Race in the Beliefs of Individuals - Essay Example

Several factors influence the religion of an individual, and race plays a role in the beliefs one chooses to adopt. The statement, however, does not refer to each individual per se, but rather a broader perspective on the relationship that exists between race and religion. The first correlation the speaker makes involves the origin of Abraham, who is credited as the father of most religions, as being Middle Eastern from the area that is currently Iraq. The speaker then mentions the dream Jacob had when he fell asleep in the field on a rock and marks this as the beginning of black theology. He then illustrates the attitude the religious community had towards the black population as they were not accepted as Christians. Rather, the community placed the black people in an environment associated with inferiority and slavery. Furthermore, black people are wrongly associated with the mark of Cain, which was falsely used to misrepresent these individuals as cursed.

Father Brown states that traditionally in Exodus, the Jews would cry and tell their trials and tribulations to God who would come down to help them. Brown states that the white American religious denomination also attempted to adopt the same culture. However, West Africans had other approaches when it came to interaction with God. Hence, in this perspective, Brown illustrates the differences that existed in the religious activities of different races. He also illustrates how black West African individuals had to adapt to the Western principles of religion. Father Brown also states the discrimination that existed towards black people even in some rituals in the church. These individuals were prohibited from singing certain songs, which further shows how European Christianity made blacks inferior individuals.

The attitude that existed towards the black Catholics at that time made these individuals attend other churches that gave them the possibility to express themselves and feel the Holy Spirit. Brown relates to the fact that individuals from other races such as the Germans during the fall of the Berlin Wall also sang souls which helped them relate with the spirits. This shows the necessity of this element which was denied to the black populations in the earlier times. Brown also relates the oppression that the African Americans endured to the walls of Jericho. He states that the reason individuals during these times related to the song about Jericho was because it resembled the situation they were experiencing. The African Americans were oppressed from different angles which ranged from their masters to a regular individual on the street having a bad day. In addition, they had no one to turn to with their problems except God. Therefore, this situation made these individuals even stronger with their faith.

Brown makes connections that show how African Americans used religion to strengthen themselves, regardless of the discrimination they experienced within the church. European religion misquoted verses in the bible and made black individuals inferior. However, the black community stayed true to their faith and God, even by attending different churches where they had more freedom.