The Loss of a Tribe's Livelihood in Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Overall, Christianity can guide and destroy Ibo society by welcoming outcasts, tearing families apart, and building schools. In his novel Things Fall Apart, writer Chinua Achebe uses his novel to describe the positive and negative effects of religion.. The effects of Christianity on Ibo society can serve as a lesson to us to recognize religion as a powerful force that is both ruinous and

In Things fall apart, Chinua Achebe showed us the richness of the Igbo traditional culture as well as the destruction of it through the activities of British missionaries. The appearance of Christianity on the Nigerian tribal land led to the disintegration of belief in the Igbo society, and made way for British colonization. Were the British the only cause of the destruction of the Igbo culture? The appearance of a new religion was not the sole reason for the loss of a tradition. The Igbo people also lost their culture because of many unreasonable conceptions in their spirituality.

By applying Swift's satirical argument for the preservation of this fictitious religion to that which was currently practiced, Swift asserts that their Christianity served ulterior motives, both for the government and for the people. If we are to prove that the government was using religion for selfish purposes, we must be sure that it was not serving its intended purpose, the assurance of the moral sanctity of its policies. This is quite evident in the author's comment that if real Christianity was revived, it would be, "destroy at one blow all the wit and half the learning of the kingdom; to break the entire frame and constitution of things[.]" This proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Christianity has no influence on the government's current policies. It even seems as if the government established Church isn't completely rooted in Christianity, as the author weakly suggests that, "[A]bolishing Christianity may perhaps bring the church into danger."

Rich says, “the cult must monopolize the recruits time”(Harpers Magazine, ... ... middle of paper ... ...umans took it upon themselves to act evil. It was in reason that kept Augustine from committing to Manicheans fully and led to his conversion to Christianity. Augustine was physically deprogramed because he was isolated from the Manicheans and he was in Rome but I do not believe he was completely separated from the Manicheans all together. The fact that Augustine’s name is on the list of Manichees shows that there is still an attachment to the cult. Augustine also kept the apology letter the Manicheans sent him, where they asked him to come back and “be a new Paul for our time”, which would make him the leading Manichean apostle.

In the novel The River between, Ngugi give a good account of the effects that colonialism had on the Kikuyu people. Ngugi goes on to demonstrate how the ideas of the modern Christian-European ways come into conflict with those of the traditional Kikuyu people and how for the Kikuyu, maintaining these traditions mean more than just following the path of their ancestors, but also about maintaining their identity as a people. Ngugi shows the complications and obstacles that arise when people on both sides fail to unit for a common cause and are unable to adapt and evolve their way of thinking to form a new way that benefits all. Ngugi portrays the Kikuyu as a people torn between two worlds. On one hand they feel obligated to hold true to their traditions, customs, and way of life.

The missionaries were trying to bring with them new ways of life, and mostly better ways of life. Mr.Achebe tries to show us that the missionaries showed people who were hurt by the beliefs of the tribe that this did not have to go on in their religion. This is one of the main reason people switched to their religion. Mr. Achebe also shows us that the tribe had many harmful beliefs before the missionaries came. The Umofia people believed that twins were evil and should be thrown away right after birth.

This religion was Christianity. During the novel the power of religion both guides and destroys the society of Umuofia. Firstly, the church disproves many of the Igbo superstitions ,which encourages the Igbo to break the traditions that they had followed for many years. Therefore, slowly destroying their society. For instance, when the white men who brought Christianity to the people of Umuofia speak to the clan of the village about their new religion.

His determination was supposed to save this nation, but instead has alienated us from the rest of the world and sent us backwards in civil rights and environmental reform. As a Christian, I cannot abandon my support for those who wish to spread Christian values, but on the practical level this nation's fate cannot hinge on one man's faith. The intersection of faith and logic has created an impasse. Christianity and the values at its roots have found in President Bush the opportunity to become more deeply ingrained into American society. After being re-elected, Bush will likely drive these values to such depths as to threaten other religions and our nation's founding principle of freedom of religion.

By making various changes to the structure of rule and deliberate attacks on those who opposed him, the rise of Christianity as the state religion of Rome came into light. One of Constantius' very prominent strategies involved that of eliminating those who showed signs of threatening his authority. Amongst those in elimination, Julian's father, and eventually Julian's brother [who he technically did not have a close relationship with] [pp 16]. Not only did Constantious strike fear in the hearts of his people, but he also implemented bishops and those who held an office like such, into the core of the government. Constantius granted them power and luxuries that would further promote the Christian faith so the image o... ... middle of paper ... ...mpire became a Christian state.

Has the concept of God really led to turmoil and destruction? The answers to these questions may go unanswered, but the facts remain the same: Our society has taken the first amendment and Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptist Association and interpreted it to mean that God has no place in our country’s make up. However, our political system suggests otherwise with examples such as the Pledge of Allegiance, Presidential Speeches, and currency. Take a look at the ridiculousness of the situation. America is taking away aspects of our country that contribute to our moral setup.