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this movie proves that Christianity was forced on to African American people,

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this movie makes me vey upset.

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Julie, I really like your idea about the twisted religion. It is clear in the scene where Nat and the preacher are quoting Bible verses to each other that they have very different views of Christianity. I do wonder, in terms of “twisted religion”, of how sincerely slaves believed Nat when he was just preaching what the owners wanted him to preach. While a lot of them reacted with fervor, not all of them did, and it was never as much as when they were worshipping on their own. It really makes me think on how much of the plantation life religion they practiced was outward show, and if what they practiced in the slave quarters was their full religion.

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I wonder if Nat would have been inspired to lead his rebellion if it had not been for the syncretic nature of his religion. Since he did believe in some aspects of West African religions, his religion was very different from the whites. If he had not believed in his dreams like he did, he might not have been inspired to lead the rebellion. I do not know if the examples of David and Gideon from the Bible would have been enough as inspiration.

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It is possible that she began to see Nat as more of a person, especially because of their conversation before the Baptism, I do not think she ever fully did. She was at his execution, and while she did not appear to be cheering like most of the crowd, she also did not seem to have a problem with it. While a lot of the attitudes were systemic, we have to be careful not to excuse people for their actions because of when they lived.

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I think the religious syncretism was also displayed in the way Christianity and the West African traditions helped Nat grow. He is inspired by the dreams he has and what he reads in the Bible. I think that is why at the end of the movie, he has the dream that he becomes a man, or that his mission is accomplished, and that he sees an angel as he is dying. Both faith traditions inform his actions.

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The phrase "religious syncretism" refers to the combination of several belief systems that is performed to create a brand new system altogether. In my perspective, the Slave Religion was produced from the twisted religion that had been taught to slaves by their owners (e.g. slaves must obey the commands of their masters, regardless of how they are treated) and the genuine religion that Nat had discovered though his thorough readings of the Bible. With the help of these two factors, Nat and his followers constructed a religion that focused primarily on their freedom through rebellion.

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Nayazia, that is both an interesting and true statement. Similar events are still transpiring today. The only things that have changed are the names, faces, and time periods.

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Langi, that's something that has been on my mind as well. A small part of me was hoping to see the women get more involved in the "seeking of revenge," especially after what had happened to two of them. However, considering the time period and the fact that some of them had children to look after, it's understandable why they weren't fighting alongside the men.

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History does not repeat itself but it rhymes.

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Its not a race thing its good vs evil.

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Nayazia                                          I feel like Elizabeth did favor him and while time passed her soul started to realize that Nat and his race weren't that different from her race. I fell like a lot of these people were taught to hate black people.

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Nayazia                                          I feel like Elizabeth did favor him and while time passed her soul started to realize that Nat and his race weren't that different from her race. I fell like a lot of these people were taught to hate black people.

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 Nayazia                                              I really wish i could have a conversation with him.This movie moved me so much it made me cry and angry but it also gave me hope and cleared my mind of things that i take for granted.This movie remind me of how many lives were taking by life less people.

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 Nayazia                                              I really wish i could have a conversation with him.This movie moved me so much it made me cry and angry but it also gave me hope and cleared my mind of things that i take for granted.This movie remind me of how many lives were taking by life less people.

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Where were the women at during the fight?

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This looks to be the beginning of a revolt

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Slaves had two lives: One public (Plantation life), one private (Slave Quarters). They also had two religions, and the authentic slave religion was syncretistic (What does that mean?). Discuss what the film teaches you about Slave Religion. Post your comments here and talk with each other on this page.

You have until Saturday at 10am to have a conversation about Slave Religion becomes the roots of African American Religion(s). The minimum is three contributions that deepen our discussion.

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While Elizabeth does have a more favorable view of Nat, I think we should be careful thinking about it. Yes, she taught him to read, but she thought any books besides the Bible would be beyond his understanding because of his race. She also did not have any qualms to stopping his instruction.

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Matthew, while Nat's master is certainly using his preaching abilities to pay off his personal debts, Elizabeth sees Nat in a much more positive light. After all, Nat did consult with her regarding the baptism as opposed to talking it over with Samuel. Even he has realized that Elizabeth is on his side, to an extent.

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The part where we left off when Nat goes off on those men and his master, do you think his relationship with him will go bad? I mean think about it, he baptized a white man and they had an issue with it and that it might ruin what they have worked for. What do you guys think?

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Gain for family? I saw it quite differently since the master was using him for money to pay off his debts on the land

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I agree. I was about to say the same thing.

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How fascinating that the first book Nat read was the Bible.

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Caitlin, that really makes one think about whether or not the slave owners take their religion seriously. We have yet to see them practice their faith with as much enthusiasm as the slaves possess.

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since the discovery of Nat ability to read by the Sam's mother. She saw him as a wonderful tool with great opportunity to gain for the family.

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In Nat Turner dreams , i ponder on the fact that the shadowing masked figures maybe the KKK.

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interesting that Nat was born with three birth marks which symbolized  holy marks. As if he were the chosen one.

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It seems that the slaves noticed that they don't have the same "God" as the whites.

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It seems religion is even more of a tool for the slaveowners if they’re also using it to make money.

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The white people seem to only use religion as a tool to accomplish their own goals. The missus says that they don’t want to teach Nat anymore because it’s the Lord’s will and then they want him to become a preacher to control the other slaves.

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Its interesting that the first book Nat Turner learned was the Bible.

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The House Rules and Rubrics for Online Discussions call each student to: contribute to the online discussion at least three times in a way that advances learning (offers insights, raises questions), to treat each participant with respect (commending partners for their contributions, offering recommendations for improving their understanding), avoid superficial comments like "I agree" or "I disagree" or "She is right" or I dislike his ideas".

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When the film begins, open the following link to the Padlet for Birth of a Nation.

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I think it will be a turning point for Nat. While I think he always had problems with slavery, I think he is realizing there really is not such a thing as a good master. No matter what they are still being treated as property, and nothing else.