One Race One Blood reveals the origins of the horrors of discrimination, the biblical truth of "interracial" marriage, as well as the proof revealed in the Bible that God created only one race. Explore the science of genetics, melanin and skin tone, affected by the history of the Tower of Babel and the origin of people groups around the world.
Divisions Ethnic cleansing, genocide, "racial" conflicts have taken place from colonialism to Nazi Germany to modern day. We are a society, nation, and world in continued conflict. We are increasingly being identified and divided by designations of "racial" groups. Many of these unfortunate divisions have been fueled by the troublesome threads of "scientific" racism which emerged from Darwinian evolution.
Solutions Education can teach, workshops can inform, laws can protect, but what is the defining answer to ending the notion of "racial" division? Since racism is a heart issue - a sin issue - it is one that only the truth of God's inerrant Word will overcome.
Truths "And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth..." (Acts 17:26 KJV)
Dr. Ken Ham is the president of Answers in Genesis USA and is a well-known speaker and author on the subject of Young-Earth Creationism. He received a bachelor degree in applied science (emphasis on environmental biology) from the Queensland Institute of Technology, and a Diploma of Education from the University of Queensland. He has also received two honorary doctorates: a Doctor of Divinity from Temple Baptist College, and a Doctor of Literature from Baptist Liberty University.
He was a director of Creation Science Foundation (CSF) in Australia, an organization which he jointly founded with John Mackay. In 1987 he moved to the United States, still maintaining his links with CSF.
From 1987 to 1993, Ham worked for the Institute for Creation Research, and in 1994 set up what in 1995 became Answers in Genesis (AiG), a creation ministry dedicated to "upholding the authority of the Bible from the very first verse."
In 2008 Ham was described by well known atheist and evolutionary biologist PZ Myers as a "Wackaloon" for carrying out a prayer session with members of the Pentagon. Ham responded regarding the validity of that prayer breakfastand that PZ Myers and other critics were intolerant of his position.
Ken Ham and Dr. A. Charles Ware truly grasped the vision God gave them for writing this book and did so quite effectively.
One Race One Blood: A Biblical Answer to Racism takes a new look at a tired, yet still highly controversial subject.
Do you know the subtitle of Charles Darwin's book, The Origin of the Species?
"What does that have to do with racism?" you ask.
The full title of Darwin's classic 1859 book is The Origin of the Species: The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.
Does that answer your question?
Still not sold?
How about Ham's quote about one of Darwin's next books, The Descent of Man? "In The Descent of Man, Darwin popularized the idea of different races of people---lower races, higher races, primitive races, advanced races, and so on. What did that do? As the late Steven J. Gould from Harvard University said, 'Biological arguments for racism may have been common before 1850 but they increased by orders of magnitude following the acceptance of evolutionary theory.'" Now are you getting the idea?
Ham and Ware tag-team a tough, but important subject throughout the eight chapters of this necessary read. They show us how we are all truly of one blood, Adam's blood, and are therefore one race. We have many diverse people groups in our world, but truly are all of the human race. Our culture and thinking has been ingrained and polluted by the ways of man, but ultimately what God has to say is the bottom line.
Ham and Ware guide us through discovering and confirming what God's Word has to say about our origin and our race. Not only do they scientifically prove to us how much we truly, foundationally, genetically have in common, they also point out some specific, basic, Biblical truths on the matter.
Here are a few points they make: We're all created by God. (Genesis 2:7) We're all in God's image. (Genesis 1:26) We're all one family. (Acts 17:26) We're all loved by God. (John 3:16) And as Ham says, "The answers we are looking for exist. The truths that we seek to anchor our souls have not changed. The compass that we need to chart our way in the future is still intact. God's truth has always been and always will be."
