tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941169824044868287.post1477427550676073640..comments2009-01-18T12:58:25.198-08:00Comments on Indigenous Peoples Rights Activist: Christian Atrocities Committed Against Non-Christian PeoplesThomas Dahlheimerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11124644829348202406noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8941169824044868287.post-82177321717761120772009-01-18T12:58:00.000-08:002009-01-18T12:58:00.000-08:00I agree with your assessment, Thomas, that the rec...I agree with your assessment, Thomas, that the record of Christian antagonism against indigenous people has been reprehensible throughout most of Christian history. As you know, it thid not begin with Pope Nicholas V's Bull in the 15th century, it began much earlier with the notion that "a chosen people and a promised land" which "provides a convenient rationalization whereby one people feels entitled and justified, by divine right, to take over, possess, and profit from the lands of other peoples." With that statement, you nailed both the problem and the cause: the Violence of God tradition within BOTH Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) and New Testament documents in which God is depicted as violent, judgmental, jealous, contrary, cranky, contradictory and confused--a pretty good description of any of the violent dictators you have mentioned in your article.<BR/><BR/>This has been used by the Western Church since the 4th Century to subjugate "pagan" peoples in Europe and those, like the Celts, who had an earlier form of Christianity that was far more compassionate, inclusive and closer to the teaching and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth than was the imperialist version of the Church promoted by the hierarchy in Rome. The Roman Church did to the Celtic Church what it did to indigenous groups in other parts of the world: It tracked it down and destroyed it. Protestants later took up the same cudgel and tried to finish the job.<BR/><BR/>Is this history pitiable? Oh, God, yes! And thank you for reminding us of it. You know, Thomas, I have a personal interest in all this, because not only did I have as a wonderful male model a fine, wise and humorous Native American man, I have four wonderful grandchildren--two girls and two boys--who are part Native American through their other grandfather, and I want them to be at least as proud of that part of their heritage as they are of the other. I want them to be proud of themselves as sons and daughters of a loving and compassionate God, not a God of violence and horror.<BR/><BR/>Shalom, Thomas Dahlheimer,<BR/><BR/>Jorge (Toasty) TostadaGeorge Polleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12698749017590766281noreply@blogger.com