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Racism as Christological Heresy in Orthodox Teaching

Racism as Christological Heresy in Orthodox Teaching 7:04

What the video says

The speaker defends the Orthodox Church against racist ideologies because he loves her as Christ's bride and the source of his salvation. He argues that racism is a christological heresy, not merely an idea, because dividing humanity into superior and inferior races undermines the incarnation. St. Gregory Nazianzen taught that whatever is not assumed is not redeemed, so Christ had to become fully man of the single race of mankind to redeem all.

St. Athanasius the Great explained that Christ entered into mankind, making ethnicity a matter of culture and pigment under the one human race. If Christ did not redeem every ethnicity, then no one could receive the Holy Spirit and be deified, which would invalidate the saints from Africa, Asia, Alaska, and elsewhere. The speaker insists that anyone holding racist views must repent, since such views deny the incarnation and are antichrist, just as St. Paul condemned the division between Jew and Gentile.

Key moments

  1. The speaker's passion for defending the Orthodox Church stems from his love for her as Christ's bride and the salvation she brought him.
  2. Racism is not an ideology but a christological heresy because it posits superior and inferior races.
  3. Dividing mankind into races undermines the christology of the church fathers, especially St. Gregory Nazianzen's principle that whatever is not assumed is not redeemed.
  4. If races are separate, Christ did not come as a white, black, or Chinese man, so he would not have redeemed those races.
  5. St. Athanasius the Great taught that Christ became man and entered the single race of mankind, under which ethnicities exist as cultures and pigments.
  6. Racism invalidates the incarnation for those not of Christ's ethnicity, which would eliminate saints from diverse backgrounds and deny the Holy Spirit's indwelling.
  7. Anyone bringing racist ideology to Orthodoxy must repent, because mankind is one, redeemed in the incarnation, and every ethnicity can be deified.
  8. St. Paul already condemned the division between Jew and Gentile; today's racist ideologies on social media are antichrist and anti-incarnation.

Father Moses argues that racism is not merely a sin but a heresy about Christ himself. He cites St. Gregory the Theologian's principle that what Christ has not assumed He has not healed. Since God became man and took on the one human nature shared by every person, claiming another race is less human means Christ did not take on their nature and did not save them.

St. Athanasius the Great taught that Christ entered the single race of mankind, with ethnicities existing as cultures and pigments under that one nature. If Christ did not redeem every ethnicity, then no one could receive the Holy Spirit and be deified, which would invalidate saints from Africa, Asia, Alaska, and elsewhere. Father Moses insists that anyone bringing racist ideology to Orthodoxy must repent, because such views deny the incarnation and are antichrist.

He connects this to St. Paul's condemnation of the division between Jew and Gentile, saying today's racist ideologies on social media are equally anti-incarnation.

Main points

  • Father Moses argues racism is a christological heresy, not just a sin
  • St. Gregory Nazianzen's principle: what is not assumed is not redeemed
  • St. Athanasius taught Christ became man of the single human race
  • Racism would exclude saints from diverse backgrounds from salvation
  • Holding racist views requires repentance as it denies the incarnation
30 opinions in the discussion 30 participants The opinion with the most support There's a big difference between believing there are distinctions between groups of people and believing that certain groups can't get into heaven. Read the discussion
774 comments at the source 29K views Original on YouTube

Discussion · 30

Opinions are anonymous retellings of real comments from the original discussion. The same colour marks the same participant.

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  • opinion#1263

    There's a big difference between believing there are distinctions between groups of people and believing that certain groups can't get into heaven.

  • opinion#1288

    If we're saying one race is better or worse than another, I agree. We are all equal. But that doesn't mean we should support mass immigration, losing our culture/identity, support these liberalist views with no borders, etc... People should know the difference.

  • opinion#1269

    Father Moses, please use terms more grounded in the Church like 'ethnophyletism', or more specific ones like 'race hatred' or 'racial idolatry', when discussing this. I don't know what you've seen, but the term 'racism' is vague by design because it was invented to mix up and confuse the nations. You can recognize the shared humanity of Christ and the saints without denying their specificity. God bless you.

