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In the article “Canaanites, Cowboys, and Indians”, Robert Warrior addresses the issues present in the church attempting to help liberate the Native Americans. Warrior states that most oppressed people relate to the Israelites during the exodus from Egypt, but the Native Americans can relate the most to the Canaanites, in the book of Joshua, being removed from their homeland. I was surprised by the author’s interpretation of the biblical text. I had never thought about what had happened to the Canaanites when the Israelites took their land. This story is very similar to the Europeans, mainly the English, coming to America. Both of these have oppressed people who leave their country to find a land that they believe is promised to them and in turn; they oppress a group of people and drive them from their land. Warrior believes that, like the Canaanites, the Native Americans are a group of forgotten people in the eyes of God. When I went to a Presbyterian church, I had learned the God loved everyone and I never thought that God would annihilate a group of people for living on a piece of land that God had promised to another group of people. During this time, the stories of the Canaanites …show more content…
annihilation after the wall of Jericho were skipped over. Overall, I was surprised that I had never realized that God would hurt a group of people who did not even know that God existed. Robert Warrior’s interpretation of the Bible is valid.
He gives a different perspective on the Exodus stories. He shows that God chose a group of people whom would be watched over and protected. Warrior also made the connection between the Canaanites and the Native Americans, by showing that a group people were negatively affected by another group who wished to claim what they believed their promised land. I believe that Warrior’s interpretation shows a more malevolent god leading the Israelites. Although, God is protecting the Israelites, God also works against other groups that he has not chosen to represent. I believe that the Canaanites are innocent and that the only reason that could be given to justify their removal and oppression is that they were not God’s chosen
people. Warrior’s comparison of the Canaanites and the Native Americans showed a darker side of God that many people forget about. His comparison also shows that that the Native Americans should work on ending their oppression themselves and not use the Christians for help. The Christian god was used to justify the oppression and removal of the Native Americans and it is clear that he is not on their side unlike with the Israelites in Egypt.
Pages one to sixty- nine in Indian From The Inside: Native American Philosophy and Cultural Renewal by Dennis McPherson and J. Douglas Rabb, provides the beginning of an in-depth analysis of Native American cultural philosophy. It also states the ways in which western perspective has played a role in our understanding of Native American culture and similarities between Western culture and Native American culture. The section of reading can be divided into three lenses. The first section focus is on the theoretical understanding of self in respect to the space around us. The second section provides a historical background into the relationship between Native Americans and British colonial power. The last section focus is on the affiliation of otherworldliness that exist between
In George E. Tinker’s book, American Indian Liberation: A Theology of Sovereignty, the atrocities endured by many of the first peoples, Native American tribes, come into full view. Tinker argues that the colonization of these groups had and continues to have lasting effects on their culture and thus their theology. There is a delicate balance to their culture and their spiritual selves within their tightly knit communities prior to contact from the first European explorers. In fact, their culture and spiritual aspects are so intertwined that it is conceptually impossible to separate the two, as so many Euro-American analysts attempted. Tinker points to the differences between the European and the Native American cultures and mind sets as ultimately
In the times of colonies when land was untouched there was a distinct hatred between the native Indians and the new colonists. As one reads the essay: A True History of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, written by Mary Rowlandson in 1682, one will understand this hatred. Although the Indians captured Mary Rowlandson, with the faith of God she was safely returned. The reader learns of her religious messages and how she turns to God for safety and strong will. One sees how her Puritan beliefs are of the strong New England Puritans way of life. The reader also understands through her words how she views the Indians and their way of life.
Luke 6:31 says, “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” History proves that our nation didn’t keep with verse in mind when we treated the Native Americans unfairly. Some examples of not treating them fairly was the Trail of Tears, The Massacre of Wounded Knee, and The Battle of Tippecanoe. This essay will explain how in these events Americans treated Native Americans how we shouldn’t of.
In the introduction, Hämäläinen introduces how Plains Indians horse culture is so often romanticized in the image of the “mounted warrior,” and how this romanticized image is frequently juxtaposed with the hardships of disease, death, and destruction brought on by the Europeans. It is also mentioned that many historians depict Plains Indians equestrianism as a typical success story, usually because such a depiction is an appealing story to use in textbooks. However, Plains Indians equestrianism is far from a basic story of success. Plains equestrianism was a double-edged sword: it both helped tribes complete their quotidian tasks more efficiently, but also gave rise to social issues, weakened the customary political system, created problems between other tribes, and was detrimental to the environment.
