'Mum, God is white,' exclaimed my son as we sat watching TV. Taken aback, I explained to him that God wasn't white, Chinese, Indian nor black, God is a spirit! I could not blame him and many other black children(or other non-white children) for thinking this way because all their children bibles are filled with God( usually depicted as a white grandpa sitting in the clouds) and all other biblical characters as white, with the image of Jesus as Blond with blue eyes.
Since that incident, my children's bible are illustrated with Afro Caribbean people. Yes, even Jesus is illustrated as black. Why is one person 's (a group, in this case) illustration of Christ/ God more important or accurate than my own especially when it's about the message, not ethnicity?
Some people believe that the fact that you are black you are automatically religious; either Christianity or Islam. There may be an iota of truth to that stance but for me I beg to differ. I did not become a Christian because of my family (I was raised in a Moslem home) nor because I am African, but because I read/researched into all the main religions, Islam, Buddhism, Ancestorial African faith;ifa et al, but felt at peace with Christianity. For a long while Christianity was just head knowledge, went from one denomination to other(Morman, Jehovah's witnesses, Church of England) until God did the spiritual part.
On the flip side of that, many people in our community feel it's almost an obligation to say they believe in God (Christian or Moslem God) when in fact they truly have faith in the traditional gods, Ifa, Sango, Iyemoja, to name a few. This point is demonstrated when so called 'Christians' have trial and tribulations the first thing is 'let's go to Baba(traditional herbalists/priests).' It's not just
a Nollywood thing, sadly, it's real life for most Africans. I have noticed that in African/afro Caribbean community that is fashionable to proclaim godliness, when in fact
these said people may be atheists.
When I meet African people that are openly atheist, or see the world differently from the Christian or Islamic world view and are not afraid to not only say so but live so, I greatly admire them. If a western man, specifically a Caucasian says he does not believe in God, it is not as admirable to me as when an African does the same.
At least knowing that they believe in something different from me, gives us a chance to debate and talk about what we believe and why we believe it to be right, instead of collectively shouting hallelujah without knowing perhaps we are not on the same page.
I respect free thinkers, people who think the way they do not because of cultural dictates and sociatal expectation, but through their own judgement, rational and research. People who do not do things just because pastor/society/culture says it's okay, but who go home and read their bibles/books and use their senses. It says in the bible ' Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have' 1st Peter 3:15. For instance if you asked a friend; 'why do you eat apples first thing in the morning?, and they responded by saying: ' well errm, I don't know, that's what most people do where I come from.' That is hardly likely to convince, or draw you to do it. However, if said friend responded by saying; 'I eat apples in the morning because I find it has helped with my constipation, and only started doing so after doing some research and seen how doing so has helped many people in different countries around the world.'
