Things Fall Apart When Family and Societal Beliefs are Questioned (and in the novel Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe) Western history is filled with examples of mainstream white Christian culture expanding to new lands for a multitude of different reasons. Whether in search of new lands or riches, or to spread Western and religious beliefs across the globe, the West forced or bought or cajoled their own ways into the lives of other cultures. In some instances this was welcomed (as in bringing the Polio vaccine to the 3rd world), but in many cases the Western “new” way of life desimated a local people (as in the case of Native Americans or Mayans or Incas). In the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian tribe known as the Ibo has its own native spiritual and cultural beliefs and a singularly unique way of life. Then British Christianity overpowered the Ibo traditions that had been held in Nigeria for countless generations. Many of the tribe’s younger generation converted to the Christian faith-without much question-in awe of British wealth and power, or finding acceptance and a place of belonging. Enamored by the new, by the power, by the glory or by the promise of a “better” community to join, Ibo villagers renounced their families, their history, their culture, their lives, really. Regardless of the conflict and pain caused among families and within villages. The Europeans began to dominate the Ibo culture, ultimately shattering their entire way of life. Ironically, as the Ibo questioned all they had ever known, the beliefs that had held their culture together for generations, they forgot or neglected to look critically at the other side, no question. They bought the British way hook, line and sinker. And it sunk them. Questioning one’s own family religious beliefs and traditions can be dangerous to the status quo. Once eyes are opened to a new idea, even if they are shut again memory remains. But NOT questioning anything, simply following along like sheep is dangerous to any personal growth, to intellect to creativity to science to innovation. If humans did not question beliefs, earth would still be flat. And yet new ideas need to be questioned as well. so as to not fall prey to the sales pitch of the “new” fad. The Rubik’s cube challenge in this is to question everything. To not simply switch from one doctrine or one religion to another without questioning the motives of the preachers, the motives of your heart, the balance of truth that perhaps lies in both sides. It’s easier to believe than to doubt. It’s easier to go along with the flow than to swim upstream. It’s easier to simply jump from one idea to a new one that seems exciting or nicer or maybe just “different” for a change. Even before the British