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It is paramount to first reiterate what is already obvious. Africa is an extremely vast continent enclosing many people and cultures. It is an erroneous conception that an entire group of people believed in one religion at any point. Black people, as now, were not on one accord in regards to many things. Religious beliefs were not excluded. As a result of that, Africans were believers of diverse religions and spiritualities.
Many Africans were practitioners of Animism, the belief that natural things have spirits, before slavery. However, there were also slaves that followed Judaism, Christianity, etc. before colonization as well. Africans were not first introduced to "The Gospel" as they stepped onto American soil. They have a history that predates the Transatlantic Slavery and European influence.
Contrary to popular belief, all slaves were not Christians. Some of them rejected Christianity, and continued their traditional African beliefs. Many slaves had not converted to Christianity as late as 1800. Some slave masters believed that converting them to Christians meant that they had to share their religion with the very people they viewed as inferior. Many slave owners also feared that if slaves understood Christianity, they would demand their human rights.
Even though, some unbelievers still hold the notion that all people of African descent should abandon Christianity because "it did not free us from slavery" and because "the oppressor and the oppressed pray to the same God." Black people are ridiculed and told that they must return to native African religions. There are many contradictions within the argument itself.
Although intended to be a witty, rhetorical question, it measures up to be quite the opposite. It is in return thought-provoking and raises many brows. Who exactly did Black people pray to before slavery? Who or what did Black people worship before they were forced into bondage? What was the indigenous religion of Africa's original people?
Many Africans were practitioners of Animism, the belief that natural things have spirits, before slavery. However, there were also slaves that followed Judaism, Christianity, etc. before colonization as well. Africans were not first introduced to "The Gospel" as they stepped onto American soil. They have a history that predates the Transatlantic Slavery and European influence.
Contrary to popular belief, all slaves were not Christians. Some of them rejected Christianity, and continued their traditional African beliefs. Many slaves had not converted to Christianity as late as 1800. Some slave masters believed that converting them to Christians meant that they had to share their religion with the very people they viewed as inferior. Many slave owners also feared that if slaves understood Christianity, they would demand their human rights.
Even though, some unbelievers still hold the notion that all people of African descent should abandon Christianity because "it did not free us from slavery" and because "the oppressor and the oppressed pray to the same God." Black people are ridiculed and told that they must return to native African religions. There are many contradictions within the argument itself.
- Believing in the God of the Bible did not free us from slavery. How exactly did we get free? Was freedom a single moment in history or was it a collection of events -- a process? Can independence be attributed to any God other than the one of the Bible? If traditional African religions couldn't prevent slavery from happening, why are we blaming Jesus/Christianity for not freeing us from it? Many revolts and escapes were organized by slaves who put their faith in God.
- The oppressor and the oppressed pray to the same God. God is not neutral or a supporter of wrongdoing. Regardless of who prays to Him, God is a seeker of justice. Look at it this way. As a child, you and your siblings may have fought. When one of you were injured, the both of you pleaded your case. One on how the other hurt you. The other on either why you did so or how it was an accident. However, your parent sided with the child that was right, and punished the child that was wrong. The same applies here. Regardless of what prayer reaches God's ears, He will answer according to His Will (judgement, timing, etc).
- Black people must return to indigenous African religions/spirituality. We must first realize that our ancestors were not without imperfections. We may love our ancestors and pay homage to them. However, we cannot govern ourselves as if they were without error. They participated in immoral practices, including human sacrifices and cannibalism. Everything that they practiced was not moral. They were not without transgression.
We should take pride in our culture and appreciate our history. However, we must be careful and understand that our ancestors are generations of people who also were as adamant to get it right as we are. Like us, they did not have all of the answers. They were individuals who made choices on who or what they would like to worship. Our lives do not have to mimic theirs. We are free to choose for ourselves.
Conscious and Christian,
Simultaneously.
Conscious and Christian,
Simultaneously.
