Father Divine Research Paper

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Father Divine popularly known as reverend M.J Divine is the founder of the peace mission movement. He was neither a protestant minister nor a Roman Catholic priest but rather one of the many American sectarian church leaders. Father Divine was an influential charismatic and religious leader. To his followers, father Divine was an incarnation of god here in the world. The Peace Mission Movement he founded can best be described as an indigenous, communal, intentional and utopian religious movement. The movement was among the many similar religions that spread in America over the last few centuries. Father Divine’s peace movement was basically about aiding the people to become aware of god’s presence via the elements of obedience to god’s laws…show more content…
During this era, both descendants of slaves and former slaves resided under a new oppressive form of economic and social slavery in the United States commonly known as the Jim Crow laws. These laws were mainly discriminatory towards African Americans. Like in the north, the Jim Crow laws were oppressive in the south too. Father Divine responded to this type of oppression by articulating his system of practice and belief (Erickson 89). First, he was based in long island as from 1919-1932. He then migrated to New York from 1932-42. Next, he then finally settled in Philadelphia from 1942-65. In Philadelphia, father Divine greatly inspired a successful economic plan where mostly the working class and poor followers contributed and pooled their funds (Burnham 65). Subsequently, these savings were used to purchase properties around Philadelphia for business establishments and residential living areas. The businesses economically empowered and sustained the followers of the peace mission movement. Additionally, thousands of hungry people or his followers were often fed regardless of their religious…show more content…
This led to the systemization of a variety of economic social and educational disadvantages. The laws were authorized for the segregation of public places and restaurants in America. The Peace Mission Movement purchased Woodmont estate located in Gladwyne Philadelphia and subsequently dedicated the 73-acre estate as the Mount of the Lord’s House. In this estate, people from all races freely interacted. As such, racial discrimination and oppression/segregation were thrown out of the window and all races embraced harmony or unity. Even today, the mansion’s Victorian architecture is a major sight of attraction of experts and student groups. The experts and students attempt to evaluate and analyze the craftsmanship and their life styles. To fight racial oppression and segregation, the Peace Mission Movement purchased hotel Divine Lorraine and the Divine Tracy Hotel. During this period, there was no first class hotels that would attend to the African American people or simply put; people with a dark skin. Father Divine’s concept of giving to the poor turned out to be a blessing specifically to thousands of young African American students. Additionally, dark government officials, businessmen and women, and professionals were housed in this hotel. Therefore, a lot of poor or African Americans commenced their lives by being fed and reasonably housed in father Divine’s
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