Dr. Ware reminds us that "Heaven will be a diverse community. Citizens of heaven will include representatives from different ethnic, gender, cultural, economic, educational, social, geographic, and national backgrounds. Heaven will be a diverse but peaceful society with loving relationships created through Christ. Grace to forgive through the Cross and transformation through the truth reunites and heals those whose relationships were broken by sin. (Ephesians 2:14-22) The Cross reminds us that such unity did not come easily or cheaply....People who will intentionally cross the boundaries of racial solidarity and reunite the family of God are needed today."
According to Ham, "If you truly want to see your life reflect the life of Christ, then you must begin to allow Christ to love others through you, particularly those who are different from you, just as He did."
"But old ideas die hard. New ideas require new thinking and often require a conscious choice to change our beliefs and our actions. This is certainly the truth when it comes to issues of racism," states Ham.
And finally, I leave you to consider one more thing pointed out in this intriguing, challenging book: "What you now know much make its way to your heart; for while racism can be combated with fact, it essentially is an issue of the heart. It's one thing to know the history of 'humankind' as it is revealed in Scripture and is now supported by science. But it's quite another thing to look out on the sea of humanity in our world and feel from the depths of your soul that we are brothers and sisters---that we are one race---that we are "one blood." I don't think I need to add any more to the wise words of these men. Nothing, that is, except to say that you truly need to read this from cover-to-cover to get the full depth of what they reveal to us in this priceless piece of work.
Whether you are still on the fence about this issue, or even are clearly on one side or the other---this book raises necessary discussions and presents factual, scientific, scriptural evidence to make the point that we truly are---One Race One Blood.
What about you?
Do you find this hard for your heart and mind to grasp?
Honestly, do you?
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from New Leaf Publishing Group. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received a complimentary product does not guarantee a favorable review.
What is the truth — multiple races descended from different life forms or one race descended from Adam and Eve?
One Race One Blood is a well researched and powerfully presented book on the subject of race. Filled with historical insights, scientific facts, and biblical truths, this book will soundly destroy the modern concept of multiple "races" and show both scientifically and biblically that despite our skin shade we are all one race descended from Adam and Eve — the first human beings that God created. In a world that is increasingly promoting hate, prejudice, and division, it has never been more important to proclaim truths that bring unity and healing to people who are struggling with one of the most divisive issues today: racism. One Race One Blood unfurls the banner of truth about the race issue and passionately proclaims themes of unity and love. I strongly encourage everyone to read this eye-opening book!
This was an excellent book well worth the time to read and have on hand for reference! Ken Ham gives a crash course in genetics and mutations. You may not gain a full in depth view of such topics BUT you will walk away with a much better understanding of how 8 people on one boat could have manifested into upwards of 7 Billion people in world population. Also, those very same ideas will carry over to the animal world. Great presentation and well written. We are truly one race of people!
I expected the focus of this book to be a Biblical response to Darwinian evolution. However, it is deeper and broader than I anticipated. The focus of the work is the outworking of Christianity in response to both Darwin specifically and racism generally. Ham & Ware (which sounds kinda funny? Or am I just low on sleep?) directly call out racism as sin that has existed since we became a multi-lingual/ multi-cultural world. This is a strongly pro-life book advocating for the rights of all people and resisting the urge to reject anyone for any reason. It is important to not that I read the 2019 edition of this book.
“The Bible is clear that all mankind originated from Adam; as image bearers of God, all human have worth (Genesis 1:26-28). This foundational belief motivates Christians to fight for the unborn, the physically disabled, and the elderly, even when many in society see them as unwanted or too big of an intrusion upon their personal pursuit of happiness. Concern for God’s creation has given birth to many social agencies, from the YMCA/ YWCA, to hospitals, to adoption agencies, to ministries to the elderly and physically handicapped.” One Race One Blood, Ham & Ware, 2019
They examine the historical timeline of racial expression in the US/ Western/ European world as well as the Biblical text, the global impact of both, the history of the Church (meaning universal Christianity, heavy on Evangelicalism, light on Catholicism, does not comment on Orthodoxy) and it’s actions in response to both racism and Darwin. Then, taking it a step further, Ware takes the lead in outlining principles for ministry and education of those who desire to work cross-culturally, as well as blueprints for development of racially reconciled ministries, both local church and parachurch. Examples of the Church at it’s best, scholarship conferences, essay style appendices, an excellent bibliography, and biographies of the authors close the book.
