Christianity and Racism: Conspiracy or Coincidence?

By Robert Beckford and Professor Robert Beckford

What are the social, cultural and theological forces that have made Christian racism possible, and how might those forces be effectively resisted and eradicated today?

In Christianity and Racism, Robert Beckford explores the history of the racial divide within the Church - from how Africans and Black people first appeared in the Christian imagination, to the 17th Century debates over the missionisation of enslaved Africans, the impact of British imperialism and colonialism and the emergence of institutionalised racism in the 20th Century.

This is a book for all who want to expand their knowledge and understanding of Black history in the British Church and the ways in which Christianity has enabled and perpetuated racial discrimination. With discussion of anti-racist theology and practical examples of Christian anti-racism in action today, Christianity and Racism also opens up a conversation about how the Church can work to resist and eradicate racism - a crucial subject in the context of the Black Lives Matter movement and the cultural transformation happening across the world.

A powerful examination of history from a leading Black theologian, Christianity and Racism is essential reading for everyone working to create a just and equal Church.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0281085684
• ISBN13: 9780281085682
• Release Date: February 2025
• Publisher: SPCK Publishing
• Length: 160 Pages