based in India on the streets of Calcutta where thousands suffered from illness and poverty. People with life threatening illnesses were sheltered by Mother Teresa who gave them love and care so they can die in peace. She paid no regard to who they were, she just wanted to help. Her hospital/shelter called Nirmal Hriday ('Pure Heart') is open to all - the sick, children, elders, dying. All of Mother Teresa's work was established on the teachings of Jesus and other teachings in the Bible - she showed that people should not be discriminated on any grounds and be helped likewise if in need.
Though individuals are goods examples of showing Christian teachings put into practice there are also groups which have been set-up to help reduce the effects of discrimination. Christians feel it is part of their religious duty to help the poor and underprivileged, seeing the example of Jesus. The needy are of special concern to Christians, and the effect of discrimination which cause this try to be reduced. Christian Aid and CAFOD (Catholic Fund for Overseas Development) are Church based groups which help millions world-wide, influenced by Christianity teachings. They provide help regardless of age, sex, religion, politics, and race or creed.
However, there are many varied interpretations of the teachings in the Bible. Some take polarised views of certain teachings which are often criticised by others and are often seen to be the opposite of the fight against prejudice. A group called the Ku Klux Klan is infamous for its seemingly racist views and actions (often violent). Black people in the Southern states of America have been subject to much violent persecution and suppression by such groups in the past, which even today are active, though to a greatly reduced level. The Ku Klux Klan itself denies that it is being heavily racist and believe that the teachings in the Bible have been misinterpreted. They say that Jesus meant that people were created spiritually equal, not necessarily practically equal. Still, the vast majority of the Christian churches oppose such views which they believe are against the nature of Christianity.
Similar to the Ku Klux Klan, is the Dutch Reformed Church of South Africa (DRC). This Christian organisation was also highlighted as being racist and against the teachings in the Bible on discrimination. The DRC believed White people to be superior than Black people and they also argued that passages in the Bible such as Galatians 3.28 mean that people are spiritually equal, not physically in creation. These racist beliefs were used to support the apartheid regime introduced in 1948 in South Africa. The DRC later publicly repented of their views, but it is still and example of different misinterpretation of Christian teachings. So, this group also had a different and, as most Christians would say, corrupt method of putting the teachings on discrimination into practice and misusing Biblical text for political purposes as was later revealed by the DRC.
Some Christians find that there are more internal conflicting views on ideas of discrimination. The Pope, as a Christian, believe's that everyone should be treated the same as everyone is equal, but he believe's that women priests should not be allowed. The Pope would say that Jesus' Apostles were all men and so this means women should not be a active part of the church. He would also use Paul's letter, Corinthians 1, as another evidence why women should not be a part of churches:
"As in all the churches...the women should keep quiet in the meetings...It is a disgraceful thing for a woman to speak in church."
Some Christians, such as Roman Catholics, may say, in relation to this example, that the Pope is not being sexist but he is simply following the teachings in the Bible. Conflict arises here. It can be seen many Christians selectively use some parts of the Bible to justify views, which can be contradicted by the general view (extracted from Jesus' teachings in the Bible) on discrimination.
So, we can now see that varied approaches are used in following the teachings set out by Christianity. People have different interpretations of the Bible and so have different views, but it is often the less polarised and general views which are generally accepted by all Christians. All Christians would say the clear way of following Christianity on the subject of discrimination is to do as Jesus did, and to adhere to what is stated in the Bible and which is accepted by the Church. Christians who do not do this are corrupting the teachings by putting into practice what is not taught, as has been seen.
However, it is difficult for a Christian to decide which is the absolute correct view, but the view they hold should be not too extreme in order to not stray from the teachings main purpose. Many Christians also differ their views on this subject from other Christians depending on the society and culture they are in and which view is more acceptable in it. Many say the Bible teachings need to be adjusted for the modern day and believe it is far too idealistic, and so the teachings are not as strictly adhered to and thus lack the full Christian nature. Christian teachings are being made increasingly difficult to follow as Atheistic views are becoming more and more popular in the modern world we live in and often other views, such as science and logic, are a barrier to those following the teachings set out by Christianity, for they often oppose the teachings in the Bible in general. However, in many societies, especially western, people are becoming increasingly tolerant to differences between people and are less discriminating - a support of the Christian view.
So, now we have seen many good examples of successful and effective individuals and groups which try to follow and put into use the teachings and beliefs of Christianity focusing on Jesus' actions and the Bible. Christians use inspiration from direct beliefs and teachings from Christianity to practice the teachings. We have also seen that there are varied approaches to putting these teachings into practice and sometimes Christians do not follow the teachings. Also, it should be noted in the world today that difficulties arise in putting these teachings into practice, as society and beliefs are changing.