  • opinion#1270

    Everyone should read St Nikolai Velimirovich on this. He clearly explains that racism and globalism are two sides of the same coin, and that as Orthodox we have a duty to protect, love and develop our own independent nation, and that God created distinct peoples and nations to add beauty to the world. He compared distinct cultures to a beautiful mosaic, where erasing differences destroys the beauty God planned. But this in NO way means any superiority or hatred, which as Father says are clearly sin. This false choice of "either let your nation be destroyed or become a racist" is modern propaganda. Historically people have always treated their nation like an extension of their family. You have a duty to and must protect your own people, but you don't hate those outside your family or think they're inferior for not being in it. National identity is attacked by the satanic elite because it unifies people and extends the family, yet racism perverts it into a sinful hatred and pride, which is deeply serious. St Nikolai pray for us.

  • opinion#1278

    Father, with all respect, the title and premise of this video is a bit misleading. The definition of racism has gotten so tangled that it's now used to mean simply recognizing the inherent differences between races, which clearly do exist. Racial hatred is obviously sinful, but recognizing that race is real and affects our daily interactions is demonstrably true. Saint Dumitru Staniloae even says each race has an eternal Logoi attached to it that it must strive toward as a collective, and that God intended the races to stay distinct.

  • opinion#1287

    Father, how should I as a white Orthodox man rectify the fact that I am being ethnically replaced in my own homeland? I'm from the US. The white population has dropped from over 80% to around 50% since the 1960s. The Church IS the authority I follow, but I don't see any clergy calling this out and defending the white race from replacement. I hold no ethnic hatred in my heart. All are my fellow humans. But who is standing up for us?

  • opinion#1286

    Race is a modern, liberal, scientific concept. Ethnicity is a premodern concept, and is much different than race.

  • opinion#1266

    The R word doesn't mean "belief in inferior and superior [groups]", so you got the definition wrong right at the start, and everything after that misses the point. Just believing in innate group differences is usually enough to get you branded with the scarlet R. That's a factual part of God's creation, and it would be a sin to refuse to acknowledge the truth or deny the appropriateness of His design. Luckily priests aren't required to know everything or be right about everything. A man can still be good and give valid sacraments while being naive about certain political issues. So just nod and wait for them to get back to sharing wisdom in the areas where they actually are wise.

  • opinion#1283

    Two things can be true at the same time. No race has intrinsic superiority over any other race. But also there are distinct races and they do have concrete differences. If by racism you mean some race has intrinsic superiority over another, then yeah that's heresy. But if you're merely acknowledging differences between races and this informs your political views (e.g. on immigration), there's nothing heretical or bad about that whatsoever, but notably people will call you racist all the same.

  • opinion#1290

    This feels to be in poor taste. Not because, in isolation, the message is wrong. It's more that it feels like it's addressing a group among the converts that doesn't exist in any meaningful number. All this really would achieve is making it easier for the label 'racist' (not in definition, but in common usage an anti white term) to be laid on people who don't want their homeland to be an economic zone full of strangers, and on those who merely acknowledge differences but assign no hierarchy. I respect you and your position, father, but you should reconsider whether you truly understand this group you seem to be addressing. Please at least leave a disclaimer that this only addresses a very specific group with specific boundaries, with an actual example instead of leaving it vague. P.S. Look up particularist and compare it to racist. I feel like you're mistaking a particularist for a racist. Orthodox converts are far more particularist.

  • opinion#1280

    This whole speil is built on a misunderstanding, Father. You're talking about ideas of "supremacy" but never mentioning nationalism. Right? Am I missing something? You're only speaking about the assumption that nationalists believe Christ didn't come to save other races, and I don't think I've ever met a "racist" who thought that way. (And I know quite a few lol) You have a misunderstanding of what White Nationalists believe.

