As a Christian who grew up in Pakistan (formerly part of British India), it is a somewhat familiar story. I witnessed even in my father, a devout believer, a love-hate relationship with missionaries, though "hate" is too strong a word. On one level, their schools provided the education that allowed him to eventually get his PhD from UT Austin. They also laughed at his father when he told them that his agreement to work as a pastor in a remote village was contingent upon the church providing his children an education. "How much education?" the missionaries somewhat patronizingly asked in a synodical meeting. "At least to the MA level" (equivalent of college), my grandfather, a great believer in an educated church, answered. They laughed, he could not accept his assignment, and so he was kicked out of the church. He freelanced as an evangelist and insurance salesman, all his children became teachers, and my father eventually lead the Church of Pakistan as its moderator. I bring this up not to discuss the question of authority, but provide a snapshot of the complexities of post-colonialism, specifically as it intersects with religion.

In my class, I attempt to illustrate the messy lines that this creates. First we talk about how we assess cultural and religious values when they are greatly in conflict. Should we be happy or sad that British colonial rule did away with the practice of the abandonment of newly born twins in the forest? And whatever direction we choose, what is our basis for our choice? Is it wrong that the organically connected spiritual and cultural and judicial structures of Igbo society were supplanted by Western jusctice, that was applied with no consideration of traditional sensibilities? When we make value judgements are we aware that there is some external standard to which we are comparing things? Do we believe such an external standard exists? Is it too simply a cultural construction?

Even though it was a soul wrenching class, I am thanful that my critical theory classes in English studies taught me to ask these questions. Of course, given the separation of church and state, I am not really permitted to offer my answers to these questions. And so, I simply point out the complexities and get the students to think. I point out how many Africans and indeed African Americans are now devout Christians despite the fact that that religion was brought to their ancestors in a very conflicted fashion.

Today, to illustrate this point I told my class of how at my church, every Sunday we sing a song in French (a language of the colonists) and at least one in an African language itself, and that immigrants from Africa lead us in these songs. And even in this simple statement with no proselytization, I probably brushed rather close to the fine line of keeping church and state separate.

Here, though, I can say freely that though these issues are so messy and often beyond my mental or emotional ability to untangle into clean lines and relationships, thankfully, for God in heaven it is not. He's got this whole messy, knotted ball in his patient, just, loving hands.

Great novel. I'd also recommend Arrow of God by Achebe. It's good that you're being challenged this way.

You have some really cool stuff at your site. I'm sure gonna come back here. About a year ago I started: http://www.wnyprogressreport.wnymedia.net/?p=2 , So without further delays