Perception of God's Presence in Paton's Novel Cry, the Beloved Country

Throughout the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston, there is an ongoing story of how Janie, the main character, grows up and deals with the many challenges life throws at her in her quest for her “Horizons”. A horizon is a metaphor for one’s ambitions, hopes and dreams. To be truly happy, one must conceive their own horizons, explore them and embrace them. Janie’s “horizons” evolve throughout the novel, starting as limited and socially determined, moving towards being expansive, individualized, and fully realized.

He seeks to imply that judgement of a person should be based more on the content

gods being human. He is a well developed person. You see every aspect of John.

At the realization of the truth, John breaks down and sobs, not only from seeing how his race had been devastated before, but also at the realization that all the knowledge he had gathered as a child was false. In his unyielding desire to learn more, he never thought of what would happen once he gained the knowledge that he wanted, and if he would be satisfied if it revealed something he didn’t want to learn.

Being a priest, living in a small town in South Africa with little-knowing of the “outside” world, Stephen Kumalo has changed over the course of his journey through Johannesburg. As humans, we are all prone to make mistakes and also make changes. When experiencing a life changing moment, it can be hard to accept to the circumstances that are presented. It will be a big step in life and if you just have a little faith and trust your heart, you will be

During the 1930s there was a time period known as the Harlem Renaissance, during this time African Americans sought a newfound cultural freedom and advancements in social classes. In the novel, Their Eyes Are Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston portrays both similarities and departures from the ideals of the Harlem Renaissance. Hurston uses the main character Janie to illustrate these ideals such as the struggle to find oneself and fight against the opinions of others. In addition Hurston also depicts issues and similarities like African Americans who achieved high social classes and discriminated those below them, racial segregation, but also a new found African American confidence. She also demonstrates departures from the Harlem Renaissance

Father Gregory Boyle’s Tattoos of the Heart, tells of his experiences during the time he served in Homeboy Industries and of how he saw God’s work in those who felt as if they had no hope in becoming better people nor getting better lives, and how things turned around for them. In this book, he teaches gangsters that the Kingdom of God is for everyone, that it is never too late to start a loving relationship with Him, and that they are always welcome to come back to their Creator. Father Gregory, more fondly called as “G”, demonstrates this act of bringing shalom by using theology, in his own manner, to influence his actions, way of thinking, and words.

She leaves the reader with an awareness of God’s presence and help. Equiano on the other hand found comfort when he was with his sister, or around people who spoke the same language as him, and showed him care and serenity. Equiano did refer to the bible and to God, but only to thank him, and not as much as Rowlandson.

Some times the question of “Where is God” surfaces with all the adversities, and I find myself asking “what is God doing for all these people who are suffering?” But however amidst all the issues I know that He is there, and all these problems and conflicts do not change the fact that God exists, and I still have hope for change for these suffering people no matter what the circumstance.

God is not only there-an actually existent being; he is personal and we can relate to him in a personal way” (Alin, 2015).

He struggles to get out his prayer, because he is unsure that he will be

Introduction: God guides and protects us through all crisis by showing his power in faith to overcome. Sometimes we ask God “help us” or “save us” only when a crisis is present in our lives and forget

The time of the 1940’s in South Africa was defined by racial oppression of the native inhabitants of the country by the Dutch Boers, also known as the Afrikaners. These people were the demographic minority yet also the political majority. They executed almost complete control over the lives of the natives through asinine rules and harsh punishments. The highly esteemed novel Cry, the Beloved Country tells a story of Stephen Kumalo, a black priest dealing with the struggles of living in the South Africa during this time. His son killed a white man and on the day his son is to be hanged for this crime, Kumalo climbs a mountain in order to reflect on the current situation both in his family and in his country. In chapter 36 of Cry, the

"I will make darkness light before them and crooked things straight. These things I will do unto them and not forsake them” Isaiah 42:16. God promises to be there for His people as long as one believes in Him. The Kumalo family lives in a poor colored city in South Africa where they are constantly surrounded by the brokenness of the world. Knowing God will not forsake them helps one with building a strong connection with him. It is through this faith that Stephen, a priest, and devoted father, is able to find hope in the dark world he faces. Throughout the book Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton the flawed main character, Stephen Kumalo is able to go through the redemption cycle because of his relationship with God.

Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton, is the timeless novel about South Africa in the 1940’s. As powerful white men use the land for their own benefit, the tribal system of the African natives is broken down and replaced by poverty, homelessness, fear, and violence. A black priest, Stephen Kumalo, ventures to the great city of Johannesburg in search of his lost sister and son. His journey demonstrates the unhealthy lifestyle and mutinous atmosphere of the black people; yet he is the beholder of forgiveness, love, hope, and the restoration of a country overwhelmed with problems.