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Olaudah Equiano Influence On Religion

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Religion in the 18th century and Equiano’s time was concentrated around Christianity. Olaudah Equiano was an African born abolitionist and author. Also known as Gustavas Vassa, he published his autobiography named The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, . . . the African. He narrated his life starting from his childhood to his experiences as a free man emphasizing his embrace of the European religion while, towards the end, arguing against slavery. More specifically, this paper explores how his transition from a non-believer to a fully committed Christian changed his course of life and strengthens his motivation against the slavery.
Equiano presented his paper as a spiritual autobiography portraying his conversion to Christianity. Prior embracing Christianity he believed in the Creator who “lives in the sun.” To be more specific, his previous religion focused more on the ideas of unity and respectability rather personal salvation and eternity. Hence, he describes how when …show more content…
He strongly believes that no man has any right over another. By describing how brutal slavery was, he gave the readers an insight on the purpose of his reasoning. He gave many examples on how the slaves in the West Indies were treated. “At the sight of this land of bondage, a fresh horror ran through all my frame, and chilled me to the heart. My former slavery now rose in dreadful review to my mind, and displayed nothing but misery, stripes [whipping], and chains” , this exert shows how seeing those sights reminded him of the harsh treatment he went through. He endured a lot of prejudice throughout his entire life, even when he was a free man, but that did not stop him from being direct on his wishes to abolish slavery. He mentions how “[t]ortures, murder, and every other imaginable barbarity and iniquity, are practiced upon the poor slaves with impunity. [He] hope the slave trade will be abolished”

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