In the novel, Things Fall Apart, the effects of colonialism are evident in the Igbo society. As the white Englanders move into the native's land, their cultural values were changed. Examples of these changes are evident in all aspects of the Igbo people's lives, in their religion, family life, children, and the dead. Many of Igboians were upset by the colonialism of their society, but in the end they were completely incapable of reversing the changes that had already taken place in their society. .
As the English began to colonize the Igbo society, there were few natives who opposed it and others who felt that the English would come and go, but they were wrong. Soon, the English began to introduce "white man's religion." The missionaries preached amongst the men and women of the Igbo society and stated, "that the true God live on high and that all men when they died went before Him for judgment. Evil men and all the heathen who in their blindness bowed to wood and stone were thrown into a fire that burned like palm oil" (Achebe 145). This new religion is the complete opposite from what the natives are accustomed to. Instead of reacting violently as the Amabe tribe did the Igbo society found these new customs intriguing. Eventually, many members of the Igbo society turned away from their own families and joined Christianity, the new religion. The missionaries were then offered a piece of land from the Evil forest so that they may build a new church. "The inhabitants of Mbanta expected them all to be dead within four days none of them died everyone was puzzled" (Achebe 149). Because nothing happened to the missionaries after they built the new church, the natives lost faith in their own religion and converted to Christianity. The members of the Igbo society has always put strong faith in the gods to fight their battles for them, but once the "white men" entered their land many of their religious beliefs were proven false.
