Religion In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart exemplifies two sharply contrasting sides of the impact that religion can have on a society, being its ability to unify and segregate the people of a community. In the book’s first part, religion acts as the glue holding together the structure of Ibo society: it is the basis that helps to found the society’s rituals, moral code, and gender roles. Religion’s position as the leading authority in the tribe also helps to communicate a major theme in the book: the idea that society determines what is worthy of respect. Yet, in parts two and three of the book, the introduction of another religion, Christianity, to the tribe of Umuofia divides the Ibo people and creates immense controversy. Furthermore, even though there are major similarities in the religion of the Ibo and Christianity, the various more minor
As mentioned prior, part one of the book highlights both the drastic prominence of religion in Ibo culture and its natural state before the occurrence of change. This portion of the book shows that the practices and morals of the Igbo people’s religion have a direct impact on the tribe's choices in rituals, ceremonies, and even punishments. One of the items used by the Ibo people, known as the "Oracle of the Hills and the Caves," is a prime example of religion's impact on the tribe. The article both guides them and determines whether or not their tribe is permitted to perform certain actions, such as declare war against another clan, "And there were indeed occasions when the Oracle had forbidden Umuofia to wage a war." Such an object helps to exude the themes of respect and sin, which are quite important in understanding the meaning of Things Fall Apart. If the tribe continues to follow the guidelines of their religion and take the Oracle’s advice, then it will be able to maintain respect; however, if it does not, then both its reputation and respect will be lost, as the tribe has become lost in sin.