The Neighbor Then and Now: Is There Anything New under the Sun Regarding Race and Racism?
This article seeks to examine the concept of neighbor in antiquity and in the modern world and to account for any changes or developments. An overview of race and racism provides the background discussion to the subject matter. The essay proceeds to analyze the concept of neighbor based on the resea...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/7/598 |
| _version_ | 1797433129465544704 |
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| author | Robert Wafawanaka |
| author_facet | Robert Wafawanaka |
| author_sort | Robert Wafawanaka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article seeks to examine the concept of neighbor in antiquity and in the modern world and to account for any changes or developments. An overview of race and racism provides the background discussion to the subject matter. The essay proceeds to analyze the concept of neighbor based on the research by Friedman. The analysis reveals that the concept of neighbor in antiquity and in earlier biblical texts was inclusive of various racial groupings. In addition, the focus on race and racism is absent in antiquity as dark-skinned people traversed the ancient world and fill the pages of the Bible. These individuals had positive relationships with foreign rulers and other racial groups they came into contact with. In particular, ancient Africans were admired and viewed favorably by their contemporaries. They were often the standard by which dark-skinned people were measured. The essay concludes that it is only in the modern era that race and racism become a problem based on skin color. This is also reflected in later biblical texts that espouse hatred of the other. The essay therefore calls for a new understanding of neighbor as a return to the ancient ideal also reflected in the teachings of Jesus. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:12:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a6ef2e44b074400895c3186c175e1689 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:12:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-a6ef2e44b074400895c3186c175e16892023-12-01T22:38:02ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-06-0113759810.3390/rel13070598The Neighbor Then and Now: Is There Anything New under the Sun Regarding Race and Racism?Robert Wafawanaka0School of Theology, Virginia Union University, Richmond, VA 23220, USAThis article seeks to examine the concept of neighbor in antiquity and in the modern world and to account for any changes or developments. An overview of race and racism provides the background discussion to the subject matter. The essay proceeds to analyze the concept of neighbor based on the research by Friedman. The analysis reveals that the concept of neighbor in antiquity and in earlier biblical texts was inclusive of various racial groupings. In addition, the focus on race and racism is absent in antiquity as dark-skinned people traversed the ancient world and fill the pages of the Bible. These individuals had positive relationships with foreign rulers and other racial groups they came into contact with. In particular, ancient Africans were admired and viewed favorably by their contemporaries. They were often the standard by which dark-skinned people were measured. The essay concludes that it is only in the modern era that race and racism become a problem based on skin color. This is also reflected in later biblical texts that espouse hatred of the other. The essay therefore calls for a new understanding of neighbor as a return to the ancient ideal also reflected in the teachings of Jesus.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/7/598neighborraceracismHoliness CodeAfricanaLeviticus |
| spellingShingle | Robert Wafawanaka The Neighbor Then and Now: Is There Anything New under the Sun Regarding Race and Racism? Religions neighbor race racism Holiness Code Africana Leviticus |
| title | The Neighbor Then and Now: Is There Anything New under the Sun Regarding Race and Racism? |
| title_full | The Neighbor Then and Now: Is There Anything New under the Sun Regarding Race and Racism? |
| title_fullStr | The Neighbor Then and Now: Is There Anything New under the Sun Regarding Race and Racism? |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Neighbor Then and Now: Is There Anything New under the Sun Regarding Race and Racism? |
| title_short | The Neighbor Then and Now: Is There Anything New under the Sun Regarding Race and Racism? |
| title_sort | neighbor then and now is there anything new under the sun regarding race and racism |
| topic | neighbor race racism Holiness Code Africana Leviticus |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/7/598 |
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