Does the association of Light with good and darkness with evil tend to fuel people's racist beliefs/views?

[Anonymous]

In religion there is a common association of light with goodness and darkness with evil. This theme is scene outside religion in many fictional works. And I am wondering whether this association helps fuel /support people's racist views when it comes to viewing black people negatively.

Even when we look at prominent figures in Christian religion, all the big players like Jesus, God and the 4 archangels, Mary and Joseph are all imagined and drawn as Caucasian. For some of these figures, this is rather strange imagination because given the location that Jesus was born in, he would likely have had a dark brown complexion.

Do you think the association of light with goodness and darkness with evil helps fuel racist belief?

Yes

No

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

You’re not serious. Christianity did not invent the idea of light = good and dark = bad, these are remnant instincts from the ape days of humanity, when it was safer to move during the day because you could see the predators around you, and less safe in the dark because you can’t see as well. This association has been present in almost every religion in existence. Is christianity racist? Not explicitly, but there is a direct through-line to white supremacy and christian extremism in the US. To say that christianity is racist because of this millennia-old instinct that got turned into a belief that also aligns with the most popular religion on earth shows just how little research they’ve actually done in either subject.

[KimmySchmit]

A lot of things to described to us from the bible are so that humans can understand.

[aaron13547]

I dont see it like that I think the lesson of black and white, good and evil, is better understood as on and off. You can't have one without the other. Nothing is just good or just bad.

Trump is a perfect example some people think he is good some people think he is evil. I think we all exist in the same world together and good isn't good for everyone, bad isn't bad for everyone. The road to hell is always paved with good intentions.

True good is a balancing act of light and dark. There is no such thing as evil only ignorance.

[strateguy632]

No and neither does star wars "dark side of force" refer to skin color. Wait what color was that Finn in star wars?

[Asker]

Can you explain then why Jesus is often depicted as a white male when he likely would have been darker complexion given his region?

upload.wikimedia.org/.../...of_God_film_poster.jpg

[strateguy632]

I can. Same as Chinese depict Mary with Jesus with their appearance same white film makers.

[BCRanger10]

This is my answer...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/45QgF9Ha7kE

[jshm2]

LOL, it's a lazy trope from the medieval era. Where they took Black slaves and assumed everything "dark" to be of that level.

[exitseven]

it is not racist. It illustrates the contrast between sunlight and darkness.

[LC75LC71]

No. What? No!