Essay About White Culture And Religious Beliefs

Things Fall Apart
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Throughout History there has been a desire for main stream white culture
to explore and expand to new areas with many different objetives in mind.
Many were looking for new lands that had untold riches while others were
spreading cultural or religious beliefs in an attemped to gain support for
their beliefs. Some times this was a welcomed addiction to foreign
societies bring them new technologies and ideas to improve there life. But
it was just as likely that these new additions to their culture and
society would have a negative effect causing many peoples lives to be
changed for ever. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe was a perfect example
of what effect new ideas and technology can have on societies that have
been isolated for generations and have created a unique culture and
society because of it. There were many changes that occured when white
explores came to Niger.
Umuofia Mbantu and the other local clans have been living in an isolated
society and culture for generations giving them plenty of time to adapted
and live in there envornment efficently. They had developed many
different religious beliefs that were different from the white Christian
culture that settled the area.
“You say that there is one supreme God who made heaven and earth,” said
Akunna on one of Mr. Browns visits. ” We also believe in Him and call
Him Chukwu. He made all the world and the other gods.” (Achebe, 179).
Even when trying to understand the Christian faith their religious
beliefs are so ingrained that they create cominalities that are not
really there. Akunna continues to talk about how the many gods they
worship are helpers of Chukwu because he can not do everything alone. But
that is were the problem is. By creating these gods to help Chukwu they
are creating false ideals to worship witch is against the christian faith
because they strictly believe in one God. ” There are no other gods,”
saud Mr. Brown. ” Chukwu is the only God and all others are false. You
carve a piece of wood-like that one and you call it a god. But it is
still a piece of wood.” (Achebe 179). I find this conversation in the
book to be very interesting and can show many differences in their
culture. First Mr. Brown keeps trying to explain Akunna how their
realigion is wrong and not logical. But Akunna keeps trying to explain
how even though they are different they have things in common. To me this
shows how the white setlers felt that their religion is the right one and
everyone else is wrong. I believe this is a big motive in the spread of
the missionaries and white european culture. This is not only limited to
religion but can be seen in white explores attitude twords foriegn
cultures and societies in general.
There were many other parts of the local clans society that were changed
by white setlers. They created a court system and a government to keep
order and enforce the laws. “But apart from the church , the white men
had also brought a government. They had built a court where the District
Commissioner judged cases” (Achebe 174). The white explores are
starting to take over. Now they can better control not only the people
that do not believe in them but they people who do as well. The white
setlers are doing what they can to create a culture that they feel is
best for everyone. This is not fair to a succesfull society that has
lived for generations with no problems. the white explores are taking it
in to there own hands to decide what is best for people who already know
what good for them. I believe it is unfair to go to a distant place where
you and your culture are a minority and tell the locals that they are
living a life of sin and evil and if they do not change we will make you.
Not only do the explores have no right to tell the locals what is right
and what is wrong, but to change there successful society just because
it is different is even worse. I can not agree with a group that takes
advantage of a society, tries to change it, and then say its for the
good of the local people. “As soon as the six men were locked up, court
messengers went into Umuofia to tell the people that their leaders would
not be released unless they paid a fine of two hundred and fifty bags of
cowries.” (Achebe 195, 196). The white settlers, especially the
missionaries, came to sivalize the locals and spread there faith. But
instead they force the locals to change their way of life and then
threaten the locals lives if they do not obay. That does not sound like
what