Story by Langston Hughes

The following is a story I read for Composition class, and I was wondering what your thoughts on this were. It is a story called <i>Salvation</i> by Langston Hughes.

Salvation

I was saved from sin when I was going on thirteen. But not really saved. It happened like this. There was a big revival at my Aunti Reed's church. Every night for weeks there had been much preaching, singing, praying, and shouting, and some very hardened sinners had been brought to Christ, and the membership of the church had grown by leaps and bounds. Then just before the revival ended, they held a special meeting for childtren, "to bring the young lambs to the fold." My aunt spoke of it for days ahead. That night I was excorted to the front row and placed on the mourners' bench with all the other young sinners, who had not yet been brought to Jesus.

My aunt told me that when you were saved you saw a light, and something happened to you inside! And Jesus came into your life! And God was with you from then on! She said you could see and hear and feel Jesus in your soul. I believed her. I had heard a great many old people say the same thing and it seemed to me they ought to know. So I sat there calmly in the hot, crowded church, waiting for Jesus to come to me.

The preacher preached a wonderful rhythimical sermon, all moans and shouts and lonely cries and dire pictures of hell, and then he sang a song about the ninety and nine safe in the fold, but one little lamb was left out in the cold. Then he said: "Won't you come? Won't you come to Jesus? Young lambs, won't you come?" And he held out his arms to all us young sinners there on the mourners' bench. And the little girls cried. And some of them jumped up and went to Jesus right away. But most of us just sat there.

A great many older people came and knelt around us and prayed, old women with jet-black faces and braided hair, old men with work-gnarled hands. And the church sang a song about the lower lights are burning, some poor sinners are to be saved. And the whole building rocked with prayer and song.

Still I kept waiting to <i>see</i> Jesus.

Finally all the young people had gone to the altar and were saved, but one boy and me. He was a rounder's son named Westley. Westley and I were surrounded by sisters and deacons praying. It was very hot in the church, and getting late now. Finally Westley said to me in a whisper: "God damn! I'm tired o' sitting here. Let's get up and be saved." So he got up and was saved.

Then I was left all alone on the mourners' bench. My aunt came and knelt at my knees and cried, while prayers and songs swirled all around me in the little church. The whole congregation prayed for me alone, in a mighty wail of moans and voices. And I kept waiting serenely for Jesus, waiting, waiting--but he didn't come. I wanted to see him, but nothing happened to me. Nothing! I wanted something to happen to me, but nothing happened.

I heard the songs and the minister saying: "Why don't you come? My dear child, why don't you come to Jesus? Jesus is waiting for you. He wants you. Why don't you come? Sister Reed, what is this child's name?"

"Langston," my aunt sobbed.

"Langson, why don't you come? Why don't you come and be saved? Oh, Lamb of God! Why don't you come?"

Now it was really getting late. I began to be ashamed of myself, holding everything up for so long. I began to wonder what God thought about Westley, who certainly hadn't seen Jesus either, but who was now sitting proudly on the platform, swinging his knickerbockered legs and grinning down at me, surrounded by deacons and old women on their knees praying. God had not struck Westley dead for taking his name in vain of for lying in the temple. So I decided that maybe to save further trouble, I'd better lie, too, and say that Jesus had come, and get up and be saved.

So I got up.

Suddenly the whole room broke into a sea of shouting, as they saw me rise. Waves of rejoicing swept the place. Women leaped in the air. My aunt threw her arms around me. The minister took me by the hand and led me to the platform.

When things quieted down, in a hushed silence, punctuated by a few ecstatic "Amens," all the new young lambs were blessed in the name of God. Then joyous singing filled the room.

That night, for the last time in my life but one--for I was a big boy twelve years old--I cried. I cried, in bed alone, and couldn't stop. I buried my head under the quilts, but my aunt heard me. She woke up and told my uncle I was crying because the Holy Ghost had come into my life, and because I had seen Jesus. But I was really crying because I couldn't bear to tell her that I had lied, that I had deceived everybody in the church, and I hadn't seen Jesus, and that now I didn't believe there was Jesus any more, since he didn't come to help me.

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So what are your thoughts?

 

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I think it sounds pretty typical.

