Salvation- Langston Hughes
After reading the short story "Salvation" by Langston Hughes, comment on the following:
Overall, how effective is Hughes' story about this childhood event? At the narrative's conclusion, did you empathize with him or have a different reaction? Comment and respond to two of your classmates' blogs.
Langston Hughes story about his childhood experience, about getting saved was very descriptive. He allowed the reader to jump into the story as if they were the ones sitting on the alter. His sense of imagery made the story very effective. In a way i empathize with Hughes because as a child you don't you tend to listen you your elders. and that is basically what Hughes was doing when his aunt told him after being saved Jesus would come into his life. Because he was young he took what his aunt sid literally. so, when he was asked to be saved he refused because he was waiting for Jesus. But because of the pressure from the church he gave in not by his own will but by the will of everyone else, he became a non believer. So yeah i can see why he would become a non-believer.
ReplyDeletei can agree with all that was said as i can share the same feeling to the pice as it was very discripyive and the use of the writters imagination was very will seen
DeleteIts very true that the feeling of being there is implied. I don't think he became a none believer; he just didn't fully understand what salvation is all about. so he had that doubt in his head that there is a Jesus from beginning to start with.
DeleteI strongly agree with you, while reading the descriptive story, the reader can feel like if it were them experiencing the moment. When people experience something gone 'not well', they feel like ' I don't care for it anymore.' that is what happened to Hughes, as he couldn't literally see and feel Jesus, he closed his mind to ' I don't believe in Him anymore.' he just needs some time to think of really being saved now.
DeleteYes i agree it is a descriptive story that allow the reader to feel the emotion that the character Hughes was going through. I felt if i was place in his position i would have done the same thing. the pressure from the congregation played a big role in his life that day.
DeleteI totally agree with you, every reasonable human being would certainly do the same thing. I really think the pastor was not even working with Jesus, because if he was, he would have been able to tell that some people were merely acting out in order to avoid embarrassment.
DeleteI agree as well as Hughes' story on salvation was very effective as it showed graphical displays of what actually happened. Growing up as children, we always believe that whatever we are told must be true so we tend to follow it, in this case Hughes became a non-believer because he expected Jesus to come and be present instead of believing in his holy spirit.
DeleteHis story is effective because it can be related to other people’s experience and he gets across very clearly the impact adults can have on a child. He gives us a clear atmosphere with facts; and if you have ever been to a church you can find yourself placed in that situation he was in. you can picture yourself at church sitting, watching and hearing the preacher. He tells us that the major impact that adults had on him was to stop believing in Jesus. Because as a child every story or anything adults tell you, you believe it’s true. I remember one time my grandfather telling me he got his hair white because a bucket of white pain had drop on him.
ReplyDeleteI do empathize with him because I had a similar experience, I was brought to Jesus but I did not understand what I was doing back then and what it meant. I didn't stop believing in Jesus but I can see that the pressure he had on and the expectation he had,to see the light and feel Jesus, made him not to believe Jesus exist .
may experience from the peace was that as rosel penados that adult can play a very ,if not an overwhelming big part in the live of children as my children today look to their family elders to lead them down a rewarding path that will lead to the betterment of them. in the story the writer trays to make the reade rfeel like they are the one that in the church at the time and they are fully involved in what is happening around him
DeleteI do agree with you Rosel; Langston is telling his experience that other people can agree that they experience that same feeling. being young, you'd not be able to understand a lot of things older people are talking about, but as you get older you start to piece the puzzle into place that seems to make sense. many young people are experiencing this same story today.
DeleteAdults do have a great impact on children's beliefs. I agree with Rosel, most people are thrust into the church at a very young age and most of them do not understand what it means.
DeleteI also agree that sometimes children are pressured to much on doing things they don't understand. Adults should find ways on how to make them understand instead of just forcing them, because instead of achieving what they want they can end up confusing the child.
DeleteIt is so true that kids can easily be convinced. Since he was still a child, he couldn't think that Jesus would come in a spiritual way, rather, he took it literally. I think anybody would have done the same thing being in the same situation and not wanting to be the odd one out.
DeleteThe impact adults have on children's lives are implausible. They don't even realize how much they influence a child's thoughts, demeanor, and actions. Kids were born to please their elders and if they don't they don't they feel immoral and adults let them feel that way; that it is wrong to not be obedient. That is why most children are coerced into doing things that they don't really want to do.
