"Jesus Will Make You Itch": Encountering Other in Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible
Location
Beaman A&B
Presentation Type
Presentation
Start Date
23-9-2013 2:00 PM
Description
Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible follows one family’s mission to bring order and the message of Christ to the Belgian Congo of the 60s. This religious mission, however, cannot be separated from the political turmoil that occurred during the last months of colonial rule over the Congo. This talk will examine the complexities of encountering “other” from a position of cultural assumption, misunderstanding and power. Professor Trout will look at what happens when religion and politics combine to produce a monolithic view of Western culture as superior and one that often allows people in positions of power to justify imposing dominion over those we assume want and need help. With humor and great compassion, Kingsolver suggests that even well intentioned Christianity and Nationalism are paradoxical in nature—when “other” translates to “lesser,” the treatment of other reflects hypocrisy and arrogance and creates a breeding ground for violence.
Recommended Citation
Trout, Sue, ""Jesus Will Make You Itch": Encountering Other in Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible" (2013). Humanities Symposium. 28.
https://repository.belmont.edu/humanities_symposium/2013/2013/28
"Jesus Will Make You Itch": Encountering Other in Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible
Beaman A&B
Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible follows one family’s mission to bring order and the message of Christ to the Belgian Congo of the 60s. This religious mission, however, cannot be separated from the political turmoil that occurred during the last months of colonial rule over the Congo. This talk will examine the complexities of encountering “other” from a position of cultural assumption, misunderstanding and power. Professor Trout will look at what happens when religion and politics combine to produce a monolithic view of Western culture as superior and one that often allows people in positions of power to justify imposing dominion over those we assume want and need help. With humor and great compassion, Kingsolver suggests that even well intentioned Christianity and Nationalism are paradoxical in nature—when “other” translates to “lesser,” the treatment of other reflects hypocrisy and arrogance and creates a breeding ground for violence.
Comments
Convocation Credit: Academic Lecture