A Racist Free World
The Rev. Jeremy F. Simons
I
New Church teachings offer a perspective that may help to explain why overcoming
racial prejudice and achieving harmony is one of the most important issues facing the
modern world.
t is not news that the struggle against racism and bigotry is one of the
world’s major challenges. But New Church members may not be aware that
the struggle against racism is a significant subtext throughout the Heavenly
Doctrines. New Church teachings not only clearly state that racism is wrong,
they describe its cause, and they explain the process that will one day overcome
it. There is good reason to say that the Writings portray the fight against racism
as perhaps the most important issue facing the world.
The purpose of this article is to describe the perspective that the Writings
bring to the issue, to attempt to address some common misconceptions about
what they teach, and to offer reasons to believe that this seemingly intractable
human condition is not permanent. A world without racism, like a world
without hunger, crime, disease or war, is not likely in any absolute sense, but
these things are all part of the vision of the New Church presented in the
Heavenly Doctrines.
Two passages may help us come to grips with the situation. One is from
the Doctrine of the Sacred Scripture 108:
Communication with the whole of heaven takes place by means of the Word. It is
for the same reason that, of the Lord’s Divine Providence, there exists a universal
commerce of the kingdoms of Europe, principally of those where the Word is read,
with nations outside the church.
This statement offers a simple explanation as to why the connection of
the world’s various peoples is a good thing. The ultimate result will be that the
Word is spread, and all peoples will be connected to heaven by it.
The second passage is apparently unrelated:
If the successive states of the churches on our earth are considered, it is evident
that they have been like the successive states of a person who is being reformed
and regenerated. For in order to become a spiritual person, they are first conceived,
afterwards born, then they grow up, and are subsequently led on further and further
into intelligence and wisdom. (Apocalypse Explained 641)
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