DeleteAttending church and Christianity is forced onto kids at a young age and most kids don't know why they go to church and what is the meaning of it. This should be a choice you make when you are old enough to understand.
it is true that some parents are different than others, and children do believe what adults tells them. sometimes when we go to church we see how people are singing and preaching and we tend to do the same because we think that's the right way to do it. Like Rosel Penados says "that children believes every story adults told children they think it is true."
Deletesometimes parents tend to know everything but in reality they affect the child mentality by forcing them to know something that they don't even know yet.
i found the story of langston hughes ceto be very dinamic and full of creativity and much sense of wander as the young child w lost in all he was told and what he expected from the situation in which he was placed and the misinterpritation of what had really happen and what these event cause the child to think after all was said an done.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you said the child misinterpret the situation. it is dynamic and full of creativity.
DeleteI agree with you too with that kids misinterpret things adult tell them and sometimes they might find themselves doing it the way they understood them and get scold by their parents.There are certain things a child doesn't fully understand so tell them in a way they would but do not pressure them into understanding.
DeleteLangston Hughes is sharing his salvation experience in a very effective way that will have a major impact on the decision making of other people towards salvation. He is clearly implying that he's not the only one that was in this situation. His story will open the minds of lot of churches and preachers on how effectively they're bring youths or young children to repentance. You have to know the real meaning of salvation to thoroughly understand what it's all about. "Being save" is something spiritual through the Holy Ghost and Jesus Christ to His heavenly Father. For example if you're drowning, salvation will not physically save you. Langston was way too young to understand what salvation is all about. he was looking for something what seem realistically physical, that is, being able to see with his eyes and touch with his hand. He was disappointed when no light was seen and Jesus did not come to save him. he obviously did not understand what he was to be save from and why did this Jesus was going to save him. Langston really wrote this story in a very creative and understandable way that grabs the attention of readers. This story really really need to reach all those churches that are forcing salvation on young people.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you! As a child we would always listen to our parents or anyone older. We often heard them saying when you are being saved a light from above would be shown on you, and as kids we wanted to see that light but we never got to see the light neither langston Hughes. As kids it left us believing it was all a lie.
DeleteHughes misunderstanding of salvation could not have happened only to him. This must have happen to many children before and after him. Children tend to believe exactly and literally what they are told. I completely agree with you.
DeleteI agree with you because children are easily tricked and will believe any thing they are told. especially when they are being told by their own family. children will also want to see and feel exactly what they are told.
DeleteI myself have accepted Christ into my life. I did it at a young age also and had no knowledge of what "being saved" was about. gradually i got older and recommitted my life back to Christ. I do agree with you.
DeleteYou are certainly right. he is not the only one that has passed through such a situation and he will not be the only one, more people will certainly have the same experience if this issue is not properly addressed. Truthfully, I am a living witness.
DeleteI agree with you with that the story will bring awareness to churches and preachers. I too have accepted Jesus until years after they made me accept Jesus as a child. Now it has change in my church. No one is force, they are now just general call outs to anyone. That's when i really felt Jesus. I saw no light, i just had the desire to go up. So everyone has different experience on how they are saved, and as a child if you hear someone telling you how it happened to them you will be excited to experience it too and might force yourself to be "saved" just to feel the same way.
DeleteI agree with you that this story will have a major impact on the decision making of other people toward salvation. People will now see that not everyone that goes up to be "saved" actually knows exactly what is happening. Especially little children. It will now force preachers and elders of the church to better inform people about what salvation is before they decide to be saved. You mentioned that he was too young to understand what being saved meant. Churches should wait until they are old enough to understand what is happening.
DeleteI surely agree with you, churches should wait until children are old enough to fully understand the meaning and concept of salvation, being saved by Jesus, instead of having them being forced to do something they do not fully understand. Due to children being so young, they except that a physical being would be there to actually save them, as they have not known the good grace of God as yet and the spiritual being of the Holy Spirit.
DeleteYes, Derwin I agree with you, as of today the older people need to sit down with the younger people and explain to them what is salvation. The reason being is because for Langston Hughes he didn't really understand what was salvation he was just doing what he sees the older person's are doing. So at the end he think he was saved when he wasn't even saved.
