Clashing Cultures and Colonial Conquest

In the West, at least since the Enlightenment, most have viewed life as separated into compartments, including religion: Work Politics Education Recreation RELIGION In contrast, tribal societies like those first encountered by Europeans in the 15 th century held a holistic understanding of life, with no division between sacred and secular.

Founding myths Seasonal festivals Hunting celebrations Rituals for sickness, childbirth, etc.

Creation stories Spirit possession Ritual singing/dancing Ceremonial rites of passage The point: sacred forces interact with human daily life on every level, either for good or ill, and the goal was to entice the favor of those forces for ones cause.

The emergence of Protestantism brought new diversity to European Christianity just as explorers were discovering the “New World.” Lutherans in Germany Calvinists in Switzerland Anabaptists Anglicans and Puritans in England Catholics in Spain, Portugal, France, and parts of Germany Alongside Christians, Europe was home to sizable Jewish and Islamic communities.

Do they have religion? No institutions No sacred texts No monotheism Rituals like dancing appeared recreational rather than religious Do they have souls? Physical and social differences cast doubt on native humanity Should they be converted or killed?