Reading Log Week 2: The Insistent Missionary
James P. Ronda, “‘We Are Well As We Are’: An Indian Critique of Seventeenth-Century Christian Missions” The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 34, No. 1 (Jan., 1977), 75.
Ronda, “‘We Are Well As We Are’: An Indian Critique of Seventeenth-Century Christian Missions,” 76.
Have you ever questioned the background of a certain religion? Not just the God, or the written book by which they serve, but the actual character traits each individual withholds? This is exactly what Ronda digs into in the article, ‘We Are Well As We Are’: An Indian Critique of Seventeenth-Century Christian Missions.” An article that questions the reliability and background of a religious group’s actions is very odd, because religion is a very touchy topic, but Ronda goes about this in a respectful, yet powerful manner. This article was written to prove that missionaries in the past were in fact, selfish and abjure; contrary to the common belief that they are dedicated, self-sacrificing people. I was taken back by this article because I was unaware of this hidden past on missionaries, I was one of the people who believed that they were self-less followers willing to help anyone, but this article proves otherwise using the Native Americans as a strong example. Throughout the article Ronda argues on the Native Indians side to prove that missionaries are not what they are made out to be. The missionaries, or Jesuits, were a very common group in Europe in the seventeenth century; therefore influential to people around the world. Many people were influenced by this religion and took it into their own homes; it became very common and many people (especially missionaries) were spreading the word of God to all to continue the rise of Christian faith. Since the Indians would not take in Christianity they were perceived to be deviant and incapable of change. Their religion was not taken seriously; for example, their healing ritual was seen as sinful and diabolical to the Jesuits and they condemned them for that. The Jesuits also tried to convince the Indians that there is a hell by going as far as making highly coloured pictures to depict the torments or the hell they believe in, but even after all this the Indians still sought heaven and hell to be fables and romantic stories. Neither group had respect for the other, and both viewed each others leaders as “devils, demons, sorcerors, and witches.”[1] Many Indians stayed true to their religion despite the attack of the Christian God and the intense missionary imperialism; even political leaders went as far as making speeches to keep the Indians strong to withhold the beliefs of their ancestors, “if you my brothers, like me, have any feeling and love for yourselves, for your children, and for your country, choose with me to consider him rather as an enemy rather than as a friend”[2].
This article proves through many quotes and accusations that the missionaries in the seventeenth century were in fact, judgemental, selfish, and unwilling to accept the fact that other people may disagree with their beliefs. This article is convincing, because as someone has never considered this topic, I believed everything Ronda said with no questions or considerations.
[1] James P. Ronda, “‘We Are Well As We Are’: An Indian Critique of Seventeenth-Century Christian Missions” The William and Mary Quarterly, Vol. 34, No. 1 (Jan., 1977), 75.
[2] Ronda, “‘We Are Well As We Are’: An Indian Critique of Seventeenth-Century Christian Missions,” 76.
