Things Fall Apart By Chinua Ac :: essays research papers

Chinua Achebe wrote the novel, Things Fall Apart, which is a great piece of African literature that deals with the Ibo culture, society, and history. One place where the Ibo religion is practiced is in the village of Umuofia in Africa, where the story takes place. On the other hand, Christianity is a very common religion that is practiced all over the world. Although Christianity and Ibo are both types of religions, they have many differences. One way the religions are different is the Ibo practice polytheism and Christians practice monotheism. A second difference is the Ibo believe in animate Gods unlike Christians who believe in an inanimate God. Another contrast is the Ibo practice polygamy unlike the Christians who practice monogamy. A final contrast is the afterlives of the two religions. First of all, the Ibo practice polytheism and Christians practice monotheism. Polytheism is the belief in more than one God, and monotheism is the belief in one God. Christians believe in one supreme creator of the heavens and the earth, who is called God. In contrast, the Ibo have various gods who they worship. The conversation between Mr. Brown, a Christian missionary in the village of Umuofia, and Akunna, a member of Umuofia, explains the Ibo religion very well. Akunna said that the Ibo believe in one supreme God also, but they call him Chukwu because â€Å"he made all the world and the other gods.† Mr. Brown made the comment that the Ibo worship carved wood and Akunna replied by saying,†The tree from which it came was made by Chukwu, as indeed all the minor gods were.† Akunna also said that the Ibo â€Å"make sacrifices to the little gods, but when they fail and there is no one else to turn to they go to Chukwu.† (179-180). Another god, besides carved wood, that the Ibo worship is the Oracle of the Hills and the Caves. The Ibo believe they must do whatever the Oracle of the Hills and Caves says or they will be punished. An example of this is when the Oracle of the Hills and Caves pronounces that Ikemefuna, the boy living with Okonkwo, be killed. Since the Oracle of the Hills and Caves had said it must be done, the men of Umuofia took the boy outside the village and killed him. (57). Another god the Ibo worship is the snake, which is called the sacred python.