How did Christianity change this culture?

Christianity had a profound impact on the culture and lifestyle of the Sawi people. First and foremost, it completely redesigned the theological, cosmic and social hierarchic order that they had beforehand.

Prior to the evangelization of the Sawi, they believed that the cosmos was ordered by the commands of spirits and demons. Any disruptance in the metaphysical universe would create a shift in the balance of the cosmos, as well as hatred from the demons upon the person who caused such disruptance. Consequently, this belief created the notion that men and women should avoid any and all form of contact with the metaphysical. Christianity changed this. As conversion spread among the Sawi, the earlier notion was soon forgotten and the connection with the metaphysical (God) was encouraged. It was no longer a theology that focused on the harm and wrath of the demons but on the benevolence of a Creator.

Socially, Christianity debunked the supposedly prowess and versatility of the witch doctors with the supernatural/metaphysical. During the early stages of the Sawi evangelization most of the populace was baffled at the challenge that Richardson made to the witch of the tribe regarding the validity of her work. This challenge reveals the underlying theme of examining new perspectives in order to make an educated belief regarding our ideology. The Sawi kept an open mind to the words of Richardson despite the fact that it contradicted values established aeons ago. It was only through this that they were able to fully comprehend the erroneous way in which they were living: blindly following the words of a phony. Through Christianity, the counterfeit of witchcraft was revealed and proven false, hence changing the social order of the commune. Their pagan lifestyle and traditions (headhunting, fattening with friendship, etc) were also metamorphosized through Christianity, which brought pace and settlements between tribes and also among the bodies of the Sawi people. Social change was also seen through the healthcare services provided by both Carol and Don, which help assuage the grievances and harsh conditions of the jungle.

I can only gather from this list of change that Christianity brought nothing but good to the Sawi people. It is truly a blessing that Richardson evangelized these people before enterprises and businesses corrupted them to the extent that it would have been almost impossible for them to change their heathen ways.

“Conversion is not implanting eyes, for they exist already; but giving them a right direction, which they have not”

What reflections and connections can you make with this novel?

As I reflect back on Peace Child I begin to see more clearly the themes conveyed amidst the grimness and beauty of the plot. One theme that I found was that men and women are not provided with knowledge, which has been concealed for us to reveal. And it is through this revelation that the understanding of the knowledge occurs so that we may know what is true.

For a person to know something, the concept must only be understood but also believed in, for without belief there is no truth. This belief can only come from the revelation of what is hidden, such as the belief in God that the Sawi had after understanding and knowing the true divine implications of the Peace Child truce formed between two tribes.

It is also through in this Peace Child that I grasped the significance of sacrificing for the

greater good of a community. The Peace Child sacrifice embodies the conflict between our

morals/ethics and our natural instincts. People are naturally inclined to choose what is more

beneficial to us, hence the extreme seriousness of the Peace Child. However, it is only through

the sacrifice of one man that the whole tribe can find peace and tranquility. Similarly, Richardson's

voyage into Sawi territory for the glory of the kingdom of God proves to be another sacrifice for

the greater good of the Sawi people. This good comes not only from the conversion of the Sawi

but also from the healthcare, tools and technology that were brought there. Despite the hostile

conditions that Richardson knew beforehand, an omen for the hardships to come, he sacrificed

his life for the Sawi people.

I currently cannot personally relate to this experience, given that I have never done anything

can come close to such feat. However, it does motivate me to do something similar in the future.

It motivates me to perhaps someday be able to put my needs aside for the good of others.

“To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being” - John Lubbock

What concepts in the Sawi culture intrigued / reviled / saddened / angered / surprised you?

From the wide array of ideas and concepts presented in Peace Child, the two that I found the most shocking were that of 'fattening with friendship for the slaughter' and the Peace Child itself.

