A sad case of Religion and racism!

United States
July 30, 2012 2:06am CST
A Mississippi Baptist church refused to let a black couple get married. The Pastor was ok with it but not the churchgoers. how sad. The Pastor married them in another church. That is so sad is the image the church will now have . The last thing Any church needs is being racists! Most people say they are religious but less go to church! What people don't understand is once you put out there Everyone is not welcome, many will Never come in! The more stories get out like this and many will equate church with racism and stop going. What these people who are offended do not get is that it is 2012, not 1812. Black people are citizens. If you don't like the couple, don't go to the wedding! Your thoughts.
6 people like this
19 responses
@Rick1950 (1578)
• Lima, Peru
12 Aug 12
This is a case of racism and intolerance. I don't know, what reason had that church to refuse the marriage of the couple. Although we live in 2012 I think there is still racism in the world.
2 people like this
1 Aug 12
Just because someone goes to a church does not mean they are a good person.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Aug 12
Just because a person is darker than you Does Not make them a bad person!
• United States
1 Aug 12
Agreed! Your state implied there was something wrong with this black couple . They are just regular churchgoers who happen to be black.
1 Aug 12
I did not say that it did. In fact you cannot judge a person by the colour of their skin, if they go to church or not or where they come from. However I think it is acceptable to make a judgement from the sort of organisations they choose to support. For instance someone who is a supporter of a fascist organization is not likely to be a very nice person. However if they raise money for Oxfam they are probably quite nice
1 person likes this
@hsofyan (3446)
• Jakarta, Indonesia
30 Jul 12
Black, white, yellow, brown, whatever is human, creatures of God who have a higher degree than the animals. If they love the animals, why can not care for fellow human beings? Marriage is a fundamental human right. The Church is one of the institutions in charge legalize marriage for Christians. If there is a church that refuses to ratify the marriage because of racial, better close it! Pastors who are willing to marry it, deserves to be served in the largest church in the country.
• United States
30 Jul 12
Well said! I get it ForSouls. I think the pastor will soon be out and these churchgoers will just remain This backward but their church will never see new members.We have a separation of Church and State so the church has the right to say no , But today they can't keep it quiet! Now Everyone knows how backward this church is. I fear many will use this as a reason Not to go to Any church. And all you need is many of one generation to stay away and churches Will close!The good news. There are many churches in Mississippi . The couple did get married.
1 person likes this
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
30 Jul 12
hsofyan, will you marry me?
2 people like this
• United States
30 Jul 12
Huh? how did animals get into this discussion? What the heck are you talking about? Who is talking about animals? No one. She is talking about an article on the internet about a Church in Mississippi that refused to marry a black couple in this day and age.
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
31 Jul 12
What else would you expect from a backwoods church. That seems fitting that those right wing racist b@st@rds would do something like this. I do believe that this country is off the hook. There is no more slavery in america. We are all one now. But it seems that in the south and any red state, they still feel like this. I am so glad I live in a free city, well, to a point that is with mayor moron. But that would never happen here in NYC. It is a sad story.
• United States
1 Aug 12
Agreed! Thankfully there are more of us than them! Each day parts of King's I have a dream speech comes true . We are on our way.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Jul 12
There are more people of color even in the red states. Some ,ay still be backward but most ofus are openminded and we are going forward!
1 person likes this
@inertia4 (27961)
• United States
31 Jul 12
I believe that most people are openminded in all states. But there are those groups that still want things to be like they were back in the dark ages. They're are still those white supremacists that think there is no one else like white people. I think that is sick. Thats what I am talking about.
1 person likes this
@iuliuxd (4453)
• Romania
1 Aug 12
I agree with you, racism is bad but being a citizen has nothing to do with the church.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Aug 12
Thankfully Not Everyone Has to be a Baptist to be a citizen! The thing is that many outsiders may , I say May look at this and assume All Baptist churches are this racist. That is the sad part.
• United States
3 Aug 12
I'm no Baptist either but I am sad for all the Baptist out there that do not agree with these churchgoers. They are getting tainted.
