Christianity did not spread because of the profundity of its message, but by the quantity of its violence. There is the presupposition among Christians, particularly missionaries, that their religion has spread nothing but good in the world. History does not support this claim because it is as far from the truth as it can get. I would like to think the Maori are ahead of the curve.
I don't understand why the Maori are turning their backs on the one true God. I was sure that if all of the lootings, killing and raping didn't convince them, then the years of institutionalized racism would have. I guess I just don't understand people these days.
...it was you. You guys did the election fraud. You literally would've found it if you looked in a mirror instead of hiring grifters to check ballots for bamboo fibers or whateverthefuck that clown show was all about.
I'm surprised they have a hard time with: "My God loves you and I'm going to murder and oppress as many of you as I need to until you accept his love."
“Atheism, to many people, was seen as a “white thing.””
We’ve seen the same thing said about homosexuality in some countries.
Totally appropriate to condemn colonialism. But individual liberty should be viewed as a fundamental right that is universal. Indigenous oppression is still oppression.
Once, Christianity controlled vast fleets and armies, but now its power over life and death- and therefore, its power to fill its churches with fearful, unwilling converts- is a pale shadow of what it once was. May its influence continue to recede until its deity, his son, and all their host of angels join the likes of Zeus and Ra- just another body of mythology to be studied, but never again believed.
This article just further corroborates that white Christianity is on its way out, slowly but surely. Indigenous peoples have had enough of this bullshit. Even if expressing no religion is their choice, they have a rich culture in which to engage.
In Hawaii, in 1819, due partly in response to Western, but not Christian, influence, the native religion of the Hawaiians, very similar to the maori, collapsed. Kamehameha II, Alexander Liholiho, sat down with the women and ate dinner. The Kapu system, which was the basis of their religion and social structure, completely collapsed as a result.
In 1820, the missionaries from the United States showed up. The hawaiians had just had their culture destroyed and continued to be devastated by western diseases. The christian missionaries were perfectly positioned to take over.
Eventually, their children and grandchildren did. That was followed by the United States taking over, the highly religious United States. Hawaiian language was eventually lost, and Hawaiian culture turned into a tourist attraction. (I understand that that is both an over statement and over simplification).
The maori, as I understand it, were able to retain both language and their cultural identification. And they survived as a reasonably distinct people into the 21st-century. And I suspect that that is perhaps of the greatest significance.
The Hawaiian renaissance began on the late 60's, when I was a boy in Hawaii. I was even a part of it, but not much. But I suspect that 1) it was already too late, and 2) a lot of the leaders of that renaissance were far less Christian than their parents. But I don't know that and can cite no facts.
This causes me to reflect on that island in the Indian Ocean which is off limits to outsiders in order to preserve the cultural traditions of the island's historic inhabitants, which include fervent isolationism. The island made the news a year or two ago because some young evangelist decided that God had told them that it was his heavenly duty to go and bring the Word of God to those unfortunate heathens. He made it about 5 steps onto the beach before he was full of arrows.
God remains mum on the mysteries of his holy plan.
Sixteen people is not enough to draw a decent conclusion, however it seems that the responses were similar enough to justify a closer look. They found 16 people with nearly the same answer, which is remarkable all by itself. Aside from certain instances where a large group has been trained to respond to questions in a specific manner, random folks are not going to come up with the same answer, especially atheists (something about herding cats).
I’m not surprised that these people see the harm of Christianity and it’s missionaries, it’s too bad it didn’t happen sooner and to more indigenous peoples around the world.
Christianity did not spread because of the profundity of its message, but by the quantity of its violence. There is the presupposition among Christians, particularly missionaries, that their religion has spread nothing but good in the world. History does not support this claim because it is as far from the truth as it can get. I would like to think the Maori are ahead of the curve.
It would seem as though the Maori saw through Christianity's BS. Would that the US could be as smart.
Enow spake.
I don't understand why the Maori are turning their backs on the one true God. I was sure that if all of the lootings, killing and raping didn't convince them, then the years of institutionalized racism would have. I guess I just don't understand people these days.
