They felt the Native Californians were pagans who were desperately in need of conversion to Christianity for the salvation of their souls. This conversion was a high priority and was accomplished through baptism, instruction in Catholic rituals, moral education, inclusion into the mission community, and enforcement of strict discipline. The Indians were worked hard and paid little. The missions were dependent on native labor to construct buildings, tend the crops, care for the animals and produce goods. The Spanish saw the native neophytes as little more than slaves, who cost nothing to acquire and nothing to maintain.
His belief was also revealed when he got an island, one of the first things he came up with was they had no religion: “As I saw that they were very friendly to us, and perceived that they could be easily converted to our holy faith by gentle means than force”. Columbus believed in the Bible and that was his spread Christianity not only to the Indians but to every civilization. He also treated the natives whom he met in the islands right. When they met a man in a canoe going from Santa to Fernandina, that man requested to be onboard and Columbus caused him on board. He was treated well with bread, honey and drink.
The Indians did not have a belief in heaven or hell but the ones who followed Christianity worried whether their souls would only go to heaven where the Europeans were and not to their people. The only similarity the Europeans and Indians shared was interdependence. The Europeans would trade their ammunition and guns and machinery to the Native Americans who would in turn give them food and supplies they needed. The Indians did not have experience with the European warfare, however considering the Native american weapons were all hand made from nature. They also shared some
Exercise One-- Columbus Columbus describes the people he first encountered as having hair that hung over the eyebrows and hair that was uncut and they were naked. He also speaks of them being fairly tall, good looking and well built. It appears to me that Columbus and his people were curious about the Natives they encountered. However, I am disappointed to read that he spoke of manipulating them by being friendly to them in order to free them and convert them to their religion. He (they) assumed if The Natives didn’t have their “Holy Faith”, than The Natives had none at all.
This is ironic because it is originally Columbus who thought he had found Eden from the Bible when he came across the islands. His attitude towards the Native American rights was most likely indifferent. He thought the native peoples were of timid nature and not complicated at all. He felt that by showering them with gifts he would easily win them over and even have them convert to
The Indians values clearly do not align with the morals and sets of values of Christianity. After the previous missionary finally dies, the Huron ask LaForgue how long he will stay. LaForgue says he will stay for the rest of his life and that he loves them. The Huron then ask to be baptized in hopes that it will cure them from the sickness. Father LaForgue, unlike the previous missionaries, does not lie to the Huron, and explains to them that being baptized will not cure the Huron of their sickness, but their prayers may be heard by his lord and savior Jesus Christ.
The Europeans guidance came from God and the Bible. The Algonquin also believed that all living things had spirits and souls, and should be treated with respect. The Natives thought of the Europeans as ignorant children because they couldn’t hear the spirits. The Natives gave more respect to the Europeans, than the Europeans did to the Natives because the Natives respected others and did not doubt their God existed for them. However, the Jesuits only believed in one God, their own.
The Asmat people like the Arakmbut adopted Tobias into their tribe but did things different. They did things in a more peaceful and open scale. I have to be honest with you the first thing that stood out to me as strange was the way they greeted each other by holding each other’s testicles. Talking about being open minded! I found this greeting strange because it’s not the way we greet people in Western civilization or most of the world matter.
They are both college educated and seem to understand the subject. These assets give a signature of talent and practical expertise in the area of the separation of church and state. They have a very convincing case overall for the separation of church and state. Merely because someone does not agree with them does not mean it is impossible to appreciate the well-written book authored by individuals who, it appears, know what they were doing. In addition, the authors seem very certain of their position.
So, it is no surprise that the same process happened over and over. The settlers took advantage of the Native Americans and their ways because the Europeans thought the natives were handing it all over to them. It is hard to believe that the natives trusted the whites in the first place, but they basically helped the settlers conquer the land they inhabited. When children are taught about the battles fought against the Native Americans, they are made to seem barbaric, but they are far from that. They are kind and gentle people that have respect for