Things Fall Apart Religion Analysis

Religion as a Beneficial Asset to Humans Religion has existed on earth for thousands of years. Everywhere around the world, there are a myriad of places for worship: churches, monasteries, temples, mosques, synagogues, shrines, etc. Religion has become universal and the basis of many human lives. In Things Fall Apart, a novel by Chinua Achebe, religion is an important element of the lives of all characters. This novel takes place in 1890s Nigeria within the clan Umuofia and focuses on the indigenous Ibo people who live there and the Christian missionaries from Europe who attempt to colonize their land. The Ibo people follow their own Ibo religion while the Europeans follow Christianity. Throughout the novel, both the Ibo people and Christians …show more content…
In the novel, the narrator says “The Oracle was called Agbala, and people came from far and near to consult it. They came when misfortune dogged their steps or when they had a dispute with their neighbors” (Achebe 16). By believing in someone like Agbala, the Ibo people feel that they have someone to look up to. It helps them believe that they are not going through life alone with their eyes closed. By having someone to guide them through life, it gives their lives purpose and a sense of direction. To add on to this, in an article titled “The Importance of Religion for Humanity”, it says “there is no doubt that these early spiritual beliefs acted as a guide for humans to explain the world around them” (Montville). The Ibo people live in a place and time where many things happen that can not be easily explained. Because of this, they looked to religion as a guide. Without it, the Ibo people would live through confusion about who, where, and what they are. By having a religion to lead and provide them answers, life was more comfortable and reassuring. It gave the Ibo people stability in their lives and the belief that religion is one thing they can accept as pure and