# data[].attributes.body
By exploring these different perspectives, these four books are able to depict different perceptions of Christianity. Both of Moore’s books show a perspective of how Christianity can be mixed with a person’s previous culture and religion. Aleksander in Pickhart’s book Christianity through the perspective of someone who has a disbelief in God. The poems written by Kaminsky show a perspective of God that may only be found in desperate times such as war and death. Each of these perspectives will relate to the reader differently being just like Christianity external influences each affect one’s perspective.

# data[].attributes.headline
“though I am at most an animal and the animal I am spirals from the funeral to his kitchen, shouts: I have come, God, I have come running to you— in snow-drifted streets, I stand like a flagpole without a flag.” (Kaminsky 70)

# data[].attributes.subject
“though I am at most an animal and the animal I am spirals from the funeral to his kitchen, shouts: I have come, God, I have come running to you— in snow-drifted streets, I stand like a flagpole without a flag.” (Kaminsky 70)

# data[].attributes.body
There are many calls to God throughout this book of poems. This is one of the last calls to God in the book. Even in the midst of war when all hope is lost these people are calling to God for help even when it would be easily blame and put disbelief in God. There is a feeling throughout the poems of this book that many of the characters accepted the fate of death in return for what they hope is a greater good for the community. They are willing to sacrifice themselves for the community. This also can be related to Christianity in the sense that Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross to save us for our sins. Overall the perspectives of the characters in the book are a more somber, last hope view of christianity because of the war.

# data[].attributes.body
This video is probably one of the best debates on atheism versus Christianity. The debaters do a good job of putting it terms people can understand and proving there points.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Does God Exist? Dr. William Lane Craig vs. Christopher Hitchens (Highlights)

# data[].attributes.headline
Quote: My old piano teacher said to me, If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. Good thing I don’t believe in God, I said. He laughed. (Pickhart 59)

# data[].attributes.subject
Quote: My old piano teacher said to me, If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. Good thing I don’t believe in God, I said. He laughed. (Pickhart 59)

# data[].attributes.body
One of the major themes in this book is Christianity. The book opens up to Kayta being a doctor in a church, called St. Micheal’s Monastery, which has turned into a rescue center. Even though Aleksander is an atheist, it is clear that either his piano teacher tried to convert him, or it was just a common topic of conversation between the two, as shown in the quote. This is because he is well versed in the bible and in the idea of Christianity. Throughout many of his audio recordings he quotes a verse from the Bible or deeply describes an idea of Christianity which most practicing Christians today can not do. Even though Aleksander is an atheist and not even Christian he still has a perspective and understanding of the religion. Even though his relationship with God is rooted in a disbelief for God he still has one.

# data[].attributes.body
Many people view Jesus in different ways. For example some people view as the same skin color as an African. This is a prime example of how different factors change perspective

# data[].attributes.body
This video went viral when it was first posted because many people were thrown off by the harshness of the baptism since it was not what there were used to. While this may seem harsh to some it must be understood that while baptism is practiced by all Christians' it is not practiced the same.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
This baptism in Georgia is enough to make your head spin - Orthodox Religion | euronews 🇬🇧

# data[].attributes.headline
That is the moment I should have thought of God in my healing But instead I thought of my Ol' Ma. Mam told me Ol' Ma would never be baptized because she was Muslim...I will never leave her behind." (Moore 161)

# data[].attributes.subject
That is the moment I should have thought of God in my healing But instead I thought of my Ol' Ma. Mam told me Ol' Ma would never be baptized because she was Muslim...I will never leave her behind." (Moore 161)

# data[].attributes.body
Moore’s family practiced Christianity while in America. Moore was baptized in an attempt to try to fit in with American culture and seem normal to her parents. Before this quote, she talks about the story of the beggar that was healed by mud, and assumes that being baptized would do the same for her. Her intent for joining Christianity is not the same as others, so she is bound to have a different perspective. It was clear that her beliefs are deeply rooted in her culture since the first thought she has after being baptized is about her grandmother's approval. Even though she is now considered a Christian through the church, her Christian beliefs are still different from the other Christians, people in her church, and her parents.

# data[].attributes.body
1. Deshmukh, Anshool. “Mapped: The World's Major Religions.” Visual Capitalist, 12 Feb. 2022, https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-major-religions-of-the-world/#:~:text=Globally%2C%20Christianity%20has%20the%20largest,the%20world%20identifying%20as%20Jewish.

2.  “Does God Exist? William Lane Craig vs. Christopher Hitchens - Full Debate [HD].” YouTube, YouTube, 28 Sept. 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tYm41hb48o&t=0s.

3. “His Voyage: Life of Jesus.” The Black Art Depot, https://www.blackartdepot.com/products/his-voyage-life-of-black-jesus-vincent-barzoni.

4. Kaminsky Ilya. Deaf Republic Graywold Press, 2019

5. Moore Wayétu. She Would Be King. Graywolf Press, 2018.

6. Moore Wayétu. The Dragons The Giant The Women. Graywolf Press, 2020.

7. Pickhart Kalani. I Will Die in a Foreign Land Two Dollar Radio, 2021

8. Spotify, 2022, https://open.spotify.com/track/3mXMXwi6zJ7XVaG4PbpcjS?autoplay=true. Accessed 5 May 2023.

9. “This Baptism in Georgia Is Enough to Make Your Head Spin.” YouTube, YouTube, 19 Jan. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFGHerqhSC8.

# data[].attributes.body
This song is also a call to God. While Deaf Republic is somber and deary this song is happier and more upbeat. I think both share the same message that there is a longing and wanting for God.

# data[].attributes.body
External influences, such as war, one’s nationality, and the way one’s parents raise their child affects a person’s perception of life.. Even common topics that the population has a general understanding of, is often viewed or understood in different ways. A prime example of this is Christianity. Christianity, the belief that one God created heaven, earth, and the universe and the belief and practice of the teachings of Jesus Christ, is practiced by roughly 2.4 billion people or 30% of the world. Christians hold a common belief that there is one God who created everything, but they may practice or understand these beliefs in different ways. This is This is expressed in different denominations such as Catholicism, orthodox, and protestants through their traditions and customs. The theme of Christianity is very prominent throughout the four books read in this class, but all presented in different ways. Throughout these stories, the external influences each affect one’s perspective at which the belief of Christianity is viewed by the characters. In some books these external factors are seen as characters growing up with different religions and cultures, in an environment of ongoing war, and living life in a state of cynical disbelief of God. By exploring these different perspectives, these four books are able to depict different perceptions of Christianity.

# data[].attributes.body
External influences affect on one’s perspective

# data[].attributes.headline
“God come into our house and we welcome him and love him like he loves us. But the house God come into still ancestor house.” (Moore 239)

# data[].attributes.subject
“God come into our house and we welcome him and love him like he loves us. But the house God come into still ancestor house.” (Moore 239)

# data[].attributes.body
Throughout the book She would be King, Christianity is being spread by the conquerors and explorers of Africa. Many of them try to convert the indigenous people, and this quote shows how they accept and view Christianity. While they accept the new perspective, the indigenous grew up believing differently, so it is more natural to them to fall back on their culture. As a result, the ideas of their culture and christianity begin to mix allowing the population to adopt new perspectives.

Another theme of Christianity that can be found in She Would be King is the Holy Trinity. There are three main characters in the book, Norman, Gbessa, and June Dey. Each of these characters come together at the end of the book to help save the day. The characters never necessarily become one, as the Holy Trinity does, but the characters either do everything with each other or act with each other in mind.