Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD, Psychology and Culture

  On 11 September 2020, in the former slave state of Missouri, a man driving a truck in Springfield slowed by a house. The Black woman looked up, thinking he might want directions. Instead, he hurled that ugliest of racial epithets, "Hey nigger!" He drove off. Racism continues to thrive like a deadly virus. I think it impossible to really understand US slavery or racism from my location in 2020; however, I believe the quest is important for all who live in America and want to create a future that embraces the ideals of liberty and justice for all. As many have said, slavery has been a part of human history for millennia. And it is noteworthy in a nation formed by so many Christian tribes that slavery was a part of Christian history. The 1619 Education Project When trying to set the context for US slavery, it is difficult to know where to set the boundaries of context. The 1619 project of The New York Times focuses attention on the arrival of more than 20 Africans sold to...

Slavery, Women’s Rights, and Same-Sex Marriage:  Is There a Connection? Recent news stories continue to highlight struggles of African Americans, women, and LGBT persons.  One event garnered a lot of press as strong emotions were evoked and the recent troubles in Missouri were featured. The Blaze . Franklin Graham caused a stir over comments calling for obedience and listing “Blacks” in his list of ethnic groups. Sojourners posted an open letter of response . Universities have taken steps to deal with ongoing sexual assaults of women on their campuses. ABC news . The Presbyterians joined other mainline Christian groups supporting same-sex marriage. Huffington Post   Franklin Graham condemned the act. Gospel Herald . Bob Jones III apologizes for comments suggesting homosexuals should be stoned. CNN  This week marks the one-year anniversary of the World Vision decision to hire Christians in Same-Sex marriages and their quick reversal. Christianity T...

Noah’s  Curse In a previous post I left readers with a challenge to explore Noah’s curse so I thought I would follow-up on that-- especially since the Noah movie has been a splash hit. Here’s the text ( Genesis 9:21-25 ; NASB ): 21  He drank of the wine and   became drunk, and uncovered himself inside his tent.   22  Ham, the father of Canaan,   saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.   23  But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it upon both their shoulders and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were   turned away, so that they did not see their father’s nakedness.   24  When Noah awoke from his wine, he knew what his youngest son had done to him.   25  So he said, “Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants.  He shall be to his brothers.”   Question Now why would Noah curse his grandson because his dad, Ham, jus...