  • opinion#1268

    If by "Racism" you purely mean the idea that some race is spiritually superior, or that races are separate "humanities", like you seem to be saying, then fine; but that's not what people usually advocate. Yes, humanity is a "race", and so are Whites, Blacks, etc. Ethnicities are "races" too. There's no fundamental problem with recognizing genetic race as part of an ethnicity's identity, nor with solidarity or national-style pride in your genetic race, as long as it doesn't become an idol or turn into hatred of other races.

  • opinion#1265

    This video didn't touch the kind of so-called "racism" that's been hotly debated in public, which is about acknowledging real biological differences between races and the reality of race itself. Instead it was entirely about debunking an ideology that assigns Christ's salvation to certain races only, which is rare, fundamentally different, and not a threat to the church. We're all one in Christ, but I don't think it's sinful to believe race goes beyond skin color.

  • opinion#1291

    Father, the fact unique races exist doesn't mean Christ didn't come for all of them. Much like unique sexes exist, but Christ came equally for Women as He did for Men, same goes for human races. Maybe because I'm Greek I don't get it. Are you referring to groups like Black Hebrew Israelites or Christian Identity? Ok that makes sense. Anyways, I understand you being passionate on this topic, I hope something bad didn't happen.

  • opinion#1292

    Very important reminder that we Orthodox have Native Alaskan saints (St Olga of Kwethluk, St Peter the Aleut, St Jacob), Black saints like St Moses, and Chinese saints like the Holy Martyrs of the Boxer Rebellion. God became incarnate to save all races, nations and peoples. Racism is indeed a terrible heresy which must be clearly condemned in a public manner.

  • opinion#1289

    Sounds sketchy that a priest is making this kind of video. Everyone's talking about barbaric behavior and culture, not race. God created different races and cultures for a reason, and wanting to preserve your own is not superiority. You wouldn't say the same about the tribes in the Amazon, Palestinians, Tibetans etc. I don't believe in sheep and shepherds either, so there's that as well.

  • opinion#1285

    The problem with "racism" is primarily linguistic; it isn't used with the same definition by all speakers. Overwhelmingly often that word describes something only White people can be guilty of, and it's used as a bludgeon to silence us and demonize any advocacy of our interests or any expression of in-group preference. This isn't contrary to anything in this video, just an expansion on it.

  • opinion#1267

    A man can be as racist as he wants and still believe Christ died for all men. What is this false dichotomy? Rare L take from Father Moses. Don't use marxist language to make a religious argument, use precise language. Failure at the first step, the video should have started by defining terms.

  • opinion#1264

    I used to be down that rabbit hole myself. Worshipping race, full of hatred and anger. ROCOR and the monastics brought me real peace, and that part of my life is behind me now.

  • opinion#1279

    Can you explain when Jesus made the distinction between Jews and Gentiles when the woman said even the dog eats the crumbs dropped from the table? I know he wasn't against helping Gentiles, and I respect his intent to prioritize his people first.

  • opinion#1275

    This video unfairly misrepresents what people who are aware of racial differences actually think. Different races/peoples have existed since Babel at the latest, if not earlier. Saying there are races within Humanity is not saying there are literally different natures between peoples, such that Christ would have had to Incarnate as every single race. Ridiculous argument. Other than that I really admire and love Father Moses.

  • opinion#1276

    The separation of "ethnicity" and "race" as terms is very recent. They're just different levels of genetically related ancestry populations within the human species. Mary (and so Jesus) belonged to a family, the smallest genetically distinct population, which is genetically distinct from other Jewish families, which are distinct from other middle eastern populations, which are distinct from far-off ones like east Asians and native Americans. But they're all genetic populations within the human species.

  • opinion#1282

    I think most people called "racist" are actually just acknowledging cultural differences. There are superior and inferior cultures, they just happen to coincide with physical "racial" appearances. IE: X native culture is exclusively adhered to by X race but not all X race adheres to that culture, it's called a "type-token distinction." I genuinely believe this is what most "racists" believe. The fact that a certain culture can produce a certain kind of behavior en masse is actually biblical.

