Yep. It is.
I would say now more than ever-we need real religion. The lack of religion is what has allowed this bacillus to spread.
Your only other option is to play their devil-edgily and with wry mockery say “I totally support 19th century racial hierarchy” or “segregation was for the defense of white people from black criminality.” Or something else straight outta Stormfront.
One doesn’t have to believe the above-it’s like a satanist flaunting Sabbhats and 666 tattoos to annoy, dishearten, and provoke Christians. In short, you can play their villain. To agitate them and put the onus on them to react irrationally or violently.
Problem with this is-you will be treated as genuine. Which is going to affect your career opportunities and if your known to express such opinions(even if you only express them out of defiance, not sincerity) your going to face severe ostracism, good luck getting a job or having many friends amongst people who aren’t genuine Neo-Nazis. If it becomes known you’ve said such things.
Of course from their perspective there is no distinction-which is good at the level they won’t bother trying to browbeat or indoctrinate you, if your a die hard racist in their eyes your about as redeemable as a demon in Christian theology, that is not at all. The bad however is that you lose all moral and social currency with everyone who is not a genuine Neo Nazi or white supremacist.
I suppose a third option could be simple unabashed indifference-“I don’t care, I’m privileged I don’t owe black people shit, and I plan on defending my privilege to the bitter end”. In that case, your not identifying yourself with their devils, but you are essentially declaring yourself their enemy. Think of it as unabashed hedonists or pagans in a Christian paradigm.
What you should not do is argue with them. Arguing with them leaves you open to psychological manipulation. And gives them moral legitimacy. Saying “I don’t have privilege” is like a sinner saying “I don’t sin”. It’s the refrain of the man lacking conviction. He can be told “well actually here you do”, and be psychologically manipulated into accepting their ideas. Though Christians rely on the Holy Spirit to open hearts and minds-these people rely on psychological trickery and twisting minds to gain compliance.
Do not give them legitimacy or act like you consider their beliefs legitimate. Play their devil if you must.
But be cautious about it.
And above all, do not cede an inch to them on their delusions of morality. They will think you immoral, and will say so. This is manipulation. Designed to use your conscience and innate human desire to be “good” against you.
I had a professor this year who explained to me my white privilege-I more or less said, “sure fine, I’ll defend it because fuck you I’m a privileged white aristocrat”(not an aristocrat but I do have money)-not in those exact words. But more or less.
