The Influence Of Christianity On Culture Religion Essay

The novel, Things Fall Apart, was written by Chinua Achebe and was foremost published in 1958. The book trades with Okonkwo, the chief character in the book, and his attack towards Christianity and the new Umofia after his expatriate. The novel shows us the impact of a western civilization on the Igbo society and how the citizens have to accommodate to the new alterations and beliefs. Achebe, through this narrative, wants to demo the readers that, things, civilization and relationships do fall apart as we read it. White work forces arrived in Africa as bargainers, missionaries and decision makers. In this essay, I will speak about the influence of Christianity on the Igbo civilization. Is the Igbo civilization civilized or barbaric? Was the reaching of the white missionaries in Things Fall Apart positive or negative? My essay will be divided into four subdivisions, each giving a different influence of Christianity on the Igbo civilization. I will discourse the four chief influences.

Christianity has influenced the Igbo civilization in many ways. The chief influence is on the faith that tribes follow. The white missionaries bring a different set of beliefs and Torahs which are incompatible with Igbo traditions and patterns. The church which is built by the Christians, contributes to the devastation of the kin. Many Umofians decide to change over to Christianity, as they feel they will acquire more freedom, comfort and they can be and make what the kin does non hold to. The converts are castawaies, people with no rubrics and adult females who had twins. Such people are mistreated in the lgbo society. Christianity is giving such people self-respect. The converts have the opportunity to happen their true individuality. The missionaries begin to set up themselves through the church. The white work forces ‘s power additions as they survive the Evil Forest. The missionaries say “ We have been sent by the Great God to inquire you to go forth your wicked ways and false Gods and turn to Him so that you may be saved when you die ” . The power of the traditional Gods is challenged by the endurance of the missional hut in the Evil Forest, in which, the unfortunate people, twins and ‘ogbanje ‘ kids are thrown. Christianity points fingers to the beliefs of the Igbo civilization. For many, Christianity is an reply for all their questions. Peoples think that change overing to Christianity means peace and was better than the Igbo faith and its superstitious notions. “ Three converts had gone into the small town and boasted openly that all the Gods were dead and impotent and that they were prepared to withstand them by firing all their shrines. ” This shows that the converts and the missionaries no longer esteem the positions and beliefs of the Igbo kin. The converts know that they are protected by the white work forces and the feel that they have a ‘greater God ‘ than the lgbos. In Chapter 18, with the episode of the python, the belief of the Igbos in God strengthens and the decease of the convert responsible proves that the Gods still exist and do justness to its people. In a sense, despite the influence of Christianity, some of Igbo people still have steadfast belief in their Gods.

The 2nd major influence is on the legal system in the Igbo folk. It has a major manus in the collapsing of the kin. The new regulations besides apply to the Igbo folk members, which has people who do non wish to change over to Christianity. The infliction of an foreign legal system confuses the lgbos and adds up to the hatred the Igbos have towards the white work forces and the converts. “ aˆ¦ narratives were already deriving land that the white work forces had non merely brought faith, but besides a authorities. It was said that they had built a topographic point of judgement in Umofia to protect the followings of their faith. It was even said that they had hanged one adult male who killed a missional. ” Before the coming of the white work forces, determinations are made by the caputs of the kin, the work forces with high rubrics. But now, these work forces have lost their topographic point and there is the constabulary to go through Torahs and give concluding finding of facts and penalties. The new legal system proves to be neither merely nor deserves praise. While the ‘egwugwu ‘ often settle land differences both efficaciously and reasonably, the colonial tribunal ‘s determinations result in struggle and slaying. The antecedently accepted traditions now are punishable discourtesies. Soon, the prison is “ full of work forces who had offended against the white work forces ‘s jurisprudence. Some of these captives have thrown away their twins, while some have molested Christians. ” This shows that to a great extent, the Igbo members of the society neither fear the Christians, nor are they scared of the new legal system and its Torahs. By constructing the Christian church and set uping a new legal system with their ain western Torahs, the colonial authorities bit by bit makes the tribal legal process less effectual and destroys traditional beliefs. This shows that the western civilization is interfering in the daily running of the Igbo authorities.

The 3rd influence is on the instruction given by the lgbos. Educating people of different age groups in Umofia helped those who were eager for self-advancement, who shortly realize the potency of the schools. Hence, by educating the people of Umofia, the Christians do good to the topographic point. The people are able to widen their cognition. There is no injury in educating person. Mr. Brown, one of the missionaries, teaches the ambitious pupils. Mr. Brown is, understanding, patient and friendly, which make the people, feel welcomed and they would therefore desire to go on analyzing to go responsible. “ More people came to larn in his school, and he encouraged them with vests and towels. They were non all immature, these people who came to larn. ” This shows that Mr. Brown ‘s school produced speedy consequences. “ A few months in it were adequate to do one a tribunal courier or even a tribunal clerk. Those who stayed longer became instructors. ” This tells us that Mr. Brown ‘s school is effectual and good. The pupils can go successful and can even educate others, maintaining the tendency of instruction. On the other manus, through instruction, Mr. Brown is enticing the Umofians to change over. By taking at the different age groups, he wants the maximal figure of converts who will accept the faith and its beliefs. The ‘singlets and towels ‘ are signifiers of payoff as the Igbo have ne’er used them. These points, hence, symbolize luxury and besides the manner of life of the white. By utilizing such materials, they will experience superior to their fellow Umofians. Mr. Brown tries to go reverent figure in the eyes of the people. Mr. Brown ‘s ‘polite and caring ‘ nature helps him in his scheme to pull Umofians to change over.

The last dramatic influence is that on trade. Christianity takes clasp over the community but the kin besides benefits from the trade and prosperity which it brings with it. In Chapter 21, the influence is introduced. “ The white adult male had so brought a moonstruck faith, but he had besides built a trading shop and for the first clip palm oil and meat became things of great monetary value, and much money flowed into Umofia. ” The coming of Christians brings money indirectly to the Igbos. By trading, they grow their cognition about trading and other states. Trading helps Umofia as they now have a trading shop and acquire money to better the topographic point. The bargainers largely trade palm oil and meats. This purchasing and merchandising of goods alterations Umofia. Peoples now believe in the white missionaries and swear them better. This shows that the coming of Christianity in the Igbo society brings both positive and negative alterations. This covering requires manual accomplishments and particular preparation which might be given in Mr. Brown ‘s school. But in Umofia, before the reaching of Christianity, money was non of great value as sharing and borrowing existed. The visual aspect of money, through trading, decreases fraternity and friendly relationship that was one time at that place among the citizens. In a sense, the immorality has been introduced in Umofia. There is competition and people want to be rich, unlike earlier.

To reason, the Igbo civilization, in Things Fall Apart, is presented as both good and bad. Achebe manages to a great extent, to destruct the myth of the African barbarian. He impresses the reader by the fact that the white work forces are non conveying civilisation, but are destructing the society. It shows that the colonisation of Africa by western powers perpetuated the stereotype of crude African barbarian. In Part 1 and Part 2, Achebe portrays a long-established and orderly African society with its rigorous hierarchy of Gods, seniors and titled work forces and with its ain imposts and spiritual beliefs. As from the terminal of Part 2, the white missionaries decide to destruct the civilization and create hatred among its citizens. I think that each civilization has the right for its ain systems and other modern civilizations, irrupting, will merely ensue in misinterpretations and hatred among the people who belong to the separate civilizations. The reaching of the white missionaries makes few positive effects but besides brings abhorrence in Umofia. Nevertheless, it besides contributes well, as the Africans can larn new linguistic communications and modern techniques.

1550 words.