This semester, I have been taking a class on the history of the Native American Peoples. I was initially excited to take this class, as I honestly don't know very much about the the people groups who lived in Pre-Columbian America. It didn't take too long, however, to realize that this class is more about putting Europeans in a bad light than it is about telling the story of the people who lived here before the Europeans arrived. I recently finished my midterm for this class, and decided to use my midterm essay for this week's post. In my essay, I was required to describe "the Europeans' attempt to Christianize America." Here is my answer...
Defining Your Terms
When Columbus set sail across the Atlantic in 1492, a new era dawned for the Western Hemisphere. In only a few hundred years, the languages, landscapes and cultures of the Americas changed dramatically. Among the many factors that helped to reshape Native American culture was the introduction of new religions. As Europeans streamed to American shores, some tried, with varying degrees of success, to convert the Natives.
Some refer to this collective effort by European missionaries as an attempt to “Christianize” the Natives. This, however, is a misnomer. It must be recognized that two very different European religious worldviews were at work in the “New World”; that of the Roman Catholics and that of the Protestants. The word “Christian” was given to followers of Jesus of Nazareth in ancient Antioch and simply means “little Christ”. Yet, Roman Catholicism stands in direct opposition to many of the foundational principles that Jesus and his first followers laid out. These include teachings on Jesus’s crucifixion, salvation, baptism, forgiveness, the authority of the Pope and much, much more. Therefore, Roman Catholicism cannot accurately be labeled Christianity. So called Protestants, however, are products of the 16th century Reformation, which was born out of an attempt to understand anew what Jesus taught.
Roman Catholics in the "New World"
The two main Roman Catholic powers at play in the “New World” were Spain and France. Spain was the epitome of militant Catholicism. As a nation, Spain was interested, above all, in empire building and precious metals. The Spanish often used Catholicism as a cover for brutal conquest. Spanish priests entered native villages and tried to oust medicine men, outlaw native religion and control native life. Perhaps the saddest example of this is the ceremonial reading of the Requerimiento. The Requerimiento was a document read to Natives demanding they submit to the Pope and the king of Spain, and acknowledge the Roman Catholic Church as the only true religion. It also stated that any who refused to do these things would suffer violence. The Requerimiento was read in Spanish, not the native tongue, and was usually nothing more than an excuse to subdue a tribe.
Catholic France, on the other hand, took a milder approach towards the Natives she encountered. France was primarily interested in trading with native tribes for their furs, as American furs proved to be very valuable back home. France was also interested in fostering military alliances with native tribes in order to keep the English at bay. Guided by these goals, French missionaries tried to build friendships with the Natives they sought to convert, rather than attempt to oust native religion entirely.
One example that survives today, Jean de Brébeuf’s “The Mission to the Hurons”, outlines this approach. In “The Mission to the Hurons”, de Brébuef explains to fellow Jesuits different aspects of Huron life and culture. De Brébeuf’s work gives tips on how to interact with the Huron, describing what is and is not appropriate. He even warns would-be missionaries that they will have to give up certain European ideas about propriety in order to accommodate the Huron.
Protestant Attempts
On the Eastern Seaboard, the English presented an entirely different worldview. While many, probably most, English colonists were driven to the “New World” by dreams of wealth and power, some came for religious reasons. Perhaps the best known, though most misunderstood, of those that came for religious reasons were the Puritans. The Puritan movement represented many groups united by the common desire to see the Anglican Church purified of its worldly elements and brought into compliance with the Bible.
Though the list of Puritan names is long, some do stand out. Among these names is that of John Eliot. Eliot was a 17th century Puritan who preached to New England Natives, such as the Concord. Eliot translated the Bible into the Algonquin language. He also established a network of “Praying Towns” where converted Natives could live and learn together.
Another Puritan missionary to the Natives of New England was David Brainerd. Brainerd only lived to be 29, but he earned the respect of Natives living in Southern New England, witnessing the conversion of many. David Brainerd’s zeal to see Jesus preached to all people, regardless of culture or color, has inspired generations of Christians.
Conclusion
Although, Spain, France and England were all powerful forces in shaping the “New World”, their missionary efforts were met with varying degrees of success. If we are to discuss the success of each country’s attempt to “Christianize” the Natives they met, the English must take first place. The Puritans, more than any other group, went to the Natives with the desire to see them come to faith in Jesus Christ. France initially enjoyed more success than Spain in gaining Roman Catholic converts. This was due to France’s much more congenial approach to the Natives. However, it must be noted that, in the modern Americas, from Mexico to the tip of South America, Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, and Spanish is the predominant language.
