Author Archives: calexan6@uoregon.edu

Team 3: Alexander Question 1

Posted on by under global christianity

Some may say that Christianity was first introduced in Africa when Europe started to colonize it, but in fact it dates back to when Portugal was in power. You could see Catholic practices such as baptism be done on slaves before they were shipped off. This was done to show that the slave traders had somewhat of a heart because the act of baptism was seen as a Christian act of mercy even though it may have only seemed like another part of the trade process to the Africans. When colonization of Africa began to happen, Christian missionaries were set out to spread gospel and try to convert the natives. They wanted the natives to convert and to also become missionaries because they often worked for no charge so more profits for the government. The missionaries worked very close with the government and were given almost all say in education. Western Christianity and the AICs (African Initiated Churches) differed on the opinions whether or not ancestors were relevant, miracles were a way for God to communicate, and the idea of polygamy. As time goes on the AICs began to break further and further away from the European ideals and it gave them the opportunity to branch out and have more freedom in their spirituality.

 

Christianity is often fluid and will change depending on the region and the history behind it. That’s why the West and Africa seem like they have greater differences but that’s because they have experience greater pains as a whole than we have. They have seen violence and genocides take place whereas in the Western world we haven’t been subject to those acts so it makes sense that our faith is different. This is when Ubuntu comes into play. “Ubuntu describes all human beings as dependent on and responsible for one another. In the words of the well-known South African theologian and Anglican archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ubuntu is part of ‘the very essence of being human.’ It underscores the fact that ‘my humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in yours.’” (Jacobsen 62). This is a major difference between western Christians and African Christians, it strays away from focusing on oneself and instead putting a great deal of thought and compassion into the community as a whole.

 

I believe the west could learn a great deal from African Christianity. They focus a great deal on community and that isn’t what we view here in the US. Here we care mainly about what happens to me or a select few but the community as a whole isn’t helped unless it helps the individual too. I feel as though if we took the community into consideration more we would have more peace than war between one another. I’m thankful that we haven’t experienced the immense amount of pain that Africa has but I do believe that what they have gone through helps shape the way they treat one another and I hope that just by seeing that here that it could rub off onto us.

Team 3: Question 1

Posted on by under puritans

Winthrop encourages his fellow Puritans to embody their duty of mercy which he said to be “exercised in the kinds: giving, lending and forgiving of debt.” (59).  He goes on to give the definition of love through scripture which is “love is the bond of perfection” meaning that love isn’t perfect but perfection makes love (perfection being Christ). Love isn’t just one being but many beings knitted together with Christ who is perfection which then makes love. All the pieces of this body are different sizes and are just different in every way but when they are put together through Christ it becomes the most well made and beautiful body there is. Winthrop hopes to have this theme of love implemented into their new community by: professing themselves members of Christ, dual form of government (civil and ecclesiastical), do more service, love one another no matter what.

Winthrop sees the relationship between the community and God as a love relationship but more of a tough love. If one was to ignore the four articles of the community and instead they cared about their own self they would feel God’s wrath. So they have to follow the articles very strictly because that is what God expects from them. The curse of God can be avoided only be following the counsel of Micah: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”(Micah 6:8). Simply saying to take the image of being knitted together with Christ seriously. One should never go through anything alone and should not rise above his brother but instead give something up when he is in need.

Winthrop’s view on the new community directly relates to how Matthew describes it: “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”(Matthew 5:14-16). This meaning that everyone has the opportunity to be the light or guide for someone else and influence them to do good. By being good and living by the articles set in place for the community you are able to be seen and appreciated by your fellow followers of Christ. These good deeds are to not be hidden but to be shown to all and help others to rise up and be apart of the body.

I feel as though if I were to be in the situation where I was leaving England and going off to start a new life in a new community I would rely on what Winthrop is saying in his speech. Even now these sound like good and valid guidelines to live ones life. Also, coming from a place like England at the time and then being told that I am stitched together with this community by God would be very empowering in my opinion. I think having that outlook that in a way we are all literally made with God from God and I always have Him and I am connected with my peers through him would feel comforting during this big transition.

Team 3 Question 1

Posted on by under reformation

When Martin Luther was a young boy he was raised in a strict household where he endured harsh punishment by not only his father but his mother as well. His life was centered around the church and he was an alter boy as well as a member in the choir. His father had a very particular way he intended his son to grow up, he was to attend the best schools and become a lawyer. Luther took his studies very seriously while in college but nearing graduation the black plague struck and because of how it spread throughout the cities it was seen to be an act of punishment by God. While the plague was moving he was heading back home to visit his parents and got himself stuck in a near death experience in a thunderstorm. In these moments Martin vowed to God that if He spared him that he would become a monk. Martin lived and held up to his vows and went against his parents and joined the Augustinian monastery. The Augustinian monastery was a very strict monastery, the monks wore uncomfortable clothing, ate minimally, and had to be present and pray at certain times everyday and every night. He thought that this was the best place for him to separate from Earthly pleasures and devote himself completely to God. While this may be what he thought going into the monastery it isn’t what he felt he was getting out of it so he went to Rome for pilgrimage which instead of helping him feel closer it just angered him that the Papacy was overly concerned with money and material objects. This just confused him more and made him doubt his relationship with God and unsure of what he was doing there. Later becoming a priest and having to teach others the word of the Lord frightened him because he became more aware of his true feelings towards God which turned into hatred. He discovered something in Romans 1:17 that people didn’t earn their way into heaven with their righteous acts but instead it was God who saved them. This new idea was very different than the current views at the time because by saying this it meant that the church was not needed to be the middle man for an individual and God but instead the relationship could just be as is without the church. Martin Luther saw a lot wrong with the church but when he realized Pope Leo was selling forgiveness to make himself better off was when Luther wrote and published his Ninety-five Theses which talked about the wrongfulness of selling forgiveness when it wasn’t the churches to sell. The church was not happy with what he had done and wanted to get rid of it before it corrupted too many. But, because his work was printed on the new technology, the printing press, it made it easily accessible to all. Martin Luther’s theses sparked the feud between his followers and the church was the starting point for the reformation.

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