Was the conquest of the New World the will of God?

Angel Wings 1288

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History books portray the conquest and settlement of the Americas by European Christian nations as nothing short of brutal, a campaign of murder and genocide aimed at the destruction of the indigenous peoples.

Is such a portrayal accurate? Or is it actually revisionist nonsense that “conveniently” omits the good that came from the European colonial powers that conquered the New World, namely the spread of Christianity?

Prior to the arrival of godly nations such as Spain, the natives of regions like Mesoamerica believed in fake polytheistic gods such Quetzalcoatl and Tlaloc. They practiced sorcery and animism, and they even engaged in ritual murder sacrifice of humans. The natives’ ways were arguably evil.

When Spain conquered large parts of the New World, the Gospels followed and spread the light of our savior to barbaric cultures that desperately needed redemption from the Holy Spirit. Christianity took root in lands that were plagued by idolatry, wickedness, and violence. Today, hundreds of millions of people from North and South America now adhere to Jesus.

Since Christianity found its rightful place in the Americas, how could the Western conquest of the New World be such a bad thing? In my judgement, the Christian European colonialists and settlers were carrying out the will of God to propagate humanity’s one true faith. (Mark 16:15)

The Word of God, which is infallibly inscribed in the Bible, will always be preached and heard in the Western Hemisphere, and we can thank the conquering Christian colonial nations for this beautiful gift of life and salvation. No revisionist historian will ever blot out this indisputable truth, and Jesus will reign supreme in the Americas forever and ever.
 

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History books portray the conquest and settlement of the Americas by European Christian nations as nothing short of brutal, a campaign of murder and genocide aimed at the destruction of the indigenous peoples.

Is such a portrayal accurate? Or is it actually revisionist nonsense that “conveniently” omits the good that came from the European colonial powers that conquered the New World, namely the spread of Christianity?

Prior to the arrival of godly nations such as Spain, the natives of regions like Mesoamerica believed in fake polytheistic gods such Quetzalcoatl and Tlaloc. They practiced sorcery and animism, and they even engaged in ritual murder sacrifice of humans. The natives’ ways were arguably evil.

When Spain conquered large parts of the New World, the Gospels followed and spread the light of our savior to barbaric cultures that desperately needed redemption from the Holy Spirit. Christianity took root in lands that were plagued by idolatry, wickedness, and violence. Today, hundreds of millions of people from North and South America now adhere to Jesus.

Since Christianity found its rightful place in the Americas, how could the Western conquest of the New World be such a bad thing? In my judgement, the Christian European colonialists and settlers were carrying out the will of God to propagate humanity’s one true faith. (Mark 16:15)

The Word of God, which is infallibly inscribed in the Bible, will always be preached and heard in the Western Hemisphere, and we can thank the conquering Christian colonial nations for this beautiful gift of life and salvation. No revisionist historian will ever blot out this indisputable truth, and Jesus will reign supreme in the Americas forever and ever.

There is controversy regarding the beginnings of Christian settlements in this country, and any harm perceived or unperceived brought or imposed by the settlers.

Here is perspective that may be helpful. It's about 1 1/2 hours, but very thought provoking and well worth the time invested:

 
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Resha Caner

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Is such a portrayal accurate? Or is it actually revisionist nonsense that “conveniently” omits the good that came from the European colonial powers that conquered the New World, namely the spread of Christianity?

The tone of your post indicates you've already decided on an answer. It conveys some of the condescension and self-righteousness that caused the very problems you're asking about.

So, I wouldn't call Spain a "godly nation". Such sweeping statements are rarely true. There were Christians in Spain and there were some very brutal people (such as Hernan Cortes). The conquistadors were motivated by a desire for wealth, and were willing to kill and enslave Indians, destroying entire nations in the process. Some of those who followed were motivated by a sincere desire to spread the Gospel. Unfortunately, in some cases they held a paternalistic view of Indians and were ill-equipped for the cultural chasm separating them from those to whom they attempted to minister.

Christianity was certainly a blessing for those who were brought to Christ, but it in no way justifies the accompanying devastation.
 
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Bumble Bee

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I believe it was God's will for Christianity to spread over here, and maybe for Europe to conquer, but the treatment of the natives was in no way His will. The selfish destruction in the quest for wealth and superiority is never the will of the Lord.
 
