AFTERWORD
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This collection of poems highlights the unambiguously varied interpretations of the same religion reflecting both the individuality of the poets and their wide-ranging geographies. Each poet is pulling from the same central text featuring the same creation stories. While there are key constants that form the backbone of Christianity, namely the belief in Jesus Christ and his power, the temperature of the relationship between God and humanity varies significantly from culture to culture. The myriad of interpretations presented in the poems are examples of the heterogeneous ways in which a particular location embraces Christianity. These practices are at times so pronounced that (ignoring obvious references to Jesus Christ) an uninformed reader, for example, might think that Wu Li’s “Moses Admonishes the People - Musical Stanzas” and Lenora McWhorter’s “Day by Day” are meditations about two completely different religions. This contrast is representative of how the region’s culture is influenced by and influences how Christianity is practiced locally. A dynamic interplay exists between the different cultural philosophies of the regions and the religious practices that govern how a given population lives a Christian life. Looking at the United States, the culture of our country is, in large part, based on Christian ideals and teachings. The Pledge of Allegiance and the phrase “one nation under God” is indicative of the close nexus between American values and Christianity. The religion influenced the founding principles of the United States, and in turn American cultural norms influence how American Christians practice religion. A similar dynamic has shaped different countries’ cultures for millennia. As a result, each country with its distinct culture will contribute to the gamut of Christian interpretations. One approach is not “more Christian” or “less Christian” than the other, but rather evidence of how a 3,000-year-old text is able to remain relevant to the diverse global Christian population. The clearest example of this range is the sharp distinction