  • opinion#1273

    You can respect and appreciate other decent people. At the same time there's nothing wrong with wanting to preserve your own bloodline, traditions, mentality and heritage. That's how we evolved, it's our survival instinct. Racism is different, and it can easily come from those who are supposedly only victims too. "Now honor the Lord, the God of your ancestors, and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives."

  • opinion#1272

    Father, I think most of us get that hatred of another people group is wrong, but could you elaborate? Is it ok for me to dislike black American culture and not want to live around it? Is it ok to prefer the company of my own ethnicity, want to live in a community of that kind, and be segregated? Where does preference end and sin begin? I don't have hatred, but there's a clear plot against White Western culture. You see it across Western nations, from Australia to North America and Eastern and Western Europe.

  • opinion#1281

    Honestly, those who push racial supremacy or hierarchy are very misguided. I was racist before I converted as a hispanic man. And people saying racism only applies to white people is ridiculous. Hispanic racism affects blacks and indigenous people too. Blacks against hispanics or whites is also real. Nowadays race has been propped up so high by people claiming it counters past racial injustice, elevating old hatred that doesn't apply today. The comments getting heated and making excuses know Fr. Moses is right. Him saying this doesn't mean he promotes the liberal or zionist agenda at all. Thinking that just proves their own ignorance of his words. The gripes whites have today are valid given the current agenda, but wanting an ethnostate in the USA is not right. I don't want mass immigration or segregation back. Segregation created animosity that still lives in some people today. In all, God bless you all and I pray we can come together in Christ.

  • opinion#1274

    There's a good book on this exact subject, "A Survey of Racialism in Christian Sacred Tradition" by Alexander Storen. Three quarters of it is compiled passages from the saints. The last part is papist quotes. Chew the meat, spit out the bones.

  • opinion#1277

    Hello father, I'd love a response, because I'd push back on your logic, not out of hate for other races, but from acknowledging that race is real. First, biology: you could never mistake a man of Russian genetics for one of Chinese or Sub-Saharan African descent, even stripped of flesh, from bones, dna, skull, you can tell their "ethnicity", which I call race, because the differences are so vast. Second, I'm in no position to lecture you on the bible, but correct me if I'm wrong, the old testament makes a clear distinction of 'ethnos' and 'nations'. My main arguments: 1. Nations as a divine ordering (Genesis 10-11, Deut 32:8, Acts 17:26) 2. Marriage prohibitions (Deut 7:1-4, Ezra 9-10, Neh 13:23-27) 3. The Curse of Ham (Gen 9:20-27) 4. Cain's wife and the "gap" in Genesis 4 5. Order of love (Aquinas, Summa Theologiae II-II q.26; 1 Tim 5:8). There are others, but those are the usual ones, plus we have undeniable genetic, IQ and other provable differences between us. As a European who enjoys your work and follows Christ, my pushback isn't against our Lord dying for ALL humanity, but it's naive to deny we're all different, as if God didn't plan it that way. Another pushback: relativizing this erases the unique traits of each race and sets a dangerous trap that undermines our nations, as we see in Europe today. If you tell me all this "multiculturalism" is improving the lands of…

  • opinion#1284

    Unironically I don't think the father knows the diversity there is in racism, though I think he's right. Someone could say the species of man, the different races of man, and then the ethnicity of man. For example I have a friend who is Korean, his ethnicity is Korean, his race is Asian/Asiatic, and his species is man. I suspect a lot of racist or race-aware people think this way, but some racists do think exactly the way he described. I saw a guy online who says Jesus is white and only whites can be Christians (he's prot but close enough for example).

  • opinion#1271

    I think some recent Orthodox converts are pushing racist ideas into the faith because many are converting as part of a traditionalist wave across the West, and racism comes with that since it's the current zeitgeist among these converts. I don't blame them for wanting to keep the West safe from whoever it might be, but there's a difference between being racist and applying biblical standards to keep Christian communities Christian. I agree that needs to happen now more than ever, but where Father Moses says they're implying some communities are blessed by Christ and others aren't, that's the deal breaker.