Mark of Cain

{{race}}
The '''Mark of Cain''' is an old [[American]] [[Christian]] belief-cum-serving-of-[[Eugenics|eugenicist]]-[[woo]] that forms the foundation of American [[religious]]-based [[racism]] and also, subtly, the entire [[creationist]] movement.

==Premise==
Here is the text from {{bible|Genesis|4|11|15}}:
{{quotebox|
:'''11''' And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
:'''12''' When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 
:'''13''' And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 
:'''14''' Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. 
:'''15''' And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.''}}

A literal reading of this passage could be easily interpreted as a [[Science fiction|science-fiction]]al idea where a certain segment of humanity descended from the lineage of [[Cain]] would be cursed with an aberration in skin pigmentation. Even though the mark would likely have been superficial to identify Cain himself for what he had done, and therefore ''would not have been inheritable'', since [[Lamarckism]] doesn't work.

==Execution==
The weak attempt to preserve antebellum racism in America worked because [[The South|Southern]] [[Protestant]] preachers said they read the [[Bible]] in a way that included a teaching wherein blacks were inferior due to a descent from Cain's brood.<ref>Priest, Josiah [https://archive.org/stream/slaveryasitrela00priegoog#page/n136/mode/2up/search/Cain Slavery as it Relates to the Negro or African Race.] (1843)</ref> As such, it was a basic violation of the [[First Amendment]] to restrict exercise of religiously-approved doctrines regarding interactions with [[African Americans]]. The [[States' Rights Democratic Party|Southern Democrats]] were apt to maintain social order and be seen as quasi-religious by not challenging these precepts. The [[Southern Baptist Convention]] did not formally renounce its racist past until 1995.<ref>[http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1995-06-21/news/9506210026_1_southern-baptist-northern-baptists-general-baptist Baptists Renounce Racist Past; The Southern Baptist Convention Pledged To ''eradicate Racism'' From Its Membership.] Orlando Centinel, June 21, 1995.</ref>

==Modern iterations in creationism==
{{main|creationism}}
The hinge of the creationist movement is that [[human being]]s are divinely created by [[God]]. However, considering this level of [[Biblical literalism|literalism]] in their doctrine, it is easy to see how this view also extends to the later chapters on [[Genesis]]. It may not come up a lot, but if they believe in [[Noah's Ark]] and the [[Evidence for the Exodus|Exodus]], they probably have to, by default, accept this view. As such, according to creationists, Cain-ites would still walk the [[Earth]] marked as a cursed line, damned for eternity to the [[Sin#The seven deadly sins|seven deadly sins]]. The fact that the creationists also tend to be pro-[[austerity]] fiscal policy advocates who use blatant and obnoxious [[stereotypes]] about [[welfare queen]]s and [[Black brute|dangerous black men]] gives this theory further credence.{{efn|With creationists, this is hard to pin down, because they spend so much more time on superficial topics such as the [http://www.icr.org/article/who-were-giants-days-noah giants in the days of Noah] and  where Cain got his wife.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200929212932/http://www.icr.org/article/cains-wife-it-really-does-matter Cain's Wife: It Really Does Matter!] by Kenneth Ham (November 1, 1993) ''Institute of Creation Research'' (archived from September 29, 2020).</ref>}}

==Mormons==
{{main|Mormonism}}
The Mark of Cain [[theology]] was most blatant in the teachings of [[Brigham Young]], leader of the Mormon religious movement after [[Joseph Smith]]. Young tied the Mark with the [[Curse of Ham]], claiming in the [[Book of Abraham]] that Ham's wife was a descendant of Cain.
{{cquote|The Lord said I will not kill Cain, but I will put a mark upon him and it is seen in the face of every Negro on the earth, and it is the decree of God that that mark shall remain upon the seed of Cain and the curse until all the seed of [[Abel]] should be redeemed and Cain will not receive the Priesthood or salvation until all the seed of Abel are redeemed. Any man having one drop of the seed of Cain in him cannot hold the Priesthood, and if no other prophet ever spake it before I will say it now in the name of [[Jesus Christ]].|||Brigham Young (January 16, 1852)<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/WoodruffWilfordJournalSelections/Woodruff_Wilford_Journal_Selections_djvu.txt Diary of Wilford Woodruff.]</ref>}}
Contrast this with the church's [https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/friend/2011/02/article-of-faith-2 Second Article of Faith]:

{{cquote|We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.}}

It was only in 1978 that the President, Prophet, and Seer had a vision that said they should allow black Mormons full participation in the faith.<ref>[https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/od/2?lang=eng Official Declaration 2.] lds.org.</ref> However, ceremonials for the Church still maintain the idea of the Mark of Cain. Now they believe, however, that a [[prayer]] and blessing can remove the curse upon [[baptism]] into the Church. They no longer believe that removal of the curse will result in Black people becoming white.<ref>[http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_racial_issues/Blacks_and_the_priesthood/The_%22curse_of_Cain%22_and_%22curse_of_Ham%22 Mormonism and racial issues/Blacks and the priesthood/The "curse of Cain" and "curse of Ham."] fairmormon.org.</ref>

==See also==
* [[Curse of Ham]]
* [[Serpent seed doctrine]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Bible]]
[[Category:Christian mythology]]
[[Category:Old Testament]]
[[Category:Racism]]

Categories: Bible, Christian mythology, Old Testament, Racism