DeleteI totally agree. Hughes used this experience and published it not only to share what happened to him in his young years but to also reach out to people who are pressuring and to people who are being pressured. As a child you're naive and still learning the world. A child is not developed mentally as yet to take on those kind of decisions so most kids who are 'saved' are probably hypocrites. They are saved but don't even know what it means to be saved. This choice should be made when your grown and actually ready to accept God into your life and not made because your mom say it's the right thing to do.
DeleteLangston Hughes story was effective because it made me feel like I was the one going to church to be saved from sin. It explained how many young children thought they were going to be saved by Jesus shinning his light on them. The child believed that a light was going the be shined in on him/her but it wasn't so. I do empathize because as a child we all thought the same thing! Thinking that when you are saved a light would be shown on you, also having to lie in the church, I would have felt bad also.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. This story was an eye opener to most readers. It made me realize that not because everyone is doing something means that you should do it as well. Until you truely believe and is ready to commit you life Christ, and fully understand what it means to be saved then you should take action. Parents tend to force their kids into being saved and instead of feeling like they are saved, the experience changes their whole point of view on the committment.
DeleteLangston Hughes story was about him getting saved by the lord when he goes to the reveal. At the church he saw all the other kids going up cause they saw the light of Jesus. He didn't see the light so he still went up to make everyone think he saw the light and he felt bad for doing the wrong thing.
ReplyDeleteHughes childhood views of salvation is very understandable and relatable. He perfectly describes the even that unfolded that night when everyone but himself believed that he was saved. Any child put in his place would have a similar reaction. Hughes at that age couldn't have known any better. It was the way that his aunt had described what 'being saved" meant: "... when you were saved you saw a light, and something happened to you on the inside! ... you could see and hear and feel Jesus in you soul." Who was he, a twelve year old boy, to doubt his aunt, a member of the church and already saved? Adults don't realized the impact that the things they say and do have on little children. Not only at the end of his story, but all through I empathized with Langston Hughes. He was a little boy who believed what he was told and ended up becoming a nonbeliever in the process. This is what is bound to happen when people are pressured into doing something they do not understand fully.
ReplyDeleteI agree that any child put in his place would have the same reaction. Most children his age have the same reaction when they aren't informed properly. I like that you pointed out that he would't doubt what his aunt said because she is an elder in the church who was already saved. I also agree that adults don't know the impact they have on little children when it comes to the things they say and do. Children look up to adults and expect that whatever they are doing is right. Lastly, i agree that people are not supposed to be pressured into doing things they don't understand fully.
DeleteLangston Hughes Salvation story is very effective because it clearly shows how churches around the world pressure their young children to to things that they don't even understand. I think this story can serves as an advice to many christian adults, church coordinators and pastors on how to educate their children in the religion aspect. It shows that when children are pressured to much their mind can be changed from believing in Jesus to stop believing he really exists.
ReplyDeleteAccepting Christ into your life is more of an voluntary action. It shows that you are ready to make a change and commit to a new life. Young teens are weak in their mental choices, which makes it easy for them to be pressured. i do agree with you.
Deleteparents and churches should never put any child in the situation that Mr. Hughes was placed in. Their minds are too young and cannot comprehend. I believe that at a young age they should be only taught good morals and let them know Jesus and when they are older feed them whatever you want because when they are older they would have the worldly experience and knowledge not to take everything literally.
DeleteThe author, Langston Hughes, wanted to share his experience and let anybody who read his story understand that no one should be pressured or ‘forced’ to do something they don’t know about. The ‘free will’ to do something should be upon oneself, not on the people who want you to do it, even if it is for your own sake. When anyone is pressured to do something, the result isn't quite as expected! Therefore I think that Hughes’ story is very effective because he was in a lot of pressure since everyone who was with him at the mourner’s bench were now saved and he was the only one left. So that he wouldn't be the ‘odd one out’ he just decided to lie so that no chaos occurs. I do empathize with him, since when I was a child, the same thing happened to me. I didn't really understand what the meaning of ‘being saved’ was, but I just continued with the flow.
ReplyDeleteSalvation is a very touching story that teaches us about our faith in Jesus. To me it was not an effective narrative even though the church was satisfied that the children were save. The main character Langston lost his faith that day after he felt pressured by the church and his aunt for lying in the temple about not seeing Jesus. His aunt should have explain to him what it meant by "seeing the light and being save by Jesus". children are taught to obey there elders and that is what he did. i do empathize with him because he lost his faith that day. Children don't understand the true meaning of being save. If i was in his position I think would have done the save thing and just got up and walk to the platform.