My Dad was raised all hellfire and brimstone, Southern Baptist. He was told over and over that God would smite you for doing anything wrong, but then saw his brothers doing all sorts of bad stuff and never getting caught at all. He figured it was just the newest fable to keep him in line, like Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

He was telling me about something fairly similar to what was in this story, where they line up the kids and ask them to come forward if they accept Jesus. They listened to this list of all the things that would happen to you when Jesus enters you - your sight will change, your feelings will change, blah, blah, blah. Freaked him right out, so when it was time to step forward he stepped BACKWARDS and had to be dragged forwards by his sisters. (He was 5 at the time)

Eventually, he says he learned to just pretend and go along with it, so he could have ice cream with the family after Church. (Sinners don't get ice cream, according to his Mom)

I am just SO grateful my parents never forced church on me...my head was screwed up enough as it was as a kid, I didn't need some weird guilt complex crammed down my throat too. (And I even bothered to THANK my parents for not making me go, too, LOL)

 

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Cute story...

I wonder if this is how many become athiest?.

my moment of triumph, when I became a Babtist, in the congregation I was in, I had recently been through a nervous break down, then one Sunday I got babtist, the experience was weird, to say the least, however I felt no Jesus, I felt no different, the only thing that was embarazing, was that I was all wet!, with no towel. That night, I went to sleep easily, cause I realized something. I was not dillusional!.

My stepbrother, had similar story to yours, however this was the priest, explaining to the congregation that Jesus was visiting their church, he explained to me, that they waited all that day, and no Jesus!!, however what did happen, is that the wind blew the doors wide open, and they took this as a sign from god, it was real windy that day he explained to me, and when the doors opened, they slamed on the sides, making everyone look back, and felt the chilly California wind, blow inside the church.

Needless to say, I became an athiest, after much studing of philosophy.

 

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You're guys are honest men alive!

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. I'm glad I was't born in Christian / Catholic family. It's sounds they teach to lie since you're a kid: "Lie, and be saved..."

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I couldn't possibly agree with you more.

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No!!

They don't teach us to lie. We are misled since we are children, then we tend to go with the flow, so we believe as everyone else does. It's very hard to think for yourself, it requires discipline, one of which is not tought!.

 

"to bring the young lambs to the fold."

Sounds like, 'treating the masses like sheep,' or even, 'lambs to the slaughter.' Using their authority to herd people.

"I wonder if this is how many become athiest?. "

I think that lots of people become atheist just because they want to rebel against their family. And then afterwards to actually think about it and truely become an atheist... The first time they are more agnostics than anything.

But I think more people who rebel against their parent's religion turn to the even wackier religions like witchcraft or satanism.

(personally i think satanism was just created for the monetary benefits.. because it really is a religion about nothing. sometimes it takes the side of 'satan', in contrast to people worshipping god. and other times it tries to say everything is a metaphor.. making simply crap just like my English 11 class - abstract and boring)

 

I told you many times that Christian priest are liar. It's their old tradition since ancient priests dare to modify original Bible. Unfortunately most of them (nowdays priest) not even realize it. They think they're doing good thing. And yes they doing good thing while teach about humanity, love, peace, etc. But when they come into messed up (by ancient priest) concept of god, they can't do nothing about it. They have to follow it, even deep in their hart feel ther is something wrong with it. That what I say about continuing lies tradition. They make yourself become their victim without realize it.

I honored some atheist because they have balls to use their rational thinking to not follow tend of what they don't believe. They have better chance to find the truth. But I don't have same respect on atheist who just follow their atheist family tradition. I pay respect on one who have guts to use their intelligence.

I knew most of todays Christian not read their bible and analyze it. I know it because I live in comunity with plenty of religions including Islam, Christian, Catholic, Hindu, Buddha, and some other infamous religion / philosophy. I saw with my own eyes, heard with my own ears. You can prove this by yourself: How many Christian in USA study their Bible? Take a 25 random samples in your nieghbourhood.

I pay respect on anyone who choose thier religion -- ANY religion including Christian -- only if they do it with full consciousness and rational thinking. Not just following tend to do as other people does. But I doubt they'll continue it after studying Bible. (I said study, not just read).

