{"id":39310,"date":"2024-11-05T13:28:27","date_gmt":"2024-11-05T21:28:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=39310"},"modified":"2024-11-05T13:28:27","modified_gmt":"2024-11-05T21:28:27","slug":"reading-the-gospels-in-cape-town","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/reading-the-gospels-in-cape-town\/","title":{"rendered":"Reading the Gospels in Cape Town"},"content":{"rendered":"

What I Believe Through Story<\/span><\/h3>\n

My understanding of slavery and colonialism has been shaped over the years through the lens of literature\u2014both as a student of English literature and as a teacher of it. Writers like George Orwell,[1]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Malcolm X,[2]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Maya Angelou, Russell Baker, and Flannery O\u2019Connor[3]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0illuminated the complex dynamics of colonialism, revealing the ways in which oppressive systems force conformity and suppress authentic human freedom. O’Connor, in particular, was instrumental in helping me see past the surface of religious oppression, showing that beneath the fa\u00e7ade of authority often lies confusion and indecision. Stories and books have been my teachers in this journey of understanding, offering both knowledge and empathy.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most profound sources of learning came from\u00a0Barracoon: The Story of the Last \u201cBlack Cargo\u201d<\/span>[4]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0by Zora Neale Hurston. Hurston recounts the harrowing experiences of Oluale Kossola (who later took the name Cudjo Lewis), one of the last survivors of the transatlantic slave trade. Kossola\u2019s firsthand account, detailing his capture by an African tribe and his six-week journey across the Atlantic on the last slave ship,\u00a0Clotilda<\/span>, brought the brutal realities of slavery to life in a deeply personal and painful way. It is through these stories that I have come to better understand the systemic and individual horrors of slavery.<\/span><\/p>\n

What I Believe Theologically<\/span><\/h3>\n

The theological dimension of slavery is one I\u2019ve wrestled with over the years, particularly through the biblical story of Joseph. Sold into slavery by his own brothers, Joseph\u2019s journey is marked by betrayal, suffering, and eventual redemption. His famous words to his brothers\u2014\u201cYou meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive\u201d[5]<\/a><\/sup>\u2014speak to a profound mystery of divine Providence in the face of human evil. Though slavery is depicted in the Bible in ways that acknowledge its brutal and dehumanizing nature, it also highlights God\u2019s ability to bring about deliverance. The Exodus story, in which God frees the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, is a powerful reminder of Divine intervention in the face of systemic oppression.<\/span><\/p>\n

As I reflect on modern-day instances of slavery, such as sex trafficking, I often pray for the same kind of deliverance God brought to the Israelites. This is not just a historical event for me\u2014it is a living hope for freedom and justice in the world today.<\/span><\/p>\n

I grew up in a community where the horror of slavery and genocide was discussed openly. My family often spoke of the Holocaust and the transatlantic slave trade, and my teachers and professors helped me see the deep sinfulness of slavery in American history. In a previous\u00a0post<\/a><\/span>, I shared how the Holocaust affected my family\u2014particularly my grandfather\u2019s mental health and my mother\u2019s emotional well-being. If I never read a single passage of Scripture, I would still be convicted that slavery and colonialism are among the most destructive forces in history. These practices have interrupted the course of entire peoples\u2019 histories, robbing them of inheritance, wealth, and familial bonds.<\/span><\/p>\n

When considering historical suffering, I often reflect on the many groups who have endured persecution, and I recognize that comparisons between different peoples\u2019 suffering can be complex. For example, while the Jewish people faced horrific persecution during the Holocaust, other groups have also experienced immense pain and loss:<\/span><\/p>\n