Ariana N.

Dideban
Ms. Biggs
Honors World Literature
24 February 2016
Christianity Versus Tradition
In Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, there is an evident divide between the
tribal and Christian religion. The Ibo people believe in multiple gods, while the Christians
believe there is one God. Throughout the novel there is a constant clash between the Ibo
people and the Christian missionaries who are trying to convert the clansmen. The church
has the ability to divide the people of Umuofia by questioning the age old traditions that
once held the tribe together. The new religion goes against the teachings of the tribe, yet
attracts people due to the explanations they give to unanswered questions.
There is a great difference between the two faiths, which leads to a constant clash
within Umuofia. The gap between the two religions separates the clan into two groups
that take different stances on every issue that arises. Each religion views different topics
from distinct perspectives. When twins are born most clansmen dispose of the children
into the Evil Forest, yet the Christians do not agree with these actions and adopt them.
The new religion accepts twins and abominations against the wishes of the converts
who insist that it is wrong to accept them (Achebe 155). The argument of the church is
that they are all children of God, and that there is no difference between them (Achebe
156). This radical thinking further divides the two groups; the Christians fail to realize
why these uso are outcasts in the first place. The Christians are relentless in their mission
to spread their religion, and begin to root themselves into Ibo culture. They set up their

church, and slowly gain converts while also sending evangelists to surrounding
villages(Achebe 143). In contrast, the Ibo people accept the presence of Christianity,
but do not force their religion upon others. When Mr. Brown spoke with Akunna, a clan
leader, he insisted that there was one God, and that the minor gods that Akunna spoke of
were fake (Achebe 179). He claims that when an Ibo carved a piece of wood and calls
it a god, that it is still a piece of wood with no true meaning behind it (Achebe 179).
There is a persistent belittling of the Ibo culture by the Christians. The missionaries do
not know that the spirits and the smaller gods act as messengers to the main god. When
there is dialogue between these two people, there is an evident disparity between their
cultures. There is a sense of hostility that is too prominent to disregard.
The son of Okonkwo, Nwoye, is a perfect example of a villager attracted to
Christianity and the answers they presented to his questions. There were always holes and
loose ends that arose in the traditional religion. Nwoye and the other converts craved for
answers that they were not receiving with the old practices. The arrival of the
missionaries shook up the Ibo way of life and exposed the insecurities and doubts that
polluted Nwoyes mind. The way the missionaries burst into song had an effect of
plucking at silent and dusty emotions held in their hearts (Achebe 146). The
missionaries had a commanding presence that attracted some of the Ibos (Achebe 144).
They had an air of superiority that forced the Ibo people to listen to them. Their message
rang loud and clear among the tribe and when the Christians stated that they were all
sons of God people like Nwoye felt a sense of equality and acceptance that was lacking
in their lives (Achebe 145). There was no class divide or societal standards that restricted
them from being themselves. In addition, the church survived while being located in the

evil forest. This outcome was the complete opposite of what the clansmen wanted. In fact
they wanted to give them a real battlefield so they could show their victory", but as
they awaited their doom they were still alive (Achebe 149-151) Much to their dismay
this further proved the church's legitimacy and attracted more converts. People like
Nwoye, who did not understand traditional practices like throwing twins into the evil
forest and killing the innocent, finally found a place where he felt like he was one of
them (144).
While Christianity appealed to some it did not appeal to a majority of clansmen.
In fact some of those who did convert were considered to be efulefu or worthless, empty
men whose words did not make an impact in assemblies (Achebe 143). Yet Christianity
allowed for an escape to these people, and seemed to fill the void of previously
unanswered question. However this deep murmur that the christians created did not
affect everyone (Achebe 145). Traditionalist like Okonkwo firmly believed in their old
ways and were stubborn when it came to change. Their religion was the foundation of
their culture and was deeply rooted in their history. The death of Enoch, the python killer,
was further proof that their gods were watching over them. There were constant eerie
reminders that the Ibo people received, like the oracle who prophesied that the
missionaries would break their clan while spreading destruction among them
(Achebe 138). The church had the power to get in between the people of Umuofia.
Brothers were put against brothers and the bond of religion that had once unified them
was shattered by the arrival of the missionaries. Even though the Ibo people disliked the
ideologies of the church and the converts they still belonged to the same tribe (Achebe
155).

Furthermore, as the novel progresses the differences between the two groups
deepen, and there is a clear divide between the new and the old. The ideologies of the
church differ from those of the tribe, which creates constant friction regarding ensuing
conflicts. The stance of the church attracts people like Nwoye who doubt the teachings of
their traditional religion. The Christians manage to shake up the tribe as they claim that
the gods the Ibo people believe in are false. Yet to traditional clansmen like Okonkwo
they find no logic in the actions of the church. The disunity of the tribe leads to never
ending conflict that becomes more tragic as brothers are being put against each other. It
seems that Achebe is trying to portray the Ibo people grasping onto the foundations that
once held the tribe together before it all started to fall apart.