Langston Hughes
1959

CHICAGO DEFENDER

LANGSTON HUGHES

THE MEANING OF FAITH: PERSONAL

In order to write my recent series of columns on "The Meaning of Faith" which concludes with this article, I read a great many books, essays, pamphlets, and newspaper and magazine articles. I find that even communicants of the same faith disagree on interpretations of that faith. Some hold widely varying views from others. I know from having heard in my lifetime many religious discussions, that in no other field can divergent ideas clash more violently than in the realm of theology. But I admire those men and women who are capable of standing firmly for their faith, whatever it may be. And I respect those priests, ministers, or rabbis who feel sure of the ground on which they stand. But if I were asked to make a statement of faith myself, I would be forced to approach the subject of religion in a very personal and very humble manner. Were I asked to preach a sermon about God, for example, I would have to begin by saying that I don't know very much about God—but I have a feeling that God is related to everything and everybody on earth.

When I was young nobody explained to me very much about God. But I soon learned that in our country, America, there are many recognized, and established ways of worshipping God. I respect each and every one of them. Who am I to say anybody else's idea of God is any

2

less good than my own? If man is made in God's image, the reverse must also be true. Certainly each man on earth has as much right as I to conceive of God in his own way and believe in Him. I do not have the aduacity to say that I alone know God. Whoever you are, I believe that you know Him, too, whether you be Baptist or Methodist, Church of God or Church of Christ, Catholic or Jewish, Presbeterian or Lutheran, Christian Scientist or Moslem, colored or white.

Just as God is above race, I also believe he is above creed. I think he listens to Quaker prayers as well as to Episcopalian prayers, to Holy Roller prayers as well as to Congregational, to Hindu prayers as well as Bantu, to Hebrew as well as Gentile. I believe God hears even the least among the children of men—even the atheist and the heathen who do not call His name.

Maybe another name for God is Mystery, or Love, the Holy Spirit or Father Divine, Unity or Universal Power, Buddah or Allah or Jehovah, or names I have never heard, but which mean God to the people who speak them. I claim no exclusive on my phrasing of the word God. No single word or language is big enough to contain God. I am sure other languages than mine contain Him, too. People who have never seen America and will never see it, who have never seen Tokyo or Rome or Tokyo or New Delhi or Mexico, also have their word for God. In Burutu on the Niger I do not know what the spelling of God is, but I am sure God is there, wherever the sun shines and the world rolls around.

Can I say that there is no God in Georgia simply because Jim Crow makes more headlines? God may keep silent for a long time, but when He speaks the map of history is changed. When He speaks, the slate is wiped clean. When He speaks, sorrow runs like a river to the sea and the land

CHICAGO DEFENDER

LANGSTON HUGHES

In order to write my recent series of columns on "The Meaning
of Faith" which concludes with this article, I read a great many
books, essays, pamphlets, and newspaper and magazine articles. I
find that even communicants of the same faith disagree on interpre-
tations of that faith. Some hold widely varying views from others.
I know from having heard in my lifetime many religious discussions,
that in no other field can divergent ideas clash more violently than
in the realm of theology. But I admire those men and women who are
capable of standing firmly for their faith, whatever it may be. And
I respect those prelates, ministers, or rabbis who feel sure of the
ground on which they stand. But if I were asked to make a statement
of faith myself, I would be forced to approach the subject of religion
in a very personal and very humble manner. Were I asked to preach a
sermon about God, for example, I would have to begin by saying that
I don't know very much about God—but I have a feeling that God is
related to everything and everybody on earth.

When I was young nobody explained to me very much about God.
But I soon learned that in our country, America, there are many recog-
nized, and established ways of worshipping God. I respect each and
every one of them. Who am I to say anybody else's idea of God is any

2

Maybe another name for God is Mystery, or Love, the Holy Spirit or Father Divine, Unity or Universal Power, Buddah or Allah or Jehovah, or names I have never heard, but which mean God to the people who speak them. I claim no exclusive on my phrasing of the word God. No single word or language is big enough to contain God. I am sure other languages than mine contain Him, too. People who have never seen America and will never see it, who have never seen Tokyo or Rome or Pekin or New Delhi or Mecca, also have their word for God. In Burutu on the Niger I do not know what the spelling of God is, but I am sure God is there, wherever the sun shines and the world rolls around.

3

is cleansed again. Do you think that God is gone just because He is
banned somewhere? Who can ban God? Or you, His child? Or me, the
least of all His Children? Try to step between me and God— and you
will be thinner than a shadow and less of a wall than the evening fog.

~~So I would end my~~
sermon about God.

-30-