William Wilberforce: the Christian Politician: a Look at How His Faith Influenced His Career and the Abolishment of Slavery

William Wilberforce The Christian Politician A Look at How His Faith Influenced His course and the Abolish pull in forcet of hard hunt downerry They took me in the night, ripped me away(p) from my family. Tried my wrists and took my dignity. I was sold for coins handle we sell cattle my owner light-emitting diode me to a ship with hundreds more resembling me, I was cuffed to some other, feet to wrists to neck. We were forced on wag and sent in between decks and into a intermitments.As we lay appear out for sea and the days pass, at night I lay in my own waste and during the day I feel nonhing merely pain in the neck and hear nothing unless the pat of the waves and the moaning of the others (Falconbridge 1788) (Ioan Gruffudd 2006). This chronicle of the induce of a buckle down does not come weedy to enforcing the cosmos of the brutality of what these knuckle downs went d unmatch adequate. This is, however, what William Wilberforce spent his entire political locomote, and until his wipeout, to abolish.Through his faith and prominence in the British government in the late 1700s through and through to the early 1800s he was determined to eradicate this brutality against fellow human beingnesss. In the film stupefying Grace, Wilberforce political go was depicted as a corking victory by his belief in theology, his inclination, ability to speak in existence persuasively with prominence and animosity, and the support of his eitherys and wife and in this success he was adequate to fulfill his dream and calling to continuously abolish buckle down divvy up in the British Empire.In the 2006 film Amazing Grace, conductor Michael Apted, tells the story of William Wilberforce and his journey from be advance an evangelical Christian and politician, through his movement in parliament for the abolishment of thraldom to his success in the abolishment and his finish. His character and career is beautifully depicted through his acts and in the way works his way through British parliament in dismantle to fulfill his dream (or calling) of ending the transatlantic knuckle down trade. The film too depicts the catch different people had in his demeanor as a Christian politician.Since his raise up in 1759 he lived in pre-Victorian England until his death in 1833. He was actively victorious part in parliament from 1780 to 1825, which was period where the amphetamine-class expressed outward Christianity, exclusively likewise took part in bid and duelling (White 2008). In 1787 was when Wilberforce seriously started to train part in government wrote in his diary god Almighty has dress circle forrader me ii bulky objects, the suppression of the hard worker trade and the re clayation of manners (Windschuttle 2008) (Colson and international Morse code 2007) these are the two things he would at long last make a great expiration in.At the start of his career in 1780, Wilberforce was on the nose like the other upper-class men in high positions. He visited valet de chambres clubs almost either night, playing period and drinking late into the night. He excessively became famous for singing at the parties he went to and had a good singing part (Windschuttle 2008). Wilberforce converted to evangelical Christianity at the period of twenty six. He underwent a service of self-examination, doubt, agony and awakening (Windschuttle 2008). In the film, he was sitting in a champaign behind his house early in the morning.He was confused, but sure that faith was the data track he was supposed to take, and he professed this in a letter to his good consort and soon to be Prime curate of England, William Pitt (Ioan Gruffudd 2006). Pitt wanted Wilberforce on his side in government, so he introduced him to some people, including doubting Thomas Clarkson, a slave trade abolitionist all over the sphere, and Olaudah Equiano, an Afri send packing who was taken into slaveholding as a chela , bought his independence and wrote an account of his own experiences in his register called The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equian.This unveiling would be the beginning of the Committee for the abolition of the hard worker switch over. It was this new committee that receptive Wilberforces eye to the possibility of compounding his new found faith in evangelical Christianity with his passion for politics. A blusher belief of evangelism was the idea of providence that God in involved in every aspect and event in life, no way out how micro. For Wilberforce, God gave him a cornerstone in parliament for a reasonableness God Almighty has set in the first-class honours degree place me two great objects, the suppression of the slave trade and the make betteration of manners (Windschuttle 2008).With these two visions in mind he set out with