It’s a Swahili translation of the Lord’s Prayer, arranged and translated by a native speaker, arranged as traditional African music (which the composer studied academically), and performed by a choir made up of native speakers.
And it won a Grammy (the first piece of game music to do so).
I’d say it celebrates a cultural corner of the world. Why do you say its racist?
On the one hand, many people in Africa are Christians. But on the other hand, much of Africa did not have any contact with Christianity until colonialism. So I can definitely see how it could be seen as celebrating colonialism.
Ethiopian Coptics are some of the oldest Christian groups in the world. You could (and I think they do) argue they predate Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox.
Founded only 5 years after the Council of Nicea in 330 AD. Prosecution of Christianity in the Roman Empire under Emperor Constantine had only ended 12 years before, with the Edict of Milan decriminalizing open worship of Christ.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from the evil one.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.
It’s funny you pick this line because I was just thinking about it recently. Many of Christ’s words are not meant to be easy to understand, in fact they often perplexed his own disciples.
My own take on this passage is that following Christ’s message, truly following it (such as love your enemies for example) will not be something everyone can do. When some in a family can truly love someone society tells them to hate (i.e. commonly discriminated group of people) and the rest can’t, this will sow division.
Sometimes we have to stand up to our own families in order to truly love others. It’s much easier to just keep things “peaceful” in the family, at a cost of your slowly deteriorating soul/spirit.
Isn’t it also racist?
Explain how.
It’s a Swahili translation of the Lord’s Prayer, arranged and translated by a native speaker, arranged as traditional African music (which the composer studied academically), and performed by a choir made up of native speakers.
And it won a Grammy (the first piece of game music to do so).
I’d say it celebrates a cultural corner of the world. Why do you say its racist?
There are two races. White and Political™.
On the one hand, many people in Africa are Christians. But on the other hand, much of Africa did not have any contact with Christianity until colonialism. So I can definitely see how it could be seen as celebrating colonialism.
Ethiopian Coptics are some of the oldest Christian groups in the world. You could (and I think they do) argue they predate Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox.
Founded only 5 years after the Council of Nicea in 330 AD. Prosecution of Christianity in the Roman Empire under Emperor Constantine had only ended 12 years before, with the Edict of Milan decriminalizing open worship of Christ.
(To continue to play devil’s advocate here:)
True, but is Swahili spoken much in Ethiopia? If the song is an homage to the Coptics, why not sing it in Coptic, or even Amharic?
He didn’t say colonialism. He said racism.
Don’t move the goalposts. This isn’t defending the point, its making the whole argument look bad by deflection.
Look, I’m not saying the song is racist, just pointing out why someone might believe that.
Besides, colonialism and racism go hand in hand. One necessarily leads to the other.
When the Rus founded Kyiv, did they do so because they were racist against the Slavs or because they wanted a trade route on the Dnipr?
When the Phoenicians settled in Carthage, was it racism or did they want to control trade access to the Mediterranean?
When Hrolfr settled in Normandy, was he racist against the Franks? Why then, did he immediately marry a Frank and join their kingdom under their laws?
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Here it is. I don’t see anything racist in it.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Sounds pretty generically Christian. Not the most hateful thing I’ve read today.
True Christianity is beautiful. It’s what people have done with it that have made it otherwise. Read the teachings of Jesus.
Matthew 10:34-36
34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.
Truly beautiful bro.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5: 1 - 10
Stop talking to me :) you vile book concerns only you, not me.
“Stop replying to my public comments on a social media platform!”
…seriously?
Of course :) I can write whatever I want.
It’s funny you pick this line because I was just thinking about it recently. Many of Christ’s words are not meant to be easy to understand, in fact they often perplexed his own disciples.
My own take on this passage is that following Christ’s message, truly following it (such as love your enemies for example) will not be something everyone can do. When some in a family can truly love someone society tells them to hate (i.e. commonly discriminated group of people) and the rest can’t, this will sow division.
Sometimes we have to stand up to our own families in order to truly love others. It’s much easier to just keep things “peaceful” in the family, at a cost of your slowly deteriorating soul/spirit.
That’s my take.