ReplyDeleteI would be the first to stand and go the alter because I would not be able to handle the pressure. but in the case of the other children that went up quickly and the ones that went before him, maybe their parents had explain to them the situation more properly or told them not to take the words so literally.
DeleteI agree! To me in this the church was satisfied with seeing the children walk up and walking to the platform saying they are saved. The people in the church don't know what exactly that child is feeling inside. Either his aunt knew! Langston wanted to be saved the way they explained in the Bible not knowing its not like that.
DeleteHughes brought to attention what most people feel when an altar call is made. the same reaction that he had is what most people do. They feel ashamed or sometimes pressured about going up. Accepting Christ into your lift is something voluntary and shows a desire to change. During the period when he had encountered this experience, faith and religion were taken rather seriously. The "church life" was more of a commitment and a practice in every family. At his age, it is very easy for young teens to give into anything when under pressure. Knowing that he was the only one that did not go up when the calling happened was impacting his will. I more empathize with him because he felt pressured and he wanted to make his aunt happy.
ReplyDeleteThe story 'Salvation' by Langston Hughes clearly pictures the 'regular Christian' understanding of what it means to be saved.it is clear that the entire church understood the true meaning of salvation but failed to differentiate between those who were actually saved versus those who were merely pretending to be saved. The author identified this problem, and as a result of the persuasion from different individual in the church, he then used it to stop the embarrassment and discomfort he was causing himself, his aunty and the entire church, nevertheless it was an act against his conscience. it is excellent that the author narrated the story using the same persuasive tone produced by the aunty and the pastor. It is sad that this negative experience changed the author belief about Jesus, I would not fault him. I suggest that this story be narrated in all churches before any revival program.
ReplyDeleteI agree its a regular Christian understanding of being saved. As a child Hughes to took that understanding literally. In my view it also show him that people in the church who profess to have salvation only claim this not to be left out. He himself had to claim salvation not to be left out, to please everyone. Its sad that he lost his faith in Jesus as a result.
DeleteHughes story is effective because many persons can relate to his story. I for one is one of those persons. When you're a child like Hughes was and the adults in your life that you look up too, told you such things you can't help but to believe everything word for word. This happens because you don't know better and can't understand, and when you are placed in a situation that Hughes was places in at the church and you found that everything they were telling you is not as it is then you begin to doubt yourself or doubt if what they were telling you was really true. Then you end up as Mr. Hughes did...a non-believer.
ReplyDeletei agree with ricky because when i was young also i believed everything adults told us, i followed them i looked up to them.
DeleteI totally agree with you because you more go to follow your role model especially pay keen attention to their advice on whether things that are good you and arent good for you.
DeleteI strongly agree with you Ricky because each individual have their own role model they want to follow and be like in the future on the other hand as a child we all had to listen and do what we are told to do because if not there was consequences that we had to deal with if we dont do what we are told to do.
Deletenicely said bro...i totally agree with u. Being a kid is that whatever an adult tells you in what they believe or you heard story about it before, you tend to believe it too as well even though you didn't know if its true or not.
DeleteThe story “salvation” by Langston Hughes was very effective because it shows that how old people who goes to church and believe in Jesus believes that to be save from sin “you’ll saw a light, and something happened to you inside!” To my point of view, I believe that, that phrase was meant to be only a metaphor for the old people’s them because I think they clearly understand that Jesus exist but only as a spirit. So they used that phrase to captures their young ones attention to attend churches, so as to forgive their sins and to start believe in Jesus. However, in Langston case, when he first went to the mourner’s bench to forgive his sins, he literally believe that he would see Jesus in front of his own eyes to save him from sin but as a result, it wasn’t something like that. Hence the reason he dad to lied to the congregation that he has been saved from sin because he was left alone on the mourner’s bench and was getting late as well. I do empathize with him because as a child, he was too young to understand what it really meant to be saved from sin.
ReplyDeleteMy view is that adult should be careful how they speak to children the words they use. Some children will take those words literally as in the case of Hughes. We know that there is no light or to physically feel Jesus inside of you but he was waiting for that. In the end cost him to stop believing because he didn't experience what his Aunt told him would happen.
