How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
The truth is that our Christian civilization is riddled through and through with dilemma. We believe in the brotherhood of man, but we do not want it in South Africa. We believe that God endows men with diverse gifts, and that human life depends for its fullness on their employment and enjoyment, but we are afraid to explore this belief too deeply. (2.21.58)
This passage comes from one of Arthur Jarvis's papers. He is discussing the hypocrisy of white South Africans who claim to be serious Christians, but who refuse to apply the Christian lesson of brotherly love to their relationships with black people. Indeed, historically speaking, the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa played a role in supporting the racist apartheid policies of the Afrikaner nationalists. So while Paton emphasizes the potential of Christian teachings to lead to greater racial equality, the novel also acknowledges that some South Africans use their churches as a way to support the segregation and oppression that Paton opposes.
Quote #8
— Yes, but Johannes said he would take the bar. It had been blessed, he said.
— It had been blessed?
— That's what he said.
— What did Johannes mean when he said the bar had been blessed?
— I do not know.
— Did he mean by a priest?
— I do not know. (2.22.130-8)
At Absalom's trial, the judge asks about the weapons that he and his friends used when they broke into Arthur Jarvis's house. Johannes Pafuri brought a metal bar that he used to knock out the servant, Richard Mpiring. Absalom's discussion of the bar shows his total ignorance of the meaning behind what's going on around him. He can't say what Johannes meant by the bar being blessed; all he knows is that the bar has been blessed. Absalom's naivete about the blessing makes him seem super ignorant and out of it—he just accepts everything at face value, which makes him easy to manipulate.
Quote #9
The annual Synod of the Diocese of Johannesburg cannot be supposed to know too much about the mines. The days seem over when Synods confined themselves to religion, and one of the clergymen made a speech about the matter. He urged that it was time to recognize the African Mine Workers' Union, and prophesied a blood-bath if it were not. […] But a man called a spokesman has pointed out that the African Miners are simple souls, hardly qualified in the art of negotiation. (2.26.65)
A Synod is a gathering of church leaders. These leaders have come together to decide if they should recognize the African Mine Workers' Union. But even within this church, the racism of individual priests matters. So one of the speakers at the Synod says that they shouldn't bother recognizing this black union because the miners are "simple souls" incapable of carrying out "the art of negotiation." Obviously, just because a person is a member of church leadership does not mean that they lose all of their own prejudices and biases about worldly politics.