“While Darwin himself probably never imagined the impact his idea would have on the culturally diverse peoples of the earth, history has shown us how evolutionary thought fuels racism and how racists use evolution to justify their hatred for those who are different from them.” One Race, One Blood Ham & Ware, 2019.
I appreciated the repeated statement that racism is sin. Darwin did not invent the sin of racism, he merely gave it a scientific avoure. As one might expect, the section on how Darwin advanced racsim is well done. Ham is the lead here and he writes about The Origin of Species, subtitled The Preservation of Favored Races in the Struggle for Life (1859), clarifying that though the direction of Darwin’s teaching toward humanity was everywhere implied, it was not directly stated until The Descent of Man (1871). Darwin’s assertion that those with light melanin were the highest form of humanity, followed by Oriental, South Americans, and finally Blacks continues to astound me with its fallacious thinking and cruel application. I wish I could say these perceptions are vanquished, but I see remnants today.
“Biological arguments for racism may have been common before 1859, but they increased by orders of magnitude following the acceptance of evolutionary theory.” Stephen J. Gould, evolutionist in Ontogeny and Phylogeny, 1977 as quoted in One Race One Blood, Ham & Ware, 2019
Ken Ham’s testimony of his native Australia’s collusion in exploiting the Aboriginal population is poignant. He also covers South American indigenous people and Native Americans in the United States and Canada, though in somewhat broader strokes as these groups do not figure in Ham’s personal experience. Slavery, with emphasis on the American-British connection, and American Jim Crow laws are also shown to contribute to the problem. While many of these issues begin with the discovery of the New World, prior to Darwin’s time, Ham shows how the issue of racism was fueled by Darwin’s late nineteenth century ideas, even as slavery was abolished. One of the most powerful principles that Ham develops via a review of the burgeoning field of genetics (to which he notes Darwin did not have access) is the idea that Creation from the time of Genesis 1 is not Evolving, but rather DE-volving due to the influence of sin.
“But in nature, mutations are almost always destructive – the opposite of what molecules-to-man evolution requires. Many mutations not only corrupt information, but *they also remove variability from the gene pool.*” One Race One Blood, Ham & Ware, 2019
Natural selection is NOT producing brand-new information leading to higher evolutions. In fact, it is producing a loss of information leading to irreversible devolution.
“Natural selection is basically a downhill process (or a conserving process). Natural selection results in a loss of genetic information and /or redistribution of pre-existing information.” One Race One Blood, Ham, 2019
The Biblical perspective is well summarized in Romans 8, “20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, [i]in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.” NASB
Explaining small biologic differences affecting the appearance (skin color, hair type, etc), Ham declares the far more significant differences in people are their immaterial perceptions, beliefs and material actions. These would be most broadly defined as CULTURAL not RACIAL phenomena.
The Chapter entitled One Flesh applies principles revealed to interpersonal relationships such as marriage, family and business. I thought it was particularly strong. The arguments for trans-cultural marriage and family were examined and put into Biblical perspective. The Church is lovingly held accountable for past wrongs and critiqued for where we collectively continue to get it wrong.
The Chapter on Grace Relations specifically deals with the challenges of multi-cultural community. I was particularly struck by Mr. Ware’s strong warning that resistance to inclusive multi-cultural community under the banner of Biblical Christianity *will come from within the Church.* This resistance is directly in conflict to Biblical teaching. I know it is out there, but it continually surprises me. I appreciate the encouragement from Mr. Ware to work through these difficulties.