DeleteHughes was able to bring across his experience very effectively. His use of words describing the mood of the revival painted a picture in your minds eye what he was experiencing. He also used direct quotes to make his audience be aware that his story he was sharing was real. I can empathize with Hughes he took what he was told by his aunt literally and in the end felt deceived. He was waiting to feel Jesus in him; to see the light of the holy spirit. In the end he saw it as a sham because the child went up saying he had enough he would claim he receive salvation and nothing happen to him. In the end he too went up professing to receive salvation. He became disillusion and decided that salvation was not real and people claim to be saved but it lies. This event to me change his views on salvation causing him not to believe in God.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Hugh created tone and emotions with his words in the story. We were able to see more than what the video portrayed as we were able to see his words come to life.
DeleteThe story “salvation” by Langston Hughes was very effective because it can relate to most of life when we were younger. Adults tend to use phrases that we don’t really understand, simply because we are young. Like what aunt reed did to Langston, she told him that he would be saved, and when being save Jesus will come into our life. Langston felt that Jesus will literally appear front of him after d church sermon was over, but no that wasn’t the point. Langston created visual scene in the story. He made me felt as if I was in that church. The singing, shouting, and preaching; I could relate to that because I go to church a lot. I empathize with Langston because when as mentioned earlier when you’re young it’s not everything you will be able to understand and put to meaning and that was how he felt.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with Kenisha. It's true that adult tend to tell us what we need to do rather than explain why we need to do so. I believe the character in the story was swept up in what she was expected to do rather than doing it whole of heart.
Deleteyea, that's right! Adults tend to use phrases that we don't really understand. Especially in Langston case's, it was his first time he was expecting to see and feel about on what his aunt was really talking about in days which is the story about how to be saved from sin.
DeleteRight on point Kenisha. I believe that when it comes to becoming a Christian or being saved, parents should allow their children to make that decision on their own when they are more knowledgable about the concept.
DeleteThe story was effective because it speaks of an event that i believe occurs more often than so. Many time i myself as a child was put into that same position. I can relate because i felt conflicted. I didn't want to be that person sitting alone while everyone walked up to receive Jesus, at the same time i didn't want to lie by going up there without truly feeling that i was ready to receive Christ or that Christ was even calling me. In my mind i felt others would know that i wasn't called and be looked upon as a liar for going to join others that might genuinely have heart and seen Christ calling them. This story is many other's story as well. Hugh was able to embody the emotions of the character well as i felt that i was shared in that moment.
ReplyDeleteHughe’s story about his childhood event focuses on his understandings of his spirituality as a thirteen year old boy. It targets an audience who most likely contemplated or doubted whether or not to have faith in their religion. Getting saved at a young age, he didn't understand the true meaning of belief in his religion,which is why he felt that Jesus didn't exists anymore.This story shows us how naive young children are then and now. His expectations were based on verbal comments by his aunt, and because he didn't experience exactly what his aunt said, he didn't believe that God existed. This is very similar to what a young child would experience now. Most young children take almost everything literally. They expected exactly what is said to happen. This narrative also allows us to compare children being saved back then and children being saved now. Back then, children were forced to go up to the alter to be saved. Now, children have the choice whether or not they want to be saved.
ReplyDeleteAt the conclusion, I empathized with him because he is a naive young child who didn't know better. He expected a certain thing to happen and it didn’t. He also felt the pressure from this aunt and everyone around him to be saved. If was in his situation I would’ve probably done the same. If he was given enough information on what was truly supposed to happen, what he was going through after he thought he had lied, could’ve been avoided. Anyone that didn't know better probably would’ve had the same reaction.
When you’re young you believe what older people tell you will happen if you do certain things. So then I could say I can definitely agree with what you said about when you’re young you don’t know better.