his team to end slavery for once and for all, but it would not be an easy journey, as is depicted in the film. Wilberforc e spent over twenty old age on this mission, laboring both members of underground parties in the preindication of Commons as well as illness and big physical health (Colson and Morse 2007). Wilberforce in addition sought out the advice of John nitrogen, a previous slave ship overlord and the writer of the inspiring hymn Amazing Grace. The song itself was quite vainglorious in the film.Not only because it is the title of the film, but also because it groundwork be seen as the anthem for anti-slavery. The song was an inspiration, and a symbolism of a new beginning it digest be heard in its lyrics and it mickle be seen in the events of the film. At the first meeting with Newton, Wilberforce was looking for the advice of a profuse man, one who was in the company of twenty thousand Africans (Ioan Gruffudd 2006) and haunted by his past, til now unable to speak of the horrors he caused.Although Newton did not share his experience with Wilberforce, he did encourage him to take on the gainsay that God has set before him by saying you ca-ca work to do (Ioan Gruffudd 2006), Newton calmed Wilberforce and strengthened his resolve, spurring him to have his new religious beliefs with his existing political career (Windschuttle 2008). With this conformation of what to do, Wilberforce was ready to take on the abolition of the slave trade. Wilberforces character was attractively depicted in the film.Stating out with his lovemaking for animals early on in the film, even in his form of ill wealth, he was leave aloneing to get out in the rain to declare a horse that was being crush (Ioan Gruffudd 2006). His love for animals can be seen end-to-end the whole film, including multiple dogs and a rabbit. The passion Wilberforce felt for animals, though, does not come close to what he felt for the rights of human beings. A glimpse of this can be seen when Prince William, the Duke of Clarence calls his slave into the club where they were gambling.This inhumanity of f stop Wilberforce to the point that he could not be in the same building as the Duke and ended the game (Ioan Gruffudd 2006). This was also where he had his apocalypse of what he should fight for, who he should fight for. To change society is to change the minds and actions of the public. For Wilberforce the appoint to this layed in the concept of evangelical Christianity Evangelicals also believed Christian principles should be applied to all areas of life. Worldly indulgences were to be avoided and leisure was an chance not for entertainment but person-to-person renewal (Windschuttle 2008).This then, left no get on for the things that Wilberforce himself once indulged in such as gambling and drunkenness. Britains upper-class righteousness was in decline, so Wilberforce had a resolve issued by King George ?, with the overhaul of his friend and Prime Minister Pitt and the Archbishop of Canterbury, denouncing impiety and transport (Windschuttle 2008) and organized the orga nization called bon ton for full-grown Effect to His Majestys Proclamation against Vice and delinquency.This would be the first steps he took towards his goal of the Abolition Wilberforce needed to sick the minds of society, before he could open their eye to the inhumanity of the transatlantic slave trade because only when they are moral beings with entertain for life, will they understand the horrors their indulgences (such as sugar) cause. It was Wilberforces aim to reform the middle and upper classes, and thus end slavery and remediate morality (White 2008).In the film Wilberforce introduces the Madagascar, a slave ship, to a group of upper-class philanthropists as part of his quest to reach out to people about morality and slavery, urging them to open their minds and cheeks to the suffering of the slaves being transported in these ships. He shows them the shackles and explains the smell coming from the ship as the smell of death (Ioan Gruffudd 2006). Although, this scene may not be historically accurate in that it may not have happened, the truth is perverse in order to show the sizeableness of reaching the upper-class and the opening of their eyes and minds to the pain their luxury caused.In 1797 Wilberforce wrote a adjudge called A Practical View of the regular Religious Systems of Professed Christians in the Higher and centre Classes in this Country Contrasted with Real Christianity whose nitty-gritty spread like wild send packing among the middle and upper class society. His elaborateness as well as his penning transformed the way society fantasy of social matters such as slavery and human rights (and animal rights too ). throughout his ventures in reaching out to the public, Wilberforce perpetually kept in mind the will of God, and the goals that He has set before him.And in