OT- Hey, Republicans, look! We found some of that election fraud you were looking for! https://apnews.com/article/arizona-fake-electors-charges-2020-election-9da5a7e58814ed55ceea1ca55401af85
...it was you. You guys did the election fraud. You literally would've found it if you looked in a mirror instead of hiring grifters to check ballots for bamboo fibers or whateverthefuck that clown show was all about.
I'm surprised they have a hard time with: "My God loves you and I'm going to murder and oppress as many of you as I need to until you accept his love."
Shocked, really.
“Atheism, to many people, was seen as a “white thing.””
We’ve seen the same thing said about homosexuality in some countries.
Totally appropriate to condemn colonialism. But individual liberty should be viewed as a fundamental right that is universal. Indigenous oppression is still oppression.
Once, Christianity controlled vast fleets and armies, but now its power over life and death- and therefore, its power to fill its churches with fearful, unwilling converts- is a pale shadow of what it once was. May its influence continue to recede until its deity, his son, and all their host of angels join the likes of Zeus and Ra- just another body of mythology to be studied, but never again believed.
Christian missionary
def.
"Someone who barges into your home uninvited and tells you your whole way of life is wrong."
Long past time to kick the religion of the intruders to the curb.
That’s a steep drop in adherence to Christianity. Hope it continues to drop.
This article just further corroborates that white Christianity is on its way out, slowly but surely. Indigenous peoples have had enough of this bullshit. Even if expressing no religion is their choice, they have a rich culture in which to engage.
Remove away that blackning church
Remove away that marriage hearse
Remove away that man of blood
Youll quite remove the ancient curse
William Blake - a Prometheus rising indeed!
In Hawaii, in 1819, due partly in response to Western, but not Christian, influence, the native religion of the Hawaiians, very similar to the maori, collapsed. Kamehameha II, Alexander Liholiho, sat down with the women and ate dinner. The Kapu system, which was the basis of their religion and social structure, completely collapsed as a result.
In 1820, the missionaries from the United States showed up. The hawaiians had just had their culture destroyed and continued to be devastated by western diseases. The christian missionaries were perfectly positioned to take over.
Eventually, their children and grandchildren did. That was followed by the United States taking over, the highly religious United States. Hawaiian language was eventually lost, and Hawaiian culture turned into a tourist attraction. (I understand that that is both an over statement and over simplification).
The maori, as I understand it, were able to retain both language and their cultural identification. And they survived as a reasonably distinct people into the 21st-century. And I suspect that that is perhaps of the greatest significance.
The Hawaiian renaissance began on the late 60's, when I was a boy in Hawaii. I was even a part of it, but not much. But I suspect that 1) it was already too late, and 2) a lot of the leaders of that renaissance were far less Christian than their parents. But I don't know that and can cite no facts.
https://nationalzero.com/2024/04/24/arizona-state-house-passes-repeal-of-1864-abortion-ban/
OT
Waddaya know? The Arizona state House passed a bill to repeal the 1864 near-total abortion ban.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/arizona-state-house-passes-a-bill-to-repeal-1864-abortion-ban/ar-AA1nATUx
This causes me to reflect on that island in the Indian Ocean which is off limits to outsiders in order to preserve the cultural traditions of the island's historic inhabitants, which include fervent isolationism. The island made the news a year or two ago because some young evangelist decided that God had told them that it was his heavenly duty to go and bring the Word of God to those unfortunate heathens. He made it about 5 steps onto the beach before he was full of arrows.
God remains mum on the mysteries of his holy plan.
Sixteen people is not enough to draw a decent conclusion, however it seems that the responses were similar enough to justify a closer look. They found 16 people with nearly the same answer, which is remarkable all by itself. Aside from certain instances where a large group has been trained to respond to questions in a specific manner, random folks are not going to come up with the same answer, especially atheists (something about herding cats).
I’m not surprised that these people see the harm of Christianity and it’s missionaries, it’s too bad it didn’t happen sooner and to more indigenous peoples around the world.