DeleteSalvation by Langston Hughes is a descriptive short story portraying vivid imagery as seen in the pictures in the video. The story speaks of a little girl, Theresa, who went to church with her aunt to be saved from Jesus, however, her vision of Jesus was to actually see him in the form of a being and not understanding that he came in the form of the holy spirit. This story is effective in a childhood event, as growing up we are told that "Jesus is watching us" so we choose to behave and do the right thing because if we misbehave we feel like we are going to be punished. Being children, we are rather too young to understand what may be fiction or logic, and in Theresa's case she was too young to understand who Jesus really was; she just knew that he was someone that everyone was praying to and praising, so she expected him to have a physical presence and felt like if she did what she was told maybe she too would be saved. Furthermore, at the narrative's conclusion, Theresa did not believe that she was saved as she was still waiting to see Jesus in his physical presence. I showed emphathy towards Theresa, because I believe her aunt did not really explain to her what it meant to be saved by Jesus, that's why she felt like she was lied to. She felt as if though she was betrayed by the church and her aunt, because she was told that she would be saved by Jesus and she expected him to show his face, however, for her, he did not show his face and his spirtual presence was not one she had believed in. Growing up, we expect that everything should be handed to us in a physical presence, because in order to believe in it, we need to visually see it. Theresa, too, felt this same way and she gave up hope in Jesus because he didn't show up, he was just another disappointment to her childhood.
ReplyDeleteI agree but the reason that he was very disappointed was that he did not properly understand that this was not a physical person. So they should rightly let an adult choose this important step in their life. It should be between them an Christ.
DeleteLangston Hughes story (Salvation) in which he shared his experience when was going on thirteen years old, is very effective upon some people life especially those who go to church and use to go to church. Most people had experienced similar things like what Hughes did. The effect of this story (salvation) is very powerful to those who can relate to it and also who understand his situation. It illustrates how people give up satisfying their self to satisfy others such as family members and those who are very close to them. This story put a whole other meaning to being saved, it made me think about the youngsters that are baptized and those who are about to be baptize ,if it was or is their choice, or was it their parents or family members request to have them baptized. When someone is ready to do something and have done what they wanted to do you can see the excitement and pleasure in their facial impression. This story (salvation) shows how easily someone can pretend. Hughes didn’t satisfy his self and even after he had done what he did he felt guilty and wonder if what they elders had shared with him was true.
ReplyDeleteAt the narrative’s conclusion, I did empathize with him because when you are young you don’t know things unless you are being told or if you experience thing. Most of the time you believe what the elderly people tell you. If he was guided properly, he would have known what was the true sign of being saved. Honestly If I was in Hughes situation I certainly would have done the samething what he did.
Langston Hughes’s story tells about how he was forced into receiving Christ at a young age by his peers, relatives and preacher. Most people can relate to it also, me for example I went to a Seventh Day Adventist high school and during their “chapel” time they would encourage people to step forward to give their life to Christ. My home room teacher kept pushing and pushing me to go give me life to Christ and before I know it all the teachers were around me praying around me and telling me it’s the right thing to do and so forth but I didn't give in because I have already made up my mind and I was at age where I knew what I was doing. Langston Hughes was told that when you were saved you would see a light and feel something inside and when everyone was pressuring him he was so confused and got frustrated that he just stood and made his way to the alter. . In end he felt guilty for what he did, he lied to his aunt because he didn't see the light or felt something inside. This proves that younger children are easily influence by elders and also gives into pressure easily. Giving your life to Christ shouldn't be forced upon, you it should be something you are willing to do because you have read and understand what being "saved" is all about.
ReplyDeletewe all know that it is the right thing to do but like the author said in the story when you are accepting Christ you will see the light and have that feeling and if u don't have the feeling or think you are not ready nobody should force you to do so u should do it on your own free will so i can agree with your statement
DeleteAfter listening to Mr. Hughes story I concluded that his situation is relatable. Salvation is the acceptance of Christ to be saved and free from all sins. I personally believe that no person should be pressured to accept something that they are not ready to accept. Salvation is something a person accepts when they are ready to have a relationship with God. Many children go through this same situation every day because they always want to listen their elders and follow their rules. I can remember when my mother always wanted to take me to church unwillingly. I use to attend the services with her but was my heart there in the church? No. I felt this was because I was pressured into something I didn’t want to do at the time. Eventually I started to go to church on my own and felt the presences of God. Because of the pressure Theresa faced in this story she was led to telling a lie that she was saved when she was really not. Because she didn’t want to disappoint her aunt and the entire church she got up and went to the alter and pretended like she was really saved. All this happened because of the pressure that Theresa was receiving from the pastors, church congregation and her aunt.