When my eyes first fell upon this concept during the book I felt irritated and bewildered. Irritated because I have always disliked the idea of betrayal, as I find it to be a way of not only shattering a relationship but also to brand yourself with the trademark of distrust. Bewildered because I could not understand why not carry on with a relationship that could bring much good to both tribes instead of wasting all efforts away with treachery? And yet, it was this when I realized that people continue to do this nowadays through schmoozing and false praise. Men and women often seek to gain things from others by feeding them compliments, which will eventually intoxicate people to the extent that they can't see past the lies that they have been told. What is the difference? Besides cannibalism, there is not a significant difference between these two; both still involve flattering a person through false adulation/friendship in order to gain something in return. The betrayal lies not in the killing, but in the dishonesty of it all.

Contrasting to this gruesome concept lies the peace child; a tradition which I believe is by far the most obvious redemptive analogy I have ever come across. It seems very ironic that a culture that places those who commit treachery in the highest pedestal of the social ladder could create a concept that perfectly embodies the sacrifice of Jesus. This made me realize that though the Sawi men valued treachery, the peace child concept contrasted it so much that it almost made their whole culture seem hypocritical! And that is what I found to be the most beautiful part of this book. That despite the hardships that are presented at first glance (some that would surely convince me of not going), a man was willing to reveal the message that the Sawi had already known for aeons before, yet could not fathom the true meaning behind it.

Every beauty which is seen here by persons of perception resembles more than anything else that celestial source from which we all are come. - Michelangelo

What should society do for “uncivilized cultures” like the Sawi?

In this modern and fast-paced world, it has become evident that it is necessary for people, cultures and governments to strive for globalisation in order to develop a harmonious international environment. Yet, globalisation has its implications, namely that since our world will deviate from nationalism and self-interest there will be a loss of culture. Furthermore, because countries are aiming to compete/level up to the standards imposed by the west, particularly America, and because the English language is commonly associated with the creation of a global environment, many believe that westernization equals globalisation.

Personally, I believe that society should enlighten and try to create equilibrium between 'uncivilized' societies and 'civilized' ones. Nevertheless, this should be done in a way that the original culture can be preserved instead of replaced. In the past, the way that 'civilized' cultures attempted to modernize and upbring other's was through replacing the already existing culture with that of their own. For instance, Native Americans in the United States were the aborigines of the land and legitimate 'Americans'. As Europeans began colonizing the 'New World', they replaced the Native American cultures with that of their own through displacement, discrimination and death. Their culture has been diminished to such an extent that today only 0.8% of the population of the United States are Native or Alaskan Americans. Similar situations have existed throughout history and continue to exist today with ideas such as ethnic 'cleansing' and racial superiority.

For these reasons, I believe that the work of NGOs, whether promoting a religion or providing humanitarian aid, are the best way to ensure that the culture of a civilization can remain unchanged while still providing the advantages of the 'civilized' culture. No culture deserves to be exterminated or undermined by others. In spite of there being cultures that are more influential than others, it certainly does not mean that they are superior.

“Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?” - Ernest Gaines

Choose a representative passage from this novel that holds particular significence to you.

It is quite an ordeal to search through the pages of this book and find a particular passage that was meaningful to me, because i remember being awestruck many times throughout my readings. However if it cam to a single excerpt it would have to be the moment when Richardson and his family first visited their new accommodations.

'Outside, the drumming [from a ceremonial dance] came to a sudden halt, and the chanting boiled over into a wail. There was an unmistakable sound of hundreds of feet stampeding into the night...Then I saw why they had fled. Our entire home was agleam with light like some gigantic, awesome jack-o-lantern...We were not the only ones being baptized with strangeness.

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The reason why I found this passage so meaningful is because it showcases a complete view of the implications that their visit had in the Sawi. It seemed to me that Richardson was so intrigued and mesmerized by the ways of the Sawi that he was blinded from perceiving the influence that he had already made by building his home there. This passage is reminiscent of the times when people tend to dwell so much within their feelings and how their surroundings affect them that they forget the effect that they make. The diction used in the extract supports this, as words like wail and stampede reflect the extent of the impact that had taken Richardson a few moments to understand.

