Although both authors use Christianity in their works to connect with their audience, Frederick Douglass and Phillis Wheatley go about this task in different ways. As seen in his narrative, Douglass accepts Christianity’s values, but he points blame to it as one of the means that keep African Americans enslaved. However, the same cannot be said about Wheatley’s view on the subject. She seems to embrace Christianity in its absolution in that she does not express even a hint of criticism towards it.
Douglass’ narrative tries to show the difference between the cruel actions of the southern Christian slaveholders against those of the peaceful doctrine of Christianity. This can be seen several times in his work. In one of the passages he states: “In August 1832, my master experienced religion… and after his conversion found religious sanction and support for his slaveholding cruelty” (Douglass, pg. 380).
With this, Douglass is using the actions of Captain Auld to illustrate his misuse of Christian ideals. He highlights that slaveholders who call themselves Christian use their beliefs as a “justifier of the most appalling barbarity – and a dark shelter under, which slaveholders find the strongest protection” (Douglass, pg. 398).
By shedding light on the hypocrisy of Christian slaveholders, Douglass strives to change his audience’s outlook on slavery.
In addition, the passage on page 380 also shows how Auld’s conversion to a religion based on forgiveness and peace only increases the inhumanity with which he treats his slaves because now, Auld believes he can and will be forgiven for all his offenses. Furthermore, southern Christian churches did nothing to stop the practice of slavery despite the fact that it goes against the principles preached by Christianity because they benefitted financially from their slave-based plantations.
The Essay on Christianity Christians Became The First
Christianity, the most widely distributed of the world religions, having substantial representation in all the populated continents of the globe. Its total membership may exceed 1. 7 billion people. The central element of Christianity is the person of Jesus Christ. Although Christians do not all agree on a definition of what makes Christ distinctive or unique, they agree that his life and example ...
Wheatley, on the other hand, tackles the issue of religion very dissimilarly. In order for her works to be well-received, it would have to appeal to a white Christian society. Her audience would not have been very receptive to the idea of a black woman condemning Christianity. As she begins her poem On Being Brought from Africa to America, she states: “Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land” (Wheatley, line 1).
Wheatley admits that she was once a pagan, but God pardoned her of this sin and showed her the path to redemption.
She further states: “Taught my benighted soul to understand, that there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too: Once I redemption neither sought nor knew” (Wheatley, lines 2-4).
This all-too-obvious validation of the Christian religion would have made this poem very much accepted. The ever-so-safe tone that she uses along with the idea that slaves can become Christians passively directs the reader to conclude that slavery is improper in both a religious and moral sense.
In summary, while both writers are distinguished abolitionists, they exercised distinct religious beliefs to make known the injustices of slavery. Douglass uses the brutal treatment of slaves by Christian slaveholders to accentuate how religion was being used to advance slavery, while Wheatley aims to make an example of her conversion with prominence on redemption, so that a message of equality is camouflaged behind the impression that all slaves are capable of being saved.