@iuliuxd (4453)
• Romania
1 Aug 12
I`m fine with that, i don`t belong to any baptist church.
1 person likes this
@ShyBear88 (59261)
• Sterling, Virginia
30 Jul 12
That really doesn't surprise me out in Mississippi a lot of place up there are lot like that still. There are a lot of places in the US that are still like that.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 12
How sad. They will be left behind as the rest of us go forward. And in about 15 years there will be more people of color than white here in the U.S.!
@ShyBear88 (59261)
• Sterling, Virginia
1 Aug 12
Yes it is sad. Some people just don't like change nor are they ready for it. At least most all people in the world are more accepting these days then they have in the past.
1 person likes this
@ShyBear88 (59261)
• Sterling, Virginia
2 Aug 12
There is only about 10 maybe 15 years difference between hubby's grandparents generation and my parents generation so I can see the difference with how they where raised when talking and interacting with them. I'm so glade I was raised in a time that is more open and that Sugar is being raised in one that even more open from when I was little and that is only about 22 years differences but it's still a huge difference in what is now accepted from what was accepted then.
1 person likes this
• Canada
31 Aug 12
From what I heard, the churchgowers were OK with it, but a few of them were not, and the pastor who was not, decided to say that the whole church was not OK with it. Either way, it is WrONG. I am amazed at the religious and racial problems in the USA. What about the pastor who thought Gays and Lesbians basically needed to move into the type of concentration camp Nazis put Jews in in WWII? Didn't he say "put 'em in a barbwired area, and feed 'em now and then?" Or something like that?
1 person likes this
• United States
31 Aug 12
I didn't hear that one but I am not surprised. Bigots are seeing Their United States, you know mostly white, straight, Protestant and male dominated quickly disappearing! So they are doing and saying Everything that pops into their head. Too bad it isn't going back to where it was before!
@AmbiePam (84632)
• United States
31 Jul 12
Mississippi...I don't want to say anything bad about the people. But in the South, you're going to get a lot of that. I've seen it and it really surprised me. My dad could tell you some stories...
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Aug 12
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
6 Aug 12
Does this kind of thing still happen? I mean we are well into the 21st century and if we are still doing such stupid things, it is despicable. Does the government or the law agencies don't step in to stop this kind of behavior especially if it is published? I always tell people to remember that the color of your skin is actually representative of the color of light you reject. So if you are white skinned that is because you skin reflected the white color and absorbed the dark colors. And if someone is dark skinned that is because his skin absorbed the light colors and rejected the dark color. So in essence, when you say some is black, you are actually calling him what your skin actually has accepted!! Science is a wonderful tool to explain, isn't it. :) Cheers! Ram
1 person likes this
• United States
6 Aug 12
Sadly it still happens. The government can't do anything. We have a separation of Church and State. This means the government can't tell a church what they can or can not do. But members can! Sadly there were more members that agreed with these bigots. But there is hope for the Pastor. He did perform the marriage just in a different church. That is what may happen. The pastor and the couple will leave that church.
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
30 Jul 12
I read an article about this and find it odd. According to the article, the couple has been attending this Baptist church, so why would some of the members object to them marrying at the church, but not object to them attending worship services? I would like to know what their objection was. If it was just racism, attending services would be just as objectionable as marrying in the church.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 12
Not necessarily. I can see a bigot not having a problem if the black folk sit in the back of the church . But to actually use the chuirch for a gathering? No Way! It is so sad.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
3 Aug 12
It is sad. It's weird to me that the members didn't follow the pastor on this. Usually..well..in my experience..the church gets the "main ideas" from their pastor's teachings...hmm.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Aug 12
the reaction of the Pastor tells me he Must be new. The Old Pastor may not have even let a black couple into his church!
@shello (964)
• United Arab Emirates
1 Aug 12
For what reasons do they have and not allowing the couple to be married? If it is only because they are black then I would say that it is truly unacceptable and very sad.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Aug 12
Just because they were black. It is so sad. but unlike years before where the couple would have suffered in silence, this news went viral! Everyone knows about how backward these people are And how the Pastor Married them in another church!