doing so, he realised, that one task cannot be done without the other as one member of the Committee for the Abolition of the Slave Trade said (in the film) If y ou make the world separate in one way, it becomes better in every way, a statement that is bold, and yet, have truth to it. transport in the world may not always come easy or with immediate results, but no matter how small or big the change, soul will benefit or experience some form of loss from it. For Wilberforce society, purification needed to change if politics were to change.And only in this cultural change would a society have hope for its hereafter (White 2008). Wilberforces wife, Barbara Spooner, was a great ascendant of inspiration to him in finishing his work for the Abolition. As portrayed in the film, Wilberforce seemed to have admitn up, until he met the younger Miss. Spooner. She urged him to communication and share his thoughts about the slave trade and ultimately convinced him to give the abolishment another try (Ioan Gruffudd 2006). She was also at that place for him during the worst times of his sickness, and the mother of his children.Perseverance was an other aspect that pushed Wilberforce to continue. The lawyer jam Stephen proposed a change of tactics for the abolitionists. Cheating, gibe to the film was the new tactic. They would propose a different flush as a start to soften up to House members The Foreign Slave Trade Bill. This bill would eschew the Brits from helping or act in the slave trade to the French colonies. This was a clever move since the volume of British ships were raising American flags and planning slaves to foreign colonies with who Britain was at war with (Ioan Gruffudd 2006).The ban would decrease the profits of the captains and various air men and negatively affect the investors who were also involved in the House of Commons. pursuit this bill was The Slave Trade Act, in 1807, Wilberforce finally succeeded in passing a law to end the slave trade. But, his work came to full fruition only in the year of his death, 1833, when all slaves in the British Empire were emancipated (White 2008). The film make s a great point of the greatness of determination and passion for success.These factors are of great importance for promoting positive social change, whether is it the abolition of slave trade or saving child soldiers in Uganda. No cause is small enough to ignore or give up on when it involves the life of a living, breathing being. The film places a great amount of emphasis on the component of Wilberforce in the abolition because he can be seen as a grand role model and example for leadership and humanitarians. Although Wilberforce was certainly not the only person nvolved in the abolition of the slave trade, in that location is surely something to be learned from him. They can learn from his passion, commitment and also from his love for all living things, and made a difference in society, not with a hidden agenda, but with an open heart and mind, the way a Christian should. God sat two tasks before Wilberforce to reform society, back to one with proper Christian morals and va lues, and the abolishment of the slave trade. Without a doubt Wilberforce succeeded in both of these tasks, but it was not an easy road to success.Fighting through chronic illness and parliament he fought for about fifty years to ace his calling, but he did not do it without help. His talent for rhetoric and public oratory was his gateway to success, and with the help of many friends including Clarkson, Pitt, Newton, his wife Barbara and the Will of God, he was able to throw away a stop to the inhumanity of the transatlantic slave trade and the horrors that came with it. He was able to die in peace, knowing that he fulfilled the tasks that he was destined to. Bibliography Colson, Charles, and Anne Morse. The Wilberforce dodge Britains great abolitionist worked to change societys values, not just its laws. Christianity Today, 2007 132-318. Falconbridge, Alexander. An Account of Slave Trade on the Coast of Africa. London James Phillips, 1788. Amazing Grace. Directed by Michael Apt ed. Performed by Albert Finney, Michael Gambon Ioan Gruffudd. 2006. White, John. Christian Responsibility to Reform Society the Example of William Wilberforce and the Clapham Sect. Paternoster Periodicals, 2008 166-172. Windschuttle, Keith. William Wilberforce The Great Emancipator. New Criterion, 2008 17-24. 1 . I made this viewpoint up, with the help of the contents in An Account of the Slave Trade from the Coast on the Africa as well as Olaudah Equianos account in Amazing Grace. 2 . It was most-valuable for them to connect with the upper-class because thats where the money and power was, both in damage of authority and of trend. Lower-classes were also reached by Wilberforce and his team and showed great success in ever-changing their society (White 2008).