The End of Race Politics
Racism and Anti-Racism are Religions in the Context of the First Amendment
In the context of the First Amendment racism is no different than any other “religion.”
Here is Coleman Hughes in his new book, The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America, describing his experience at the People of Color Conference that he attended in high school.
The teachers enforced a strict orthodoxy; dissent was never welcomed and was therefore rarely even attempted. You could no more challenge the doctrines being taught than you could argue that God doesn't exist from a Sunday morning church pulpit. As a kid who enjoyed debating with professors, I couldn't help but notice, and lament, the stifling conformism.
This is obviously an “educational” experience full of dogma. The word “religion” is synonymous with “education” in this case—an excellent example of what I’ve been arguing since my first post—and subsequent posts here, here, here, here and here.
Just as religion and anti-religion are both religions, racism and anti-racism are both religions. DEI is a religion. Religion isn’t just limited to supernatural belief or God. Religion can be secular.
The First Amendment is our best hope to rid ourselves of state-sponsored religions.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
I suggest that we broaden the scope of religion to incorporate all forms of edification.
edification /ĕd″ə-fĭ-kā′shən/
noun
Intellectual, moral, or spiritual improvement; enlightenment.
The act of edifying, or the state of being edified; a building up, especially in a moral or spiritual sense; moral, intellectual, or spiritual improvement; instruction.
A building or edifice.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or edification, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
Thank you to my brilliant neighbor for suggesting the word edification. Up to this point I had been using the word education, but edification might be better. Please let me know what you think?
He also suggested the word enlightenment.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or enlightenment, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”
enlightenment /ĕn-līt′n-mənt/
noun
The act or a means of enlightening.
The state of being enlightened.
A philosophical movement of the 1700s that emphasized the use of reason to scrutinize previously accepted doctrines and traditions and that brought about many humanitarian reforms. Used with the.
What works best education, edification or enlightenment?
By the way, Hughes’ introduction to The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind America, is one of the best book introductions I’ve ever read. Worthy of multiple excerpts—but rather than excerpt it, and spoil it—I hope you buy it. Highly recommended!