I know Islam is better because it only applied for adults. Child is pure without sin, and they only have religion duties after they have mature thinking (Baliqh=mature, 1st having periods for girls, having sperm for boys, or age about 12--14). They have a total freedom to study Qur'an (better with a guide) and decide what to do and believe. There is no force.

Perhaps you'll say about 9/11. This is my comment: What extremist done in the name of Islam is WRONG! It disgrace true value of Islam, and embarace other Moslem.

Ok, perhaps you'll say what I said is just a propaganda. Or even worst; starting war to Christian. Propaganda perhaps yes. One of my duty as Moslem is spread info (Da'wah). But I'll NEVER force you to believe. Not even trying starting a war. I apologies if there are some Christian feels bad about this. You know that my point is: I'm glad some of you using your brain. And what I said about Christian is just folowing the topic of this thread. I'm only try to do what I thought is right. I'm really sorry if I'm wrong.

 

I have a lot of respect for you guys who had to overcome your family's objections. That must've been rather difficult.

I don't think my parents cared one way or another, although dad is an athiest.

jjhlk:
"But I think more people who rebel against their parent's religion turn to the even wackier religions like witchcraft or satanism."

Of course, athiesm isn't a religion, but yeah. I've never met an athiest who decided on it just to rebel against their parents, although I'm sure they exist.

See, I was a relativly late bloomer. I've been an athiest more or less my whole life, but didn't realize it. More like agnostic/seeker, until about last September. It was more a moment of awakening, where I was thinking about a quote from Tommy Huxley on agnosticism, and about whether believing in God was as logical as believing in a geometric axiom - and I started debating it, and I eventually came to the conclusion that belief in God was irrational. Then, things just clicked.

Kinda dissapointing, actually.

Ismu:
"I'm glad I was't born in Christian / Catholic family. It's sounds they teach to lie since you're a kid: "Lie, and be saved..." "

Yeah, that's about it. I remember the first time I heard the whole Christian story as a kid - God damning the sinners to hell and all - and I just thought "That's stupid. Why would a loving, merciful God do that?"

They lie, they mislead, all in the name of God, so they think it's perfectly okay. And some actually believe their lies.

 

Lies. Yeah.

As a kid who grew up in a primarily atheist/Unitarian family, I have come to believe that the lies were on the side of the atheists. But as to my take on the story, I've never really liked the calls to the front that some churches do. I've never belonged to a church that did that sort of thing. Most people I've met say that becoming a Christian is a process. Really, the word "repent" just means to change your mind. This is the first step. No magic. No revelation. None are promised in the Bible anyway. I don't get why people would trust such an emotional experience if they have one.

The calls to the front tend to mislead in the least. People should be more careful about things than to just try jumping into Christianity on a whim because they see their friends doing it or getting accolades.

On the other side, I think it is as easy to deceive with logic as with emotion. Xev says that God is not logical as a geometric axiom is. It seems perfectly logical at first. However, many things that exist and are true are not logical along the lines of a geometric axiom. Pretty much everything along the lines of human behavior and human judgement go in this category. Even if God is along the lines of an absolute, can you quantify absolute love? Absolute justice? The real question is, can you measure something as complex as an intelligent being with logical proofs meant to define the bisection of a line? Can you hope to measure ideals in such a way? Does that make all ideals invalid? Would the invalidation include the ideal that all things could be measured by mathematical logic?

Think about it.

 

"As a kid who grew up in a primarily atheist/Unitarian family, I have come to believe that the lies were on the side of the atheists."

What lies?

"Xev says that God is not logical as a geometric axiom is."

Yes, because believing in God violates Ockham's razor.

"It seems perfectly logical at first. However, many things that exist and are true are not logical along the lines of a geometric axiom. Pretty much everything along the lines of human behavior and human judgement go in this category."

We're talking about existance, not value. Believing that love exists is not illogical, although believing that love is a good thing is illogical.

"Even if God is along the lines of an absolute, can you quantify absolute love? Absolute justice?"

Appeal to ignorence.

"The real question is, can you measure something as complex as an intelligent being with logical proofs meant to define the bisection of a line?"

I did not say that God should be as logical as geometry - or that the proof must be as logical as a geometric proof.

"Can you hope to measure ideals in such a way?"

Yes.

