YOU CAN’T BE BLACK, ‘WOKE’ AND CHRISTIAN Cheyanne Ntangu
White Jesus hasn’t done anything for us, according to the pro-black non-Christian communities as they call for an awakening among their fellow people.
Complicated Topic....The Spiritual Ideas back of Scripture on which Western Christianity is based is Universal having roots in Ancient Africa - As the cradle of humanity and civilization.
When we conflate the Spiritual Ideas in Scripture with the Theology of Western Christianity then we are proverbially "throwing out the babe with the bath water".
Interpretation of Scripture among Christian sects is Not Monolithic...as Some Christian communities fought to abolish the practices of Slavery and Racism...Quakers.
The Ethiopians Orthodox and Egyptian Coptic are some of the oldest Christian Sects among whom Racism and the practise of chattel Slavery is practically non existent.
They urge them to put the crucifix and holy oil away because Christianity is not for black people as it was brought by the slave master to Africa to oppress Africans, and we should opt for our own African gods.
The fact that Christianity was bought to many Africans by the Oppressors. In my opinion is not enough to justify discarding Christianity out of hand without first finding what Universal Values it Contains.
The Scriptures is not about oppression but expression of Livingness individually and collectively.
And if you don’t, unfortunately, you’re not ‘woke’ enough.
In fact, you’re fast asleep.
Anyone who imbues skin color with the facilities of Character is Asleep
Pantheist and student, Pauline Aphiaa, 20, told us: “[if black people] wish to set their eyes on a higher power and bend their knee to pray to and worship something then perhaps our own African gods are the best way to go. At least we thought of them ourselves, we worship them ourselves, we tell their stories ourselves, they are gods made by us and for us and I think that’s the best it’s ever going to be.”
First one should know that The Natural Energies represented by the Gods is neither racial or cultural but Universal.....And that theirs is no harm if one is going to Anthropomorphize these non human Forces of Nature to also choose a race and cultural for them that you are also comfortable with.
Aphiaa explains the newly coined term ‘woke’ as being “educated. I’m not talking about the education you receive, but the self-education you have taught yourself.”
Being ‘woke’ relates to one being aware of what is going on in community, in terms of social inequality, racism and also being aware of oneself and one’s heritage.
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“[It’s] the understanding of the world, and people without being ignorant. The injustice, true history, racism, sexism and having the desire create a difference to change inequality and educate people,” she adds.
The church has always been a part of the identity of the black community but how has the Christian God benefited blacks?
In the West, Christians both fought for and against Slavery the Slave trade and Racism....John Brown.
“Christianity was brought to Africa for no other reason than to lift up, glorify and sublimate the white man into a position of power over black people. Christianity was brought to control us, oppress us and keep us controlled and oppressed long after the white man had left Africa,” says Aphiaa.
This is not true in the case of Ethiopian and Egyptian Christianity.
Yes...In the case of Official Western European Christianity tied to politics and economic aspirations, Christianity was used to facilitate and justify the oppression and abuse of Afrikan populations. In these Christian Institution the corrupting influence of politics and greed set the agenda and philosophy that underpins their theologies.
She adds: “Christianity was used as a tool not only to speed up the process of slavery by getting black people to align themselves with a common belief (of something that was both above them and above the whites) but also to justify the slavery & ill treatment we suffered at the hands of white men.”
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There’s a famous saying by the first president of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta, that reads: “When the missionaries came to Africa, we had the land and they had the bible. They taught us how to pray with our eyes closed and when we opened them, they had the land and we had the bible.”
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However, Olivia Masengi, 20, argues: “If you are woke and a Christian I think it should come from a place of loving everyone the same and treating everyone with love and respect. With this, the basic of valuing everyone’s opinion but knowing what the word of God says takes that oxymoron away.”
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The slave trade has left a bitter taste, as blacks express how the beliefs of African gods have been demonised and replaced with the Christian God.
Inherent in Christianity is concept of Proselytizing/Evangelizing for converts
When the slave masters imposed their religion and rules banning Africans from worshipping African gods.
Syncretization
The church has always been a part of the identity of the black community but how has the Christian God benefited blacks?
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