Are missionaries cultural imperialists? Are they just like the profit-hungry commercialist? There have indeed been many occasions where missionaries have failed to befriend several tribes and were responsible for needless destruction of cultures. However, we cannot ignore the relentless dedication and determination from missionaries to bring Christianity to these tribesmen and enhance their culture to make it world-fitting.
From ‘Abner hale’ and ‘fray Diego de Landa’ missionaries have sometimes acted in a culture-destroying manner. Do we ignore what the UFM missionaries have accomplished with the Wai Wai culture? What about the amazing feat by numerous missionary groups like The Missionary Alliance? History has proved that leaving these uncivilized people doesn’t work and that somebody needs to get there to help and guide these people into Christianity. They risk their lives to get them first because they believe that they are ‘more sympathetic agents of change than profit hungry commercialists’. These tribes cannot be completely isolated from the rest of the world. They need to communicate. The missionaries are just providing a more convincing way for them to merge and become a part in our society.
Missionaries use moral persuasions to engage with the tribes, and they know what will happen to these people when they fail to deliver the message; the government will eventually use physical force. As Don Richardson puts, the missionaries are giving the tribal ‘a rational basis for giving it up voluntarily before the guns of the police decide the issue with traumatic effect’
People say that missionaries are destroying cultures. Even though the outer appearance and act may change, influenced by outside people, the center core of a culture doesn’t change. The missionaries aren’t disregarding the values of culture and faith but they are simply refining certain aspects of a culture to make them ‘better’. The introduction of Christianity has already begun and we should now make them feel like they are part our society.
From ‘Abner hale’ and ‘fray Diego de Landa’ missionaries have sometimes acted in a culture-destroying manner. Do we ignore what the UFM missionaries have accomplished with the Wai Wai culture? What about the amazing feat by numerous missionary groups like The Missionary Alliance? History has proved that leaving these uncivilized people doesn’t work and that somebody needs to get there to help and guide these people into Christianity. They risk their lives to get them first because they believe that they are ‘more sympathetic agents of change than profit hungry commercialists’. These tribes cannot be completely isolated from the rest of the world. They need to communicate. The missionaries are just providing a more convincing way for them to merge and become a part in our society.
Missionaries use moral persuasions to engage with the tribes, and they know what will happen to these people when they fail to deliver the message; the government will eventually use physical force. As Don Richardson puts, the missionaries are giving the tribal ‘a rational basis for giving it up voluntarily before the guns of the police decide the issue with traumatic effect’
People say that missionaries are destroying cultures. Even though the outer appearance and act may change, influenced by outside people, the center core of a culture doesn’t change. The missionaries aren’t disregarding the values of culture and faith but they are simply refining certain aspects of a culture to make them ‘better’. The introduction of Christianity has already begun and we should now make them feel like they are part our society.
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A thought provoking post. Mrs.Mc.
African Globe Trotters. said...
March 14, 2009 at 1:38 AM