 

dan1123

Got an example or two?

I'm sure the "bisection of a line" makes an adequate analogy to you, but perhaps you could explain further. It seems you are trying to say that logic is only intended to measure, to determine quantity. This is, well, illogical.

Actually, I'm attempting to do that right now, in my spare time.

On the contrary, such logical explanation of ideals/ethics and such would serve to strengthen their validity by providing a logical basis.

See previous response.

 

Logic cannot explain feelings. It cannot explain the love felt when a couple gets engaged, or the grief felt after a person dies. Those experiences have no real or lasting meaning under logic. These are things that the atheist has to deny. Denying the meaning of such things is the lie of atheism. Denying that people are unique and above all other living things is another lie.

These lies breed the lowering of value in life. Such things lead to depression and suicide.

Of course, I know you have already built up defenses in your ideology for such a frontal attack, so I will just make light of the whole thing:

God is Truth you fools! You are doomed to burn in hell for not believing in Jesus! Repent! Repent! Repennnnt!

 

"Logic cannot explain feelings. It cannot explain the love felt when a couple gets engaged, or the grief felt after a person dies. "

Yes it can, through science, neuroanatomy and chemistry.

"Those experiences have no real or lasting meaning under logic."

Non sequiter.

"These are things that the atheist has to deny. Denying the meaning of such things is the lie of atheism. Denying that people are unique and above all other living things is another lie."

Another leap of logic! You go from a false premise to a false conclusion! Give him a hand, people!

"These lies breed the lowering of value in life. Such things lead to depression"

Another false conclusion from a false premise!

"and suicide."

No, only auto-erotic asphyxiation.

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Actually, I more or less became an athiest the day I decided not to commit suicide, well nigh six years ago. I also became much less depressed.

Consider this: if you were to make a list of kids most likely to commit suicide, I would have been on that list.

I was also an athiest, more or less.

And I've never once contemplated suicide since that day. Athiesm saved my life.

Your argument is such utter bullshit, even my ancedote destroyed it.

"Of course, I know you have already built up defenses in your ideology for such a frontal attack, so I will just make light of the whole thing:"

*Xev collapses in peals of laughter*

Yep, we start laughing our arses off!

 

dan1123

Dan1123, I think you have a very odd idea of what logic is.

1) Logic can indeed explain feelings. Our feelings are logical chemical/social mechanisms for supporting huamn social groupings, to better facilitate survival. Feelings got us through the rigours of natural selection. I have explained this all in much greater detail in other threads.

2) As for love and grief, see point 1.

Very wrong. The very existence of the human race comes under the "meaning" of these experiences. The existence of our species is very real, and very lasting.

You clearly have absolutely no idea what atheism is. Allow me to assist you by providing this link.

I don't know where you got this idea from. Any individual creature is unique, by definition. As a species we humans are unique, by definition. As a species, cane toads are unique, by definition.

Please explain logically how atheism leads to a devaluing of human life and to suicide.

 

"Feelings got us through the rigours of natural selection."

And before that, the rigours of natural selection got us Feeling.

Evolution kicks ass.

 

Thank you Xev, Adam, and jjhlk (who must have made his screenname by hitting random keys on the right side of the keyboard)

For proving my point.

By the way, is Xev the only one with a sense of humor?

 

Gota love it....

Quote Dan: "God is Truth you fools! You are doomed to burn in hell for not believing in Jesus! Repent! Repent! Repennnnt!"

First he tells us of god's love and compassion then, he threatens the hell out of us, and calls us names.

Typical

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Adam, just out of curiosity, what does believing or not believing in a god mean to you, and does it have any relevance to a persons everyday existence.

For example, i say i believe in a god, but then i go out and commit indiscriminate murders in a drive by shooting, because the drug dealers in that territory are making too much money.

Where does believing in a god come in to it?

If i was a self proffessed atheist and did the same thing, what would be the difference?

Just curious!

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Love

Jan Ardena.

 

Jan Ardeena

This thread will give you an idea what atheism and all that means to me.

As for your drive-by shooting question... I wouldn't give a damn either way what such people believed. I would not care about their religion, their politics, their sex lives, their favourite foods, or their favourite music. I'd just lock the bastards up for ever.