ReplyDeleteAllowing people to make their own decisions in certain situations is very important because not only did Theresa lied to herself but she now lives with a guilt in her hearth for lying about something that is very important.
The story "Salvation" by Langston Hughes was very effective in the way that he used it to relay his point of view on the term salvation. It speaks for both him and people who have been stuck in the same position of being pressured into being saved. Being saved should be upon your own freewill and not because a relative thinks you should do it or it should be done. Many children in Caribbean countries face this dilemma everyday of being pressured into Christianity without them knowing the full meaning of what it is to be a Christian and to be saved from your sins. Because there family is religious they end up having to go to church against their will. Just to please mom and dad and to avoid conflict in the home, they go. Like Langston, many children and even adults would have gone to the alter just to please the congregation, the preacher, and their relatives just to avoid judgment and embarrassment. Langston was so naive and literal that he thought he was going to actually see Jesus come for him and actually see a light in front of him and he didn't.
ReplyDeleteAs kids, parents use to always tell us if we do certain actions, punishment will be cast on us by God. Langston did not see that when the other boy who was left with him lied. So then and there he began to question God's existence. He commenced thinking that nothing will occur if I lie also.
To conclude, I definitely empathize with Hughes. He was obviously forced into being saved when he did not even understand what it meant to be saved. This childhood experience changed his whole point of view for the rest of his life on the term salvation and Christianity. Parents should give their children the option of being saved when they are older, at least a teen, so they can understand the full meaning of it before they go and make ludicrous decisions which can impact their child's life in negative way. I infer that due to this childhood experience that Hughes in an Atheist.
After looking at this video make me feel so sad of the way how our right is violated by just not letting us now what we are really getting in to. in other word our decision has consequences.
ReplyDeletei do agree that is very true that sometimes we make decisions so that others may feel good and we get the consequences later.what happen to longston was that he stand up even do he didn't saw the light, he just stand up to pleased his aunt and the congregation of the church, and at the end of the story he cried because he lied to his aunt and to Jesus.
DeleteI totally agree with u!! It is showing us how important deicision making is and also showing us how being pressured is a serious issue that can lead to unwanted and unexpected things that may affect your future terribly.
DeleteI agree with my following students every decision we make have some kind of consequence. the child did not see the light and still stand up and later he felt guilty. it made him cry and stop belief in Jesus.
DeleteHughes' story about this childhood event is effective due to the way he sees everything and not understanding what is clearly happening.
ReplyDeleteThe story of "Salvation" written by Langston Hughes tells the way Pentecostal religion encourages their younger members of the church to call on Christ to come in to them an see the light. However this was not an choice that was made by the individual but by encouragement from the older members of the church. In Langston Hughes case it was his aunts decision to let Hughes part take in the service. Although he didn't see Christ as he thought he would. However due to the pressure by his aunt and the older members in the church and the shame of him being the only one left on the bench he claimed that he saw Christ when he never did just to please the members of the church. This should not be the case as this is a personal choice that should be made only by the individual with no input from another person as the relationship is between him an Christ.
ReplyDeleteIn today's world salvation should be explain to our younger generation more than just telling them that they will be saved by God if they believe in him. Langston Hughes had gain a experience that he will never forget in life. Yes everyone believe in God in their own way and sees him but we should always teach our younger generation about things they don't understand before they go ahead and try it for themselves.
ReplyDeleteLangston Hughes story salvation is about his childhood experience and it is effective because it shows how adults pressured or forces a child to do something that they don’t know about. My point of view is that a parent has the right to teach her child about God and the church because a child must know that we have one god and that he dead for us on the cross. If we don’t know about how God created us or the whole world, how would the child give thanks to god, and be able to see the light. That’s why a child must be thought about god before he can see the light; I take a process so we can be saved and see the light. Once you believe in god and have faith you will see the light and be saved and Langston was being pressured and he was not able to see the light.In this case this child was being pressured by the congregation of the church. He only wanted to satisfy his aunt and the congregation by standing up. I have an experience that everything you do, do it by faith and heart.
ReplyDeleteI agree because we do need to have some spiritual wall to lean on. This passage shows how the church itself break down the spiritual walls of the child. No one should have to be pressured to change their life or commit to a religion.