• Valdosta, Georgia
30 Jul 12
That is terrible. I cannot believe this is STILL going on! I thought this was a thing of the past. How ridiculous. I think people will stop going to that church at least and I would not blame them. I am happy to know the Pastor still married them, good to know the pastor is not racist! I really feel this is a terrible thing that the church goers are that racist. They will have their judgement day though!
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 12
The beat thing to happen is for Jesus to meet them as a black man when He denies access to heaven!
@samar54 (2454)
• Egypt
30 Jul 12
I read this last night , It's sad that there are still people who think this way .
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 12
It is sad. But there are more of us , people who are open minded and hearted, than them! ps. How is Ramadan going? Are you into your routine?
@samar54 (2454)
• Egypt
31 Jul 12
They do not have preferred that their skin is not white , not guilt of people of color to their skin black, said Mohamed in the Hadeeth: " O ye people! Your Lord is one, and your father is one, not to preferably of the Arab on Ajami, Ajami not on an Arab, and no red on black, and not to black on red except by piety that the sight of God the most pious, do not I reported? They said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah , he said ; rthe witness tell the absent. Thank you Sarah , I'm fine , Ramadan is Guest light and it not remains a long, once the month faster to leave without you feel .
1 person likes this
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
30 Jul 12
Wow! I never have even thought nor dreamed nor imagine that this would happen now and in our time. I agree with you that it is not like we are in the 19th century. We are done and over with such racism cases and much more with a church who is supposed to be teaching their people or church goers that there should be such considerations in our churches. The pastor, you mean then was not able to make his church goers understand nor was he effective at all because his church as a whole was racist!
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 12
On the news they said performed the wedding elsewhere as a compromise.So either he Knew it was hopeless or he didn't even try to change their view. The one thing they can't tell me is How many churchgoers are there and their ages. i have a feeling in another generation this view will die out. But like I said by that time will they have any new members? Not as many as they need. Not with this view.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
30 Jul 12
too bad that some ministers put such a black mark on 'Christianity' by pulling stunts like this. the Jesus that i serve loves everyone (every colour and creed) equally.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 12
This time it wasn't the pastor , it was the churchgoers! The Pastor didn't have the b@lls to simply say what you have said. Now I assume these churchgoers will try to get him fired/ removed.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
30 Jul 12
The people were wrong wrong wrong. Everyone is the same color inside. If they took out all our hearts and laid them on a table they would all be the same color!
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 12
@squallming (1775)
• Malaysia
30 Jul 12
I saw this news in today's newspaper too. I believe if there is God. He would have allowed and approved of their marriage in that church. In the eyes of God, all men should be equal and shall not be prejudice and racist behavior in the church itself. The pastor should not have done so. The words of God have to be obeyed. People should love each other on Earth.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 12
I read this. What simply amazes me is that isn't there a huge black population in Mississippi? How could there still be so much racism going on? You would think there would be a ton of white people even "refusing" to support such a Church. I wouldn't want to be a part of it. The Church must of made their views clear before this incident. You would think many people would not want to be a part of it just KNOWING there is just a huge black population and not wanting anyone to think badly of them. Either reason. I live on a street with many, many black people and in a city with many races and I have a mixed couple next door and you won't HEAR us saying anything even remotely racist even in my own house, they are on the other side of the wall. For fear they will hear it and just because I'm not racist and I never say anything, no need, simple as that or I wouldn't live here. Not to mention Mississippi better realize it's 2012. Whites are fast becoming the minority. Don't like it, well I guess you better move to... where? Switzerland? Ha ha.
1 person likes this
• United States
30 Jul 12
More like Iceland!They didn't tell me the age of the churchgoers. I am assuming there are Many churches to choose from and now Everyone , I mean everyone because this went viral , Knows not to go to this church. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if they want the pastor out. Yes there are many people of color in Mississippi but there were many more slaves than whites in the 1860's. they are stuck in the past. And that is why I fear for this church itself. With this view that church won't last. Many will either find another church to go to or not go at all!