An atheist explains why the world needs Christianity

Matthew Parris cares about results and knows success when he sees it. A “confirmed atheist,” he nonetheless says Africa needs the God of whom Christians speak. The world goes unmentioned. But Africa as he defines it is everywhere:

[A] great weight grinds down the individual spirit, stunting curiosity. People won't take the initiative, won't take things into their own hands or on their own shoulders.

The tremendous passivity of which Parris speaks is characteristic of the downtrodden everywhere. The same passivity rules the roost in multi-unit apartment complexes across North America in which human beings warehouse themselves for an eternity, self-medicate on television, booze, and cigarettes, and await the next SSI check and food pantry handout. But change is not impossible:

Whenever we entered a territory worked by missionaries, we had to acknowledge that something changed in the faces of the people we passed and spoke to: something in their eyes, the way they approached you direct, man-to-man, without looking down or away.  [snip]

In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.

An excellent unintended consequence. Whenever "Africa" is thus transformed, "Europe" takes another look at herself and wonders why she is such a prick. Or so one would hope.

Read the whole thing.

Comments

[steph]

I think religion is good for alot of people. It gives them self confidence, hope, a sense of purpose and reason for being, and even a reason to be good. It is not just Christianity that provides this. It is just that it seems that Christianity is the only religion introduced to people in Africa witnessed by Matthew Parris.

[JohnFH]

I agree.

My best African friends when I was a pastor in Sicily were Muslim Senegalese. They were Muslims of a revivalist form of Islam. They were as truthful and righteous as anyone I've ever met.

Their iman, a sort of Billy Graham figure (they showed me videos), instructed them to give their first born male children a Christian name. Christian leaders in the area reciprocated, instructing their faithful to give their first born males the name of Muhammed.

My friends told me that Islam is a religion of peace. Their version is.

[steph]

The name exchange is interesting. What a wonderful idea. And precisely. Though even an unrevived version of Islam, like Christianity, can be truthful, righteous and peaceful. My degree was studying Islam before Christianity and I know my Muslim friends are committed to these qualities.