RELIGION AS A SOCIAL FORCE

A detailed Summary of RELIGION AS A SOCIAL FORCE

The Amerindians of the region had their own religious practices and ceremonies before the intervention of any Europeans. For the most part they were polytheistic-worshiping many gods. Much of their rites involved sacrifices, often times humans, as well as dancing singing and smoking. All of that was interrupted with the arrival of the Europeans who insisted that the Amerindians were heathens thus making them inferior. Then and there attempts were made to Christianise them as a please Queen Isabella. The trick behind that through was force these people to work and so not many of the Spaniards cared much about their religious lives. Several missionaries came to the West Indies to work among the Amerindians. Most of the missionaries came by Roman Catholic orders and were Domonicans. Among the missionaries were Montesions and Las Casa, both tried to convert the Amerindias to Christianity.

In 1685 or there about, the Roman Catholic Church sanctioned Slavery as it claimed that the negros were "foreign subjects" and thus could be enslaved. They even stated the slavery was helpful to the slaves, as they became Christians. The Spanish even set up slave code called the Las Partidas stating that slaves

Despite the influences of all those religious groups, African religions persisted in the Caribbean. The Planters refused to ensure that the Slaves

Another group of Christians in the West Indies were the Anglicans. They too were upholders of the slave system in its peak and so did little to improve the plight of the slaves. In fact they weren't even committed to Christianity, as the Chatholics were several clergymen among them who lived secular lives. Peter Ashdown in his book Caribbean Revision History puts it like this "The Anglicans were only namesakes of Christianity so how could they wxpect to christianise others". Their sole role it seems was to subdue and assimilate the Amerindians. Originally there was little interest in christianising the slaves. Their reason for sanctioning slaves was that God punished the Negros by making them slaves and conversion will make them free. Not from control of masters, but simply from their wicked habits and thoughts and all that make them dissatisfied with their lot. This led to an ironic situation in which the those who became Christians often prayed for their white opperssors' in Jamaica this was what the slaves would: "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do...Burka left him God England, and the devil in Jamiaca Stir him up to do all these wickedness. Poor thing! Him eye blind, an

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 908
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous

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RELIGION AS A SOCIAL FORCE

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