In a message dated 3/8/1999 11:47:21 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< I mean the point of colonization was to take over the land and cultures of
indiginous populations, but I dont think missionaries are out to do that.
Foreign policy may have something to do with the 'neocolonial' conquering of
third world nations far more detrimentally than any religious missionary (and
this is coming from an atheist who doesnt believe in any form of religious
practice!) could possibly assert. >>
Missionaries were often sent in to advance colonial (government) pursuits and
were seen as part and parcel of colonial activities in most cases.
Missionaries most certainly had the ability to subvert the cultures of the
people by impressing upon them that no only were they worshipping the wrong
"God" but that they were worshipping in the wrong way - and they therefore
needed to follow the blonde-haired, blue-eyed, white skinned Jesus Christ
image - which coincidently looked like the missionaries and the colonizers.
Vary rarely did the missionaries ever provide any difficulty for the colonial
governments - most often they were extremely helpful.
When you convince a people that God's son is a white man, and by linkage that
God must be white (or prefer white) then of course people who are white are
then seen as closest to God, therefore better - pure and white as snow......
This is mental preparation for the acceptance of colonialism. The height of
implanting white supremacy and darker subservience.
Missionaries did not just preach religion, but they linked "God wants you to"
with the manner of dress, the way of marriage, the manifestation of art and
music, the language spoken, the naming of children, etc. They focused strongly
on removing the "pagan" culture and remaking the people into "good christians"
who dutifully worshipped both the missionaries and the colonizers - the same
people - thus fully integrated in the goals of colonialism. People were told
to stop worshipping their ancestors, to ignore the traditions of their elders
and follow "God's way", to sever all ties with their pasts and accept the way
of the missionaries (and the colonizers) to become civilized and holy.
Later archaeologists and anthropologists would later go to these places and
bemoan how much the people had forgotten of their original languages,
cultures, art, etc!
Missionaries were massive culture destroyers. Seen around the world today are
vestiges of communities that were wiped mentally clean of their culture by
missionaries.
Land was often "seized" by missionaries, in the name of God of course, as well
as again the encouragement for the population to submit to colonial control of
land while being "good christians" to colonial authorities.
Sexual abuse of males and females, boys and girls was fairly common, as was
requiring financial or property "offerings" from the indigenous people to the
missionaries.
In the United States, missionary pursuits among the slaves taught that that to
be a good and obedient slave was what God wanted from black people - and those
who fought against slavery fought against God. They taught that to get into
heaven you had to be a pleasant and hardworking slave - basically that life
was to be spent in service to whites, and your reward would come in heaven.
Bob Marley addressed this "teaching" often in his music, especially in "Get
up, Stand" - where he sang "If you know what life is worth, you would look
for yours on earth" - he stressed to black people not remain locked in that
teaching - which contributed to passivity and acceptance, rather than fighting
for "your rights".
As to manifest destiny in modern times, I strongly know it exists, because I
see it in the field of international affairs on a consistent basis - the idea
that the west is the natural leader of the world. Perhaps they don't say (at
least out loud) that God has ordained that Euro people lead the world, but for
many it remains in their hearts that their civilizations are just naturally
superior and have proven that by how they have conquered - which some feel
would not have happened had (1) God not willed it or (2) God not willed them
with superior culture/attributes
- and many are unwilling to give up this belief which pervades NGO and
government activity - donor attitudes, peace corp work, feminist
outpourings,etc.
Divide and conquer was (and is) a well-used colonial and neo-colonial tactic -
from the way slave ships often made sure to mix ethnic groups feeling that if
you put one ethnic group together they could organize to fight back, but if
you mixed the groups up, then they would focus on fighting among themselves
AND be limited by language barriers which would keep them from uniting against
their slavers. The partition of Africa was a good example of how europe while
refusing to divide itself to fight over Africa - instead sought to divide up
Africa and conquer it for themselves. France currently is extremely good at
promoting francophone unity to prevent coalition in Africa with anglophone
countries. They have put up over the years numerous obstacles to make sure
francophone african countries remain focused only on France.
Nicole