“The Church tends to adopt man’s ideas and then reinterpret Scripture to fit those preconceived ideas. The result is that the Church is usually conformed to the world rather than transformed by the Word. And then what happens? Man changes his ideas, and the Church has to conform again. This is what happened with Darwinian evolution. So many in the Church adopted evolutionary ideas into the Bible, but now, when it comes to the issue of races, many of the leaders of the world are changing their course. That’s good news, but the Church is left in the dust because it compromised the Word of God on the basis of man’s previous ideas. The Church needs to take the lead again. We need to let the Word speak for itself rather than filtering it through our cultural and worldly thinking.” One Race One Blood, Ham & Ware, 2019 It appears that all the appendices are written by Dr. Charles Ware. Appendix A: Hijacking the Civil Rights Bus – Homosexuality (LGBTQ) and the Scriptures was a somewhat surprising inclusion in this work. Ware discusses why the black American population is frustrated by false equivalence of black civil rights and LGBTQ+ rights. Though it felt like a bit of a distraction, the piece is strongly written and serves to emphasize the importance of this matter to the black community. “Biblical morality is rooted in the fact that life was designed to be lived within certain parameters. If we step outside of those parameters, the consequences are never positive.” One Race One Blood, Ham & Ware Dr. Ware’s effort to address matters of sexuality from a Biblical perspective brought Matthew Rueger’s excellent Sexual Morality in a Christless World (DATE) to mind AGAIN. Ever since I’ve read Rueger, I seem to be returning to his ideas often, which I suppose indicates how much sexuality is a foreground concern in our culture currently. The other appendices (all by Dr. Ware) include: B: Misconceptions and/or Common Mistakes about Reconciliation C: Honest Insight (A guided process for those considering a ministry of racial reconciliation) D: The Grace Relations Track Assessment Tool (Self-Assessment Metric for personal use and to be completed by a mentor/ close loved one) E: 15 Steps to Grace, Charles Ware & Ken Davis (Originally published in The Journal of Ministry and Theology, col 19, no 1, Baptist Bible Seminary, Clarks Summit, PA, pg. 5 in the article “Fergunson: How Should the Church Respond?) Contains 15 Positive Steps for the Church to pursue to promote mutual understanding and bridge the American Black-White divide
I highly recommend those wanting a solutions-oriented approach to race relations based on firm Biblical principles to read One Race, One Blood. Ham & Ware do not back away from past grievances, but they offer insight into and hope to confront some of our culture’s deepest problems.
I read this due to finding out there is a "racism" room at the Ark Encounter. This is probably the worst book on race I have ever read, worse even than John Piper. There is a lot that Ken Ham gets right on evolution, but there seems to be an issue that he sees the tree of evolution, without seeing the forest of history. He believes dismantling evolution will uproot "racism". which, is entirely shallow. First thing is that "racism" is a made up word from the 20th century that was turned into a sin, when that sin isn't in the Bible. Secondly, if you are steeped in history at all, you will know that most all of human history we were "racist". Darwin came along and twisted truth, but instead of untwisting it, Ken Ham seeks to tear it all down, which means we must tear down all of our history.
The first red flag should have been that Ken Ham wrote this book with an "international authority and life coach on race/ethnic reconciliation matters". This was the most DEI peddling I have seen, clothed in scripture. Absolutely abhorrent.
Such an interesting and helpful read. Read as part of homeschool studies and Ambleside year 10 and it was such an excellent addition to the other history books we are reading this year. Highly recommend for all high school students.
“One Race, One Blood,” was my first Ken Ham and it won’t be the last. Both authors: Ken Ham and Charles Ware did a good job at presenting their arguments against the “so called” Theory of Evolution. First they cover the subject in general and then they cover some of the dangerous implications including racism. Ken Ham writes, “Perhaps the most infamous abuse of evolution to justify racism was Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime, which promoted a master race and sought to exterminate the so-called inferior races.” (p.30) The authors were straightforward and honest to admit that the Theory of Evolution mindset is not the soul cause of racism, but did stress that it’s mindset is one of the major causes.