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JackRT

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There were Christians in Spain and there were some very brutal people (such as Hernan Cortes). The conquistadors were motivated by a desire for wealth, and were willing to kill and enslave Indians, destroying entire nations in the process.

So true. Hernando de Soto and his army were absolute brutes and monsters. In a few years they almost entirely destroyed the SouthEastern and Mississippian Indian Cultures of present day USA. The "Doctrine of Discovery" was laid out in a series of papal bulls in the 15th and 16th centuries. It basically said that if a Christian explorer should discover a new land in which there were no Christians, he was entitled to claim that land for his monarch. If the inhabitants offered resistance he was entitled to destroy or enslave them. In an 1818 USA Supreme Court Decision this was essentially written into USA law and was the basis of the attempted genocide of the aboriginal population in the 19th century. Today we rightly regard these events as crimes against humanity. It is impossible whitewash these actions.
 
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Sammy-San

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History books portray the conquest and settlement of the Americas by European Christian nations as nothing short of brutal, a campaign of murder and genocide aimed at the destruction of the indigenous peoples.

Is such a portrayal accurate? Or is it actually revisionist nonsense that “conveniently” omits the good that came from the European colonial powers that conquered the New World, namely the spread of Christianity?

Prior to the arrival of godly nations such as Spain, the natives of regions like Mesoamerica believed in fake polytheistic gods such Quetzalcoatl and Tlaloc. They practiced sorcery and animism, and they even engaged in ritual murder sacrifice of humans. The natives’ ways were arguably evil.

When Spain conquered large parts of the New World, the Gospels followed and spread the light of our savior to barbaric cultures that desperately needed redemption from the Holy Spirit. Christianity took root in lands that were plagued by idolatry, wickedness, and violence. Today, hundreds of millions of people from North and South America now adhere to Jesus.

Since Christianity found its rightful place in the Americas, how could the Western conquest of the New World be such a bad thing? In my judgement, the Christian European colonialists and settlers were carrying out the will of God to propagate humanity’s one true faith. (Mark 16:15)

The Word of God, which is infallibly inscribed in the Bible, will always be preached and heard in the Western Hemisphere, and we can thank the conquering Christian colonial nations for this beautiful gift of life and salvation. No revisionist historian will ever blot out this indisputable truth, and Jesus will reign supreme in the Americas forever and ever.

Do you think before New World was discovered any Native Americans had a relationship with God?
 
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JackRT

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What is your view on how people knew God in the past-the Holy Spirit spoke to their hearts about their religion not being of God?

I believe that all people of all times who sincerely approach God will be accepted by God. I do think that some beliefs may hinder this but that is just as true of Christians as non-Christians.
 
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Sammy-San

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I believe that all people of all times who sincerely approach God will be accepted by God. I do think that some beliefs may hinder this but that is just as true of Christians as non-Christians.

Do you think the Native American religions were directly against God?
 
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JackRT

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Do you think the Native American religions were directly against God?

"American" includes two continents and a wide variety of belief. When the Jesuit missionaries arrived in Ontario/New York they found the belief in Gitchi Manitou to be very compatible with Christian belief.
 
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Sammy-San

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"American" includes two continents and a wide variety of belief. When the Jesuit missionaries arrived in Ontario/New York they found the belief in Gitchi Manitou to be very compatible with Christian belief.

Was monotheism a minority among the American religions?
 
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Sammy-San

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"American" includes two continents and a wide variety of belief. When the Jesuit missionaries arrived in Ontario/New York they found the belief in Gitchi Manitou to be very compatible with Christian belief.

I heard in church being mentioned that Jesus visited the Native Americans.
 
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JackRT

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I heard in church being mentioned that Jesus visited the Native Americans.

That is a belief of the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) --- there is zero evidence that supports that.
 
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Angel Wings 1288

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Do you think before New World was discovered any Native Americans had a relationship with God?

There weren't any Abrahamic religions in the New World prior to the arrival of European settlers, so no.

While there were some monotheistic religions in the Americas at the time, it's important to understand that belief in one deity doesn't equate to belief in the Abrahamic god.
 
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Angel Wings 1288

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Certainly.

His question was addressed to me, not you.

If you want to make an outlandish claim like the natives of North and South America believed in the Abrahamic god when no such Abrahamic religions existed at the time, you need to substantiate your claims instead of reply with one word. In my response, I elaborated on my answer and explained my thesis. You should do the same thing next time.
 
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