African American Religion
The topic for discussion is the impact religion had between the African Americans and the Europeans that had migrated to Colonial America. This topic being very vast I will be focusing on specifically the Christian group the Puritans and the African American religion of Christianity. The argument that could be made is that even though both groups shared beliefs of the Christianity faith the Puritans lead a contradictory life style. The Puritans believed in being a Godly people extended a gospel message not only to friends and family but also to all of the community. It could be said that participating in the acts of slavery was not providing a positive example to all involved. Also, the way that the Puritans would treat each other one could
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This book provides details on how the African Americans beliefs and practices. They believed that God created the universe and everything in it. Many African peoples also believed that there were additional supernatural spirits (some of them ancestors) who acted in the daily lives of human beings to protect them from harm. If people lived good lives and honored the spirits and ancestors by prayer and sacrifice, all would be well. If people did evil, however, or neglected the spirits, they not only lost the spirits’ protection, they risked arousing their anger. Spirits, though invisible, took form in human mediums, as well as in masks, medicines, and material containers that gave people physical access to their spiritual power. Ritual brought human beings and spirits into direct contact through ceremonial drumming, singing, and dancing, which moved priests and worshipers to enter into trancelike states in which they acted and spoke as the spirits themselves. [7] The religious practices of the African American people were looked down upon through the Puritans eyes even if they closely practiced the same religion. The Puritans and African Americans involved in slavery were mostly of the Christian denomination. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa provides in insight from a slave and gives an excerpt on religion, which will showcase the first hand account of slavery perspective. I remember in the vessel in which I was brought over, in the men's apartment, there were several brothers, who, in the sale, were sold in different lots; and it was very moving on this occasion to see and hear their cries at parting. O, ye nominal Christians! might not an African ask you, learned you this from your God, who says unto you, Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you? Is it not enough that we are torn from our country and
This book provides details on how the African Americans beliefs and practices. They believed that God created the universe and everything in it. Many African peoples also believed that there were additional supernatural spirits (some of them ancestors) who acted in the daily lives of human beings to protect them from harm. If people lived good lives and honored the spirits and ancestors by prayer and sacrifice, all would be well. If people did evil, however, or neglected the spirits, they not only lost the spirits’ protection, they risked arousing their anger. Spirits, though invisible, took form in human mediums, as well as in masks, medicines, and material containers that gave people physical access to their spiritual power. Ritual brought human beings and spirits into direct contact through ceremonial drumming, singing, and dancing, which moved priests and worshipers to enter into trancelike states in which they acted and spoke as the spirits themselves. [7] The religious practices of the African American people were looked down upon through the Puritans eyes even if they closely practiced the same religion. The Puritans and African Americans involved in slavery were mostly of the Christian denomination. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa provides in insight from a slave and gives an excerpt on religion, which will showcase the first hand account of slavery perspective. I remember in the vessel in which I was brought over, in the men's apartment, there were several brothers, who, in the sale, were sold in different lots; and it was very moving on this occasion to see and hear their cries at parting. O, ye nominal Christians! might not an African ask you, learned you this from your God, who says unto you, Do unto all men as you would men should do unto you? Is it not enough that we are torn from our country and