I was sucked into the book from the very first page when Ken Ham told the story of an a African pygmy by the name of Ota Benga who was brought to the United States in 1904 by an African explorer who had bought him at a slave market. Ota’s wife and children had been slaughtered and their bodies mutilated in a campaign of terror by the Belgian government. Ota was 4’11’ and weighed 103 pounds and people literally treated him as an animal. They foolishly thought he was the lost link and did all kinds of inhumane things to him including caging him up with an ape! People would stare into his cage and throw things at him trying to evoke a response.
What proponents of Darwinism won’t tell you about Darwin is that in the last page of his book, “The Descent of Man,” Darwin expressed the opinion that he would rather be descended from a monkey than from a “Savage.” In describing those with darker skin, he often used words like “savage,” “low,” and “degraded” to describe American Indians, pygmies, and almost every ethnic group whose physical appearance and culture differed from his own. Ken Ham writes, “Although racism did not begin with Darwinism, Darwin did more than any person to popularize it.” (p.22)
Ken Ham writes, “Once people abandon the authority of God’s Word, there is no foundation for morality and justice in the world. When God’s truth is rejected, human reason alone is used to justify evil of every sort (Racism, Euthanasia, Abortion).” (p.32)
I also like the way Charles Ware reveals some of the struggles of being in a “interracial marriage.” According to War, there is only ONE race in the Human Species and many different variations. He proposes that we do away with using the term “race” when discussing the different people groups in the world because every human being in the world is classified as Homo Sapien. Scientist today agree that there is really only on biological race of humans. Geneticists have found that if you were to take any two people from anywhere in the world, the basic genetic differences between these two people would typically be about 0.2 percent, even if they came from the same people group. “Racial” characteristics account for only about 6 percent of this 0.2 percent variation. That means that the “racial” genetic variation between human beings of different “race” is a mere 0.012 percent. (p.112)
I feel I was not adequately equipped to counter the “Theory of Evolution” in seminary. Now (after reading “One Race, One Blood”) I feel well equipped to talk against evolution with its dangerous implications. The book was well documented with references. I was also surprised at how EASY the book was to read.
This is a strong foundational book to give any Christian a solid base on which to think about the so called races and relationships between them. It could go deeper and farther, in my opinion, but it does provide a necessary solid Creational Biblical basis to start.
This book was helpful in some ways, but pretty basic. I felt like it didn't tell me a whole lot that I didn't know - especially about practical action (beyond the scientific stuff at the beginning, which was pretty interesting). Also, the writing just wasn't good. I'm sorry. It read like an awkward textbook. It was helpful, but not enjoyable to read - I kind of had to force my way through it.
eh... not very good. a lot of illusions to scripture without actually giving scriptural references. A lot of anecdotal evidence, but not very compelling. Also, the author believes in a young earth, so there's that.
"It is critical that the Church pursue grace relations rather than 'race' relations. Grace(God's Reconciliation at Christ's Expense) offers a healthy foundation for dealing with the sins of the past and the alienation of the present as well. Grace relations are built upon forgiveness and the intentional pursuit of peace, trust, unity, and loving relationships because of Christ. The Church must move beyond society's blame and shame game. The anger, distrust, and polarization of such a philosophy are very apparent today--but it need not remain so."
Sometimes the way the authors present concepts like "grace relations or race relations" and "a skin problem or a sin problem" can seem trite, but development of these same topics is relevant and applicable--worth discussing with a group.
I personally love that they advocate not using the term "race" when discussing different people groups, as all people are of one race--the human race.
Although Darwin can be blamed for a worldview that tries to justify some horrible contemporary atrocities, racism existed before 1859 when the Origin of the Species was published. He just gave people a rationale for running with their sin--and that they did, infecting all realms of thought with a pernicious lie. The discussion of evolution and natural selection in the light of Scripture was helpful.
All in all good fodder for discussion of a biblical view of race and practical steps of where to go from here.
I was off to a rocky start with Dr Ware where it seemed that he calls President Trump a racist. The facts are the facts, and I will not discuss them here. He rebounds well with many great thoughts regarding the gospel and Word of God Being the answer to racism. Obviously Ham is up to his normal intelligence in regards to science. I find the book to be balanced and helpful.
