Igbo vs. Christian Belief

Christianity

Christianity is the world's biggest religion, with about 2.1 billion followers worldwide. It is based on the teachings of Jesus Christ who lived in the Holy Land 2,000 years ago. (BBC, 2014)

Igbo's Beliefs

Key beliefs

Similarity

• The Igbo believed in the Supreme being (Chukwu), and in the afterlife
• Chukwu lived far away in the sky
• He was the creator of all living things and he controlled their activities as well
• The Igbo expressed that nothing happens by chance;fate is not and option
• Everything - good health, or illness, fortunes, or misfortune was decided by the will of god

• The Igbo society had a concept of a man's personal god (chi)
• A person with good chi was always successful in his or her endeavors
• While a person with bad chi was unfortunate and would do labour without rewards

• Christians believe that there is only one God, who is all-powerful and all-knowing.
• Most Christians believe that God is a Trinity made up of the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.
• The second person of the Trinity, God the Son, became a human being in the person of Jesus. (BBC, 2014)

• Christianity's equivalent to this concept is one's guardian angel
• Guardian angels protects their individual from harm, and bad luck.
• They also prevent their individual from going astray.

They believed that one must live in peace with one's ancestors in order to prosper

The End

Highlighted religious figures potrayed in the novel include the Oracle, and the earth goddess Ani

Difference

The Igbo believe in a variety of spirits that dwell in forests, land, oceans, etc.

Christianity believes in God's spirit that dwells inside of them

The Importance of Ani

• Ani is the earth being, the great mother goddess, and the spirit of fertility
• She has her own special priestess dedicated to her (Ezeani) who was very important to the aspects of town life.
• The priestess officiated all the religious ceremonies concerning Ani and dealt with all the crimes (sins) that were committed against her.
• Their presence was crucial when dealing with matters of incest, birth, death and burial arrangements.
• Ultimately when a citizen passes on, the bosom of Ani is where they will be left to rest if they are deserving of it.

[Ezeani]: “Take away your kola nut. I shall not eat in the house of a man who has no respect for our gods and ancestors" (22).

Works Cited

During the week of peace Okonkwo beat his wife which is considered a sin against the earth goddess because she would disapprove of the deed.

Ezeani the priestess of the goddess expresses her disappointment of Okonkwo due to his disrespect.

Difference

• The people of Umuofia believe that when one man commits a sin against the goddess, she will punish the entire village, not just the offender, unless the sin is atoned for.
• Thus the people of Umuofia live an interdependent lifestyle with each man’s behavior having consequences on the rest of the clan.

• Igbo people have no symbols of their god Chukwu because no one knew what he looked like.
• Special altars or shrines were rarely kept for his worship since the igbo people believed he was everywhere at the same time

• Christian beliefs attributes Jesus as a man with lightly tanned skin, long hair and with some facial hair.
• Both cultures do not know what their gods actually look like however Christian followers used their imagination to create a portrait of what his appearance could have been.

"And in fairness to Umuofia it should be recorded that it never went to war unless its case was clear and just and was accepted as such by its Oracle – the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves. And there were indeed occasions when the Oracle had forbidden Umuofia to wage a war. If the clan had disobeyed the Oracle they would surely have been beaten, because their dreaded agadi-nwayi would never fight what the Ibo call a fight of blame" (Achebe, 9).

• The Umuofia were extremely superstitious and believed in their gods and spirits wholeheartedly.
• Not only did they cherish their spirits they also feared them as well.
• Consequently, the Igbo society never made significant decisions without first confronting the gods via the oracle.

http://www.amazon.com/Things-Fall-Apart-Chinua-Achebe/dp/0385474547

https://clareowensthingsfallapart.wordpress.com

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https://www.pinterest.com/pcturk/things-fall-apart/

http://numerocinqmagazine.com/2011/10/14/eternal-recurrence-the-permanent-relevance-of-william-butler-yeatss-the-second-coming-essay-by-patrick-j-keane/

http://igbocybershrine.com/tag/ani/

http://www.africaresource.com/rasta/sesostris-the-great-the-egyptian-hercules/ani-the-mother-of-the-igbos-the-many-manifestations-of-ishtar/

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http://www.shenvi.org/Essays/WhyChristianity.htm

http://www.clipartpanda.com/categories/jesus-clip-art-black-and-white

http://dreamatico.com/jesus.html

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http://chikaforafrica.com/2012/08/21/origin-of-corruption-in-africa-and-the-way-forward/

http://www.snipview.com/q/Igbo_society

http://www.hamillgallery.com/IGBO/IgboIkenga/IgboIkengaFigures/IgboIkenga72.html

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Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. New York: Anchor, 1994. Print.

"Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe (Audiobook) Chapter 4." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 19 May 2015. <

"Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe (Audiobook) Chapter 2." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 19 May 2015. <

"Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe (Audiobook) Chapter 3." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 19 May 2015. <

BBC News. BBC, 2014. Web. 19 May 2015.

Similarity

They have a similar belief system

Both have a god that creates and rules all

The Oracle

Both religions have a "Satan" of some sort

Ani

Igbo's equivalency of Satan is Ekwensu whose prime goal was to lead people astray.

Similarity

If one commits a sin one shall not have a happy afterlife

"He [Unoka] died of the swelling which was an abomination to the earth goddess. When a man was afflicted with swelling in the stomach and the limbs he was not allowed to die in the house. He was carried to the Evil Forest and left there to die. There was the story of a very stubborn man who staggered back to his house and had to be carried again to the forest and tied to a tree. The sickness was an abomination to the earth, and so the victim could not be buried in her bowels. He died and rotted away above the earth, and was not given the first of the second burial. Such was Unoka’s fate" (13).

The lazy Unoka dies of an abominable illness. His death seems to be a sort of divine justice, for sinning against his family by not providing for them.

For Christianity people believed that if they commit a sin that they do not atone for they will go to hell, not heaven.

The arrival of Christianity is essentially what makes things fall apart in many societies including the Igbo culture.

Despite the fact that religion itself varies from culture to culture faith is universal. During this presentation you will be informed on the differences and similarities between the beliefs of the Igbo society and Christianity.

• The novel portrays the impact of a western culture on the Igbo society.
• It depicts how the citizens of Umuofia have to adapt to new changes and beliefs due to Christianity
• Throughout the story things, cultures and relationships do fall apart as you progress towards the end.

*this presentation contains sound

Igbo vs. Christian belief