Today, my ethnic studies class went on a field trip to Chicago to explore ethnic and immigrant centers. One of the stops was a Mexican cultural museum, which displayed contemporary Mexican art and murals as well as information on the ancient Maya civilization. One display discussed their religion and how it was affected by the Spanish conquistadors. Before the invasion, the Mayas had a polytheistic belief system. They had many gods and goddesses, and paid their respective sacrifices to each of them. Then the Spanish came, and put it upon themselves to convert these "heathens" to Christianity. They set up churches and schools in order to educate the indigenous people. For some reason, not a lot of success was made until bishops and people of religious importance starting settling in Mexico. The Mayan people seemed to accept this religion without much of a fight; in fact, they were able to relate Christianity to aspects of their own religion. For example, the Virgin Mary. The Virgin Mary was similar to one of their goddesses, so they were fairly content with the change. Gradually, their religious traditions were conquered, along with their cities and people.
So, the question I asked myself is, why did the Spanish people take it upon themselves to "Christianize" the Mayans? It reminded me of the "white man's burden:" the duty of American missionaries to educate and Christianize people who lived in countries of the American empire. Similarly, why did the U.S. feel it necessary to change the ways of perfectly happy people? It seems like pretension to me. It makes me think of the United State's attempt to democratize Iraq. I don't think that it's fair. If their system worked for thousands of years, who are we to change it? It's just egotistical to try to Americanize or Christianize the rest of the world. It's a form of globalization. But back to my original question. I don't think that the Spanish conquistadors were worried about the indigenous people's souls. In fact, I don't think that the Spanish cared much about the indigenous people's well-being at all. They looked down on the Mayans, they saw them as people in the way of their grand plan to conquer a new world. Was there a practical reason for converting the Mayans? Or maybe they did it because they were convinced that their religion was correct, and that the rest of the world should think likewise. I tend to agree with the latter statement. I understand why the Spanish did this, but I still think that it's wrong. Why can't we respect and preserve unique cultures?
Neat website with chronological order of conquest
http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/new-spain.html
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That is a fantastic point. I have often wondered why the "white Christian man" took it upon themselves to reform other religions and culture, and to "save" them from their "heathen" ways. All quotation marks aside, I have always found this to be a particularly disturbing bookmark in the history of humanity.
ReplyDeleteAs of late, I have chalked up their rationale to the advancement of technology. When the "white man" came to Mexico, they were, in some ways, more technologically advanced than the Mayans. They must have taken this to mean that they were inherently more intelligent and culturally advanced than the Mayans, thus they must have assumed they both had the right and obligation to expose said "underdeveloped society" to the correct path.
I'm not saying this is correct, but it's an idea I've thrown about.
Good questions. I was reading something recently (and can't remember what) that argued in a similar situation that religion can be a form of control for colonial powers. People who see the world in the same categories as you learn to see you in the right way.. and then there is just plain ethnocentrism..
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