Christopher Watkin on Christianity and Critical Race Theory

Cambridge Papers are published once a quarter and address a wide range of topics, offering ‘Christian reflection on contemporary issues’.

The latest paper is available online here (from where a pdf can be downloaded here), this one by Christopher Watkin:

Christopher Watkin, ‘Christianity and Critical Race Theory’, Cambridge Papers 31, 2 (June 2022).

Here is the summary:

‘For some Christians critical race theory is part of a dangerous “woke” agenda threatening the church; for others it holds valuable insights into biblical themes of justice and reconciliation. This paper takes a careful look at critical race theory through the work of Derrick Bell, one of its founders, before contrasting it to classical liberalism, which is often seen as the default alternative. It is argued that the biblical pattern of creation, fall, redemption and consummation stakes out a position on race, oppression and freedom that is different to both critical race theory and liberalism, from which they both borrow, which they both distort, and which alone offers concrete hope for the future of race relations.’