Delete"Salvation" by Langston Hughes, in my opinion is indeed very effective. Reason being because everyone has their own views on what salvation is and what it really means to them as a individual. Salvation means to be saved, and it is a decision that you should make when you are worthy enough to do so and not when others want you to. In many Christian based families, children are being forced againt their will to be saved and make a committment without knowing what the true meaning of it is. This is something that Langston was facing.
ReplyDeleteI truely empathize with him. He attended the revival and was basically forced by his aunt and the congregation to go up front in order to be saved. All the kids were there as well and in their minds they were saved. Langston was waiting to see the light and to see Jesus but nothing happened.
This experience changed his whole point of view on what Salvation really is and it is one that he will never forget. Every child should be given the priviledge to make their own decision when they are knowledgable about the true meaning of Salvation.
This is true! I totally agree with your reason. Everyone has a mind of their own and a sense of reality to know when they're ready to make such a huge step in life. Everyday children not only from Christian based families but also in their surroundings such as school, communities, etc. are being pressured to be "saved" and in the end it makes their lives miserable because of the the guilt they live with.
DeleteI totally agree with you I believe as a child you need to have accurate knowledge of Christ before you can make that choice as that is an important choice in someones life. So it was incorrect of his aunt and the church members to pressure him in making this choice.
ReplyDeleteLangston Hughes story "Salvation" is about his childhood experience of being forced to be saved at a very young age. He was effective in this story as he brought forth a descriptive theme of how it affected him. He also portrayed a vivid imagery just as this video present. Salvation means saving yourself from all sins and evil. Additionally, as little children growing up, the elderly personnel were always right, so whatever they said or told us to do we believe and follow their order. Hughes was in a related situation because he was being pressured by his aunt, the preacher and other elderly members of the church to go forward and be saved even though he wasn't ready; and so because he didn't want to be disobedient he went on and did exactly what he was told to do. I strongly disagree with the idea of someone being pressured to accept God in their lives especially at such a tender age. It should be that upon an individuals own interest and readiness to accept God in his/her life because at the end of the day it is only him that they would be responsible to answer.
ReplyDeleteI did empathize with the narrative conclusion because he explains the rest of the ceremony. It was ok that he was saved last, everyone was rejoicing and singing and laughing as if nothing were wrong. But young Langston had a deep dark secret with which he would have to live. He was guilty of sin and the guilt now started to eat him inside. As the ending paragraph stated,that night, Langston started crying because he felt that he really wasn’t saved. Reality had given him a hard truth. The truth was that whatever he did in life, he would have to do it alone because there is nobody he could depend on. I believe that when he becomes an adult and realize how easy it is for children to misinterpret adults and subsequently become disillusioned by that fact he disappointed and resentful of himself anymore. He had thought that they had wanted him to physically “see” something, when in reality; there was nothing to really see.
I agree with you because he really had no choice to believe what what he did. If the topic was elaborately explained to him then probably he would have a chance to understand it better. Also it should be the individual's consent to give his/her life to Christ.
DeleteLangston's description of the effects of not actually encountering Jesus was expressed elaborately. It shows how primitive miscommunication can caused a delusion that he would actually come face to face with Christ physically and be saved. Even though his aunt meant no infliction to young Langston, him not getting the chance to meet Jesus was detrimental. It made him feel as if he was odd or different primarily but when he witnessed that another boy was having the same problem he began to question his judgement. It also shows how the pressure of the congregation caused him to delude that he had seen Jesus too. Since he had wholeheartedly wanted to see Jesus he came to the conclusion that he never did existed. This was detrimental to him, being a boy, because that was one of his comforts as a child. I sympathize with him because it was wrong what the congregation did to him. It was wrong because they didn't give the volition to give his life to Jesus like everyone else. Now he is emotionally disfigured and doesn't believe in Jesus.
ReplyDeleteHughes' story "Salvation" is very well written and very descriptive. I'm sure there are lots of people who have been in a similar situation when they were younger. The naivity of him waiting to literally see Jesus is something I'm sure people can relate to also. Considering how hard it can be to understand Jesus with all the stories people tell it would cause confusion to a young child. These choices should also be made when you are fully aware of the situation that you are in. I personally think he was too young.
ReplyDeleteAt the conclusion, I empathize with him because I think I would have done the same thingjust so I could be over with it and I guarantee I would have felt guilty just like him. I would have felt bad because it's hard lying to someone you love about something they're passionate about.