I believe that this passage is a wake-up call for us to begin to observe more at the alterations that we make on our environment just as much as how it changes and modifies who we are.

“For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are” - Machiavelli

How does Faith relate to the world in which we live?

Renowned Christian author, C.S. Lewis once said that "Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted in spite of your changing moods" I dearly believe that in this short phrase Lewis swiftly painted the answer of the complex landscape that is this question. Faith, to the world, is believing that something will happen is spite of contradictory thoughts or the lack of certainty on the issue. The truth is that in our modern society people tend to use faith in order to attempt to prove wrong somebody else. As I write this post I've been listening to Kanye West, and one particular song called Latitude in which he unveils the hatred that he feels to those who once told him he couldn't become what he is now. He explains how by having faith

in himself he would be able to succeed and eventually become the acclaimed celebrity that he is. However, this is a complete false faith in my opinion.

The issue with having this type of faith is that it is based on the foundations of oneself, meaning that he shows no reliance on God despite the fact that he references Him and His work many occasions. Furthermore, the problems with his faith is that he used it to succeed but the his purpose for success was only to diminish and prove people wrong. His arrogant attitude had malevolent intentions, which does not model the Christian lifestyle. Because Kanye West decided to base his life in a self reliant faith it has caused him many problems and hardships throughout his life. This is the reason why I choose to have faith on God; I know that through this faith I will succeed not in terms of money or power, but in a way that it will benefit His plan. I know that by having faith in God, though my feelings towards Him may change and vary, my faith will be strong enough to let me see that He has blessed me and that I need to be thankful for what He has provided me with.

In essence, I feel like people tend to connect their lives very closely to their faith, and this is why faith relates to the world around us. The world tends to shape our beliefs and faith like Kanye West. He let the world influence who he was as a person and caused him to feel self-reliant and lived life boastfully, looking to prove others wrong. I challenge you to not let the world around you shape you but for you to mold the world in which you live in according to your faith.

How do I relate to faith? How did Don Richardson relate to Faith? How do the Sawi relate to faith?

Growing up as a child I would gaze in amazement at the thousands of people who would drag themselves through the ordeal of a Catholic procession. The way in which they displayed their faith and walked for miles with a heart full of devotion made me challenge my own beliefs and faith early on. Nevertheless, it is only recently that I have discovered my place within my faith and the ways in which I relate to it. Prior to my epiphany, I used to only relate to my faith when I felt like there was a m etaphysical explanation/reason for the things that occurred in my life. However, at the present I feel like I am able to perceive the glory of God in my everyday life, whereas it is some event or a certain object or phenomenom in nature.

As I began to read Peace Child, I could only stare, mouth-opened, at the way in which Richardson described his unconditional faith in God despite the dangers and the struggles that he might face ahead in his journey. Bringing a family into a mysterious land where cannibalism and head-hunting are known factors is no easy feat. Yet, Richardson makes his decision seem so straightforward and confident that it seems impossible that anything in his journey could have shaken the foundations of his faith. As the account progresses, one is able to perceive, how little by little, every other form of reliability is stripped away from him until he is only able to lean on God for survival, strength and wisdom. This reveals that Richardson definately had a strong relaionship between his faith and his struggles during his incursion into the Sawi culture. Richardson trusted God in his adventure the same way in which Hadi trusted Richardson during the moment where the Ebenezer reached the sea.

Though the Sawi trusted in spirits of their own, their life was very little related to faith in a supernatural force. In facet, considering the status-hunger that they faced, the fear of betrayal and the implications of their culture, the Sawi very much relied on the fate they had on themselves in order to succeeded in life. For example, in the beginning of the account, Richardson narrated the power and status driven life that the Sawi possessed. They relied on themselves and their skills in order to prevail and be granted a position in the microcosmic Sawi society. It is not only until the gospel touches the lives of these men and women that they begin to truly admire at the provision that God brings and the idea that people need to rely on faith in order to do what is best for them.