Interesting concepts overall and we are one human race, but highlighting that Christians should not mix with non Christians creates a further divide in our society and culture when the idea is to unify no matter our belief systems.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I originally read the 2010 edition which I liked better, although they are almost the same. The revised and updated 2019 edition includes some politically divisive additional material. Although the book advocates not using the word "race," Charles Ware tends to use it in places where he could use alternate terms and remain consistent with the book's recommendations. The addition of Appendix E included an item with the word "privilege" which is concerning for how the authors' thinking is developing as deconstructionists intentionally divide our nation by skin color as part of a pernicious political movement. I will stick with my old 2010 edition for sharing. Reading this revised and updated edition affirmed my intention to always read books before I give them.
An excellent look at the issue of racism, delving into history, science, and the Bible. The section explaining genetics was particularly fascinating and easy to understand.
Most people are unaware of the connection between an evolutionary worldview and racism. This book does a great job showing their connection, how the theory of evolution fueled racist thought in history. In typical Ken Ham fashion, he also breaks down how blatantly unscientific the theory of evolution is.
We are all one race - the human race, made in the image of God.
As a side note, I think this would make a great textbook for a homeschool curriculum.
The Word of God has contained the answer to our "racial" tensions all along. Humanity has always created tension individually or politically when it deviates from created, natural order and decides to serve temporal lists and desires. God's love is for all as is the choice to embrace and pursue that love on His terms. This book does a nice job of clearing the fog and muddle of contemporary thought by plainly presenting theological, scientific, and sociological facts regarding our fundamental sameness and superficial differences.
Easy to read Biblical view on racism in easily understood scientific language. Not only do the authors address that all humans come from one race and that most scientists ascribe to this after recent genome studies and DNA research, but they also address the social struggles with race inside and outside of the church and how to personally respond to racism. Highly recommend this book to equip yourself to combat the lies society has been pushing on us about race relations going all the way back to the origins of Darwinian Evolution theories!
I think the hermeneutical work in the book and the genetic/ science information was fascinating. I think they help us understand the racism issue well against a secular/darwinian worldview. What confused me was it felt like reading through sections of this book that if your church isn’t multicultural then you’re a part of the problem. I agree that sects of Christianity have taken the “race” issue to far, but just because your church isn’t multicultural doesn’t mean your church is racist.
Great book and would highly recommend for any family pursuing interracial adoption. Easy read. Only part I didn't like was how much detail was given about the Ota Benga story at the end; it was moving, but the level of detail seemed distracting and not synched with the flow of the rest of the book.
Inspired, powerful reading. Every Christian should read this book and reflect on what changes we can make in our own lives. We might not be led to be part of a formal reconciliation ministry. But we can all learn to make a positive difference in the world around us as individual torch bearers for the kingdom of Christ.
I am completely unimpressed with the sections written by Ken Ham. He is supposed to be the science expert of the two authors and his sources are rubbish. I expected the sources to be scientific journals and primary sources, but everything was secondary sources like abc.com
The sections written by Charles Ware were better written and better sourced. Read his sections and skip the Ken Ham stuff.
This book is needed for today considering the fractured state of relations between the so called "races" in the world today. If you read it objectively, it will clearly show you that there is only one race--the human race--and we are all of one blood.
Overall, I believe this work is solid on giving the basic foundations for genetics and the arbitrariness of so-called "race." It can be a little overly simplistic at times, but it makes the work more approachable. I think it definitely could have used more depth in intercultural relationships.
lots of good points in this book and while I agree with most of the points made, there was a lot of dull and boring parts as well. not a bad book but definitely could have been better.
It was a good book filled with valuable info but it was just a tad boring for me! That’s my problem though, not the book’s! I would recommend to everyone!
Great, easy explanation of the science and Biblical points of us being only one people group. Concise, to the point and well written. Easy little read with lots to say.