Divided by Faith ; Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America

Through a nationwide telephone survey of 2,000 people and an additional 200 face-to-face interviews, Michael O. Emerson and Christian Smith probed the grassroots of white evangelical America. They found that despite recent efforts by the movement's leaders to address the problem of racial discrimination, evangelicals themselves seem to be preserving America's racial chasm. In fact, most white evangelicals see no systematic discrimination against blacks. But the authors contend that it is not active racism that prevents evangelicals from recognizing ongoing problems in American society. Instead, it is the evangelical movement's emphasis on individualism, free will, and personal relationships that makes invisible the pervasive injustice that perpetuates racial inequality. Most racial problems, the subjects told the authors, can be solved by the repentance and conversion of the sinful individuals at fault. Combining a substantial body of evidence with sophisticated analysis and interpretation, the authors throw sharp light on the oldest American dilemma. In the end, they conclude that despite the best intentions of evangelical leaders and some positive trends, real racial reconciliation remains far over the horizon. In Divided By Faith, Michael O. Emerson And Christian Smith Probe The Grassroots Of White Evangelical America, Through A Nationwide Telephone Survey Of 2,000 People, Along With 200 Face-to-face Interviews. The Results Of Their Research Are Surprising. They Learned That Most White Evangelicals See No Systematic Discrimination Against Blacks; Indeed, They Deny The Existence Of Any Ongoing Racial Problem In The United States. Many Of Their Subjects Blamed The Continuing Talk Of Racial Conflict On The Media, Unscrupulous Black Leaders, And The Inability Of African Americans To Forget The Past. What Lies Behind This Perception? Evangelicals, Emerson And Smith Write, Are Not So Much Actively Racist As Committed To A Theological View Of The World. Therefore, It Is Difficult For Them To See Systematic Injustice. The Evangelical Emphasis On Individualism, Free Will, And Personal Relationships Makes Invisible The Pervasive Injustice That Perpetuates Inequality Between The Races. Most Racial Problems, They Told The Authors, Can Be Solved By The Repentance And Conversion Of The Sinful Individuals At Fault. Combining A Substantial Body Of Evidence With Sophisticated Analysis And Interpretation, Emerson And Smith Throw Sharp Light On The Oldest American Dilemma. Despite The Best Intentions Of Evangelical Leaders And Some Positive Trends, The Authors Conclude That Real Racial Reconciliation Remains Far Over The Horizon.--book Jacket. Introduction: Religion And The Racialized Society -- Confronting The Black-white Racial Divide -- From Separate Pews To Separate Churches: Evangelical Racial Thought And Practice, 1700-1964 -- Becoming Active: Contemporary Involvement In The American Dilemma -- Color Blind: Evangelicals Speak On The Race Problem -- Controlling One's Own Destiny: Explaining Economic Inequality Between Blacks And Whites -- Let's Be Friends: Exploring Solutions To The Race Problems -- The Organization Of Religion And Internally Similar Congregations -- Structurally Speaking: Religion And Racialization -- Conclusion. Michael O. Emerson, Christian Smith. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [197]-207) And Index. While I was sitting at a stoplight a few blocks from my [Emerson's] home in Minneapolis, reflecting on the recent rash of drive-by shootings in the area, three African-American teens clad in the urban uniform of the day-baggy pants and shirts, jewelry, and Fila basketball shoes-crossed the street in front of me.