Christianity and Native Religions in the Americas

Spanish Missionaries Representatives of the crown Founded schools (taught Latin, Spanish, and Christian doctrine) Learned native language to more easily explain Christianity to natives Researched the cultures of the natives to better understand them Bernardino de Sahagún –Franciscan monk –Preserved volumes of info. about languages, customs, beliefs, literature and history of Mexico before arrival of Spanish –Recorded the methods of the missionaries in early Mexico

Survival of Native Religions Spanish tied to eliminate the native religion in Mexico and Peru and enforce the Roman Catholic faith. Native people continued to observe and practice their native religion –They worshipped idols in caves and inaccessible mountain sites –Still occasionally committed human sacrifice to their god Christianity took favor in most natives –They felt that their gods had abandoned them due to Spanish conquest and epidemic disease Over time they blended their own interests and traditions with the Roman Catholic traditions

The Virgin of Guadalupe Legend tells that the Virgin Mary appeared before a peasant near Mexico City in 1531 –It is said that those who visit her shrine, at the site of the apparition, will be bestowed with miracles Almost became the national symbol of Mexico after mid- seventeenth century Increasingly popular due to growing mestizo population Popularity led to the domination of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico

French and English Missions The French or the English did not attract as many converts as the Spanish –It was more difficult to spread the word to people who were constantly moving The English colonies did not discourage converts, but showed little interest in them. French worked more with the native people than the English and had some success in spreading the word. The native people of North America did not take to Christianity like the people in Mexico and Peru.