True Christianity

Harriet Jacobs writes about how Christianity has many different influences on different people. First, she portrays how Christianity can be used to reinforce slavery: " After the alarm caused by Nat Turner's insurrection had subsided, the slaveholders came to the conclusion that it would be well to give the slaves enoough of religious insturction to keep them for murdering their masters." The slaveholders used Christianity to justify slavery and used it against rebelling slaves.Simultaneously, Christianity is also hope for the slaves: "The congregation struck up a hymn, and sung as though they were as free as the birds that warbled round us. ... Precious are such moment to the poor slaves. If you were to hear them at suck times, you might think they were happy. But can that hour of singing and shouting sustain them through the dreary week, toiling without wages, under constant dread of the lash?" Christianity maintained the slave's sanity and ironically slavery itself. While many slaves relied on Christianity for freedom, Harriet did not seem to be dependent on religion. Instead, she was guided by the religion. There is no part of the book that shows her reliance for God's miracle. She is somewhat cynical about Christianity. During her conversation with Flint, after he joined the Episcopal church, she says: "There are sinners enough in it already [...] If I could be allowed to live like a Christian I should be glad." When I read this line, I questioned, what is the Harriet's definition of Christian? I thought she was saying that Christians are unconsious sinners. They sin but it's justified by the religion so they are not spiritually disturbed by what they do; they can live freely. But she, herself, is a Christian. So then I thought that she distinguishes her spiritually with those of the whites. Her Christianity is being morally just like the people who save and helpr her to escape. All the other Christians are just church goers. I thought that it was interesting that she distinguishes herself from her fellow slaves and from the slave masters with Christianity. She doesn't rely on spiritual miracles but she learns from it. She even clearly writes that "there is a great difference between Christianity and religion at thes outh. FI a man goes to the communion table, and pays money into the treasure of the church, no matter if it be the price of lboo, he is called religious. If a pastor has offspring by a woman not his wife, the church dismiss him, if she is a white woman; but is she is colored, it does not hinder his continuing to be their good sheperd." Its fascinating how the slaves know about this and still believes in the religion.