Many colonist viewed the Native Americans as spawn of the devil. In Thomas Morton’s writing he said “if we do not judge amiss of these savages in accounting them witches,… some correspondence they have with the Devil out of all doubt.” (Foner 5) An example of historical content is the Metacom’s War by the year of 1675. The Indians in southern New England didn’t like the new settlers pushing on new religion and harsh treatment. Some of the Indians “converted to Christianity, living in protected ‘praying towns.’” (Jones, Wood, Borstelmann, May, and Ruiz 68) The Indians were ok with the conditions until “a white man shot and wounded a Native American.” (Jones, Wood, Borstelmann, May, and Ruiz 69) Colonist began to even distrust the Indians that were willing to convert to Christianity and moved their “praying towns” to “Deer Island in Boston Harbor” (Jones, Wood, Borstelmann, May, and Ruiz 69) This historical content shows that the colonist didn’t truly trust the Indians even when they were of the same religion, like Morton’s writing said “they have with the Devil out of all doubt” (Foner
In this way the religion practiced by the Native Americans was taken as contradictions to Christianity. The natives were informed that Christianity was designed to be an eternal rule of significance and a means from which they could use to return to God from their religions that had deviated (Eliot par. 3). Through sermons given by Whitfield, the minds of the natives were engaged in religion and making religion the subject of most of their discussions. They embraced all the opportunities to hear what was been taught on Christianity. The Christian revivals were attended by the young and old alike (Edwards par.
Traditionally the bible; being a sacred text, is not a text that is often affiliated with Native people due to social location; which makes sense considering that in Genesis 11 it was said that the whole earth speaks one same language. This simply cannot be true based on the various Native tribes and the differing languages within each tribe. Laura E Donaldson; author of The Sign of Orpah: Reading Ruth Through Native Eyes, touches on the concept of social location and how it affects how you interpret sacred text. The effect of socio-economic status on a person's life and their position in our society can determine a person’s beliefs and values on life. An individual born into a family of wealth tends to be more reliant on the support of others whereas a person who is considered middle class normally supports themselves.
The Mandan are an indigenous tribe native to North America. The Mandan’s are known for being one of the earliest tribes to live on the great plains of the Midwest. Unlike other plains Indians the Mandan were a settled tribe who lived along the Big Bend of the Missouri River in what is now called North Dakota. While most tribes that lived in the plains were hunter/gatherers who lived a nomadic lifestyle following their food, the Mandan were planters living mostly off their crops. Warriors left once a year in hunting groups to go out into the plains in search for Buffalo, which was not only their major meat source, but was also used for clothing and shelter as well.
Giles, Thomas S. "How did Native Americans Respond to Christianity?" Christian History, 1992, Volume 11, Issue 3, p20.
The American version of history blames the Native people for their ‘savage ' nature, for their failure to adhere to the ‘civilized norms ' of property ownership and individual rights that Christian people hold, and for their ‘brutality ' in defending themselves against the onslaught of non-Indian settlers. The message to Native people is simple: "If only you had been more like us, things might have been different for you.”
Texas Indians were very unique in their culture and way of life. The Texas Indians had a unique social order; physical appearance, acquired subsistence in many different ways, and had many unique cultural practice. As a result, many historians study the native Indians in Texas with awe and amazement. With a deep and interesting analysis of the Texas Indians, historians can understand the people; and their way of life. Based on the text, “La Relacion” which was written by Alvar Nunez de Vaca, an analysis of said subject can be conducted.
Since the settling of the English colonies in the early 17th century, pioneers have been destined to expand into the North American frontier and to domesticate it with their Christian faith and progressive nature. In their exploration of the frontier, however, the Puritan colonists often encountered Indians whose savagery challenged their discipline and morals. Just as the colonists expanded, Indians also saw their native lands of many years vanish. The situation naturally compelled the Puritans and the Indians to fight each other for their mutual interests. Thus, while most accounts of Western history focus on the heathen threat, both Indians and colonists experienced the harshness of the captivity myth and its evolution into other mythology that defined American history.
Over the history of our country Native Americas have long since been oppressed in trying to practice their Native Religions freely, and openly. It wasn’t until the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (AIRFA) of 1978, which “acknowledged the unique nature of Native spirituality” (Limb & Hodge, 2008, p. 618). This law stated that the policy of the United States would be to protect and preserve the right of Native Americans to believe and practice their traditional religions. This was the first major step in the United States history that sought to protect Native Americans and their rights to self-expression of spirituality.
The native American discovered the Americas, where they lived until the Spaniards came in wanting to change their religion. The native American believed in the Great Spirit before the Europeans came into their land. This topic is interesting to me because these indigenous people already had their religion build up when the Spaniards forced the natives to accept there will. The natives were a big group of people who resisted the Spaniards colonization as we read in the Borinqueños “Revolt of the ” how they fought back to the conquistadors but natives were decent people who believed these people were too powerful to defeat. The Native American should have fought for their beliefs, resulting today in a society where they are not able to express their true beliefs.