Introduction to the Choas

In some of Langston Hughes' writing he deals with the issue of Religion and often the reader will see that for most of his life he has conflicting views when it comes to religion. His views on it is like a roller coaster one minute he is for it the next he does not believe in it. Also, in his writing about religion he points out how people tends to "pimp" out God and how some people  make Him in their image of who they think He is and they make His teachings convenient and flexible enough to follow Him. Hughes was not afraid to voice his opinion when it comes to religion. Sometimes that would strike a nerve with some African Americans who uses religion as a way to escape the  oppression from the dominant culture. They often looked at religion as a beacon of hope of going to heaven and finally being free from oppression. The pieces that  I picked out  reflects not only his conflicting views of religion and his viewpoint of how society treats religion. Also, it will show you how the roller coaster effect takes place in his work. In these selected pieces you will see how his life experiences affects his views on religion and  the environment in which he was in can also have an affect to where  he stood when it comes to this topic. This was an interesting topic for me to do because I found it interesting that he questions a subject that people found part of their lives. Also, he was not afraid to challenge authority and he was not afraid to address his curiosity and concern about religion. While reading some of these texts I noticed that he brought a comedic feel to some of his writings but at the same time it made you think, 'why would the character make religion into something that would benefit them financially instead of spiritually?' Many people believe that Langston Hughes wrote some of his work about religion only to  throw people's faith under the bus and being disrespectful to their faith. I think what he is doing is writing about not only his upbringing in the church but what he has observed and his opinion about it. Also, in the article called "Tambourine to Glory" Loften Mitchell explained that, "Religion meant a lot to Langston. He and Richard Wright had been victims of the same kind of religious fundamentalism in their childhood. so they had expectations about religion that religion did not deliver, and they hated dishonesty in the church. This statement that is made by Mitchell makes Hughes an atheist. I do not think that he felt the church was dishonest I think they wanted a true faith, especially Langston; For example, in Hughes short story Salvation he talks about how his aunt told him when he accepts Christ into his heart something inside of him will be different. In this story when he is a boy he does not see Jesus like his aunt told him. Which is the beginning of him questioning religion and what folk his aunts' age are traditional.

Temptation

I choose this story because Simple talks about race when it comes to religion he asks questions like was Adam and Eve white ? Hughes shows that some people in this world try to understand religion and they make it fit their mold. This was an interesting story because of Simple's logic of the bible is relatable because everyone aks questions about religion and they ask questions about the history behind it.

Simple and his Sins

This story that Hughes wrote show Simple sin which shows that he only cares about outward appearances instead of inward appearances. Also, Hughes shows that women in society are under a lot of pressure in order to look good and to keep his appearance. Hughes shows readers that it is only a matter of time for one's sins to be put in the light. The person tells Simple that his sins will one day come up for all to know.

Simple Prays a Prayer

I choose this story because it shows the character Simple using prayer as a way to get even with the Dominant culture. Also, it shows that Hughes talks about how people use religion in order to let bad things to happen to people. Also, in this story you see that the mysterious character starts asking questions like God wants people to treat other people right. I think what Hughes is pointing out that people abuses religion in order to not only get even with those that have done wrong with them but also they like to say one thing and do something different.

Tambourines

This poem shows shows Hughes believes in God and he realizes that life in this world does not last very long, and God is long and limitless. Another reason I choose this poem because it shows Hughes believes in God and that he is praising God for everything he has done. Also, when I saw the title  Tambourines what came to mind for me is the instructment that people use in the church during worship time.

Goodbye Christ

This poem is deep it shows telling God that people uses religion for their financial gain and He might as well just pack his bags and just leave. Also, Hughes is configuring Jesus as a prostitute and religious leaders are pimping Him out. After reading this poem it shows Hughes asserting his atheism views. Hughes has a moment of realization that society is held back because they have religion.

Moan

I selected this poem because it shows Hughes questioning how to get to heaven and you see him apologizing for everything he has done. Also, the reader see Hughes is very optimistic about going to heaven. After reading this poem I saw that Hughes is coming back to religion and we see him curious and wanting to know how a person goes to heaven. I found it interesting that he wanted to know how to get there because he went from I realize that I might be going to hell to how does one go to heaven despite what I have done n my life?

Fire

In the poem Fire I choose this one because it shows Hughes having guilt and thinking back to all of the stuff he has done in his lifetime. Also, he understands that he is going to hell for what has done and it has a rhetorical aspect to it. Hughes does the rhetorical as a preacher in order to heightened the momentum.

Judgement Day

I decided to put this in my reader because this poem shows that Langston Hughes believes that God exist and he wants to go to heaven. After reading this I felt that Hughes was having a conversation with God and telling Him that he is ready for heaven and all of His glory. Rollercoaster effectwise his stand when it comes to religion that he believes that there is a God and a Heaven.

Prayer [1]

I choose the poem  Prayer because after reading this it sounds like Hughes is asking God all of these questions like which of his sin does He bear? and which way to take when it comes to his walk in faith. Also, this poem is relatable because everyone has these questions about which path to take and how much of our sins does God hold. This poem shows Hughes' uncertaintity about where he stood in his walk with God.

Trouble with the Angels

After reading  Trouble with the Angels I liked how Langston Hughes puts religion on stage and how he shows readers that people often expect God to fix all their problems. I picked this story because the title sounded  interesting because I was thinking to myself, why are angels trouble? as I kept reading the story it  showed how the Dominant culture perceived what  heaven is like for colored people which I found funny because I was thinking shouldn't heaven be a peaceful and a place that is unified ? I think what Hughes is showing is that people look to religion as a way to erase what they are going through. Instead of facing the trails and tribulations head on and learning from this experience. For example, when the Negro actor who played God comes to Washington for a performance many Negroes who lived in Washington wrote letters to him telling him that they are planning a protest and they want his help. After getting the letter he tells him that he does not want to take part in the protest because he did not want to get into trouble with Equity. Also, he did not want to cause hate and trouble in Washington but to promote peace and beauty. While reading this I realized that Hughes painted God as a peaceful loving God and not an angry, hateful God who smites people.

Rock, Church

The next short story I chose is called Rock, Church I selected this story because first off I found it amusing to read and I found myself getting into the story. After reading this story I felt that Langston Hughes wanted to show how some people use religion for the wrong reasons instead of using it as a way to grow in one's faith and as a way to find hope. Hughes make his point of how people use religion as a way to gain fame and fortune. In the story you have the protagonist Elder William Jones who comes up with a plan to become a widely known preacher like Billy Graham, so he does this by telling his congregation and the entire community of St. Louis and East St. Louis  that he is going to crucify himself and raise from the dead the next day and then he takes an offering.

Salvation

The reason I chose Salvation by Langston Hughes is because this story is relates to me because I grew up in the church where they would have all the children in the santuary come to the altar to be saved.There have been times when I would question is it true what they say about accepting Christ into your heart something does something really happen to you on the inside? Another reason, I picked this story is because this was the beginning of Langston Hughes questioning religion at an early age. This is the beginning stages of Langston Hughes questioning religion and if what people believe about religion is true.