This document discusses the historical narratives and backstories that have been used to justify Christian conquest and violence against indigenous peoples. It describes how 15th century Spanish conquistadors interpreted prophecies to believe they were fulfilling God's plan in conquering lands and peoples in the Americas. The conquest had devastating impacts, reducing the native Taino population on Hispaniola from 300,000 to zero within decades. Similarly, conquests of North America framed indigenous peoples as the damned Canaanites being displaced by God's elect. The document critiques how such narratives have been used to justify violence and argues we must reconsider the stories we tell.
Adapted from a Daniel Devilder sermon https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/1-the-jesus-touch-daniel-devilder-sermon-on-miracles-of-jesus-98963?ref=SermonSeriesDetails
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) presentation on "Works of Mercy," presented by David Jensen at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 26 Jan 2010.
From Greenbelt 2011. This is material from my next book - tentatively entitled, "Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Walk Into a Bar: Christian Faith in a Multi-Faith World," to be released September 2012.
The Emerging Church movement represents Satan's modern effort to confuse, weaken, and ultimately ruin God's people. It is a mixture of Christianity, New Age, Eastern religion, and mysticism. This presentation will provide a good introduction to this dangerous infiltration by the enemy of souls.
Holistic integration of mystical aspirations and social commitment: Saint Kur...Saju Chackalackal
A study on the successful synthesis of mystical aspirations and social commitment in the person, life, and ministry of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara in the context of 19th century Kerala, India
Adapted from a Daniel Devilder sermon https://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/1-the-jesus-touch-daniel-devilder-sermon-on-miracles-of-jesus-98963?ref=SermonSeriesDetails
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) presentation on "Works of Mercy," presented by David Jensen at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 26 Jan 2010.
From Greenbelt 2011. This is material from my next book - tentatively entitled, "Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Walk Into a Bar: Christian Faith in a Multi-Faith World," to be released September 2012.
The Emerging Church movement represents Satan's modern effort to confuse, weaken, and ultimately ruin God's people. It is a mixture of Christianity, New Age, Eastern religion, and mysticism. This presentation will provide a good introduction to this dangerous infiltration by the enemy of souls.
Holistic integration of mystical aspirations and social commitment: Saint Kur...Saju Chackalackal
A study on the successful synthesis of mystical aspirations and social commitment in the person, life, and ministry of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara in the context of 19th century Kerala, India
This ppt follows spi 7.42 . . . . . Outline the decline of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula that culminated in the Reconquista, Inquisition, and the rise of Spanish and Portuguese kingdoms.
Introduction to the Grand Junction Socratic ClubRoss Barefoot
The Grand Junction Socratic Club has been formed in the spirit of the original Oxford Socratic Club to foster a safe environment for dialog between Christians and Skeptics.
Claremont School of Theology Dean Philip Clayton explored answers to this critical question when he spoke to 900 United Methodists at their Quadrennial Training Event in Nashville.
In the presentation, Dean Clayton uses examples from the ministry of John Wesley and Martin Luther King, Jr. to illustrate how best to share the Good News of the teachings of Jesus, given current trends in American religion.
Homily: 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A 2017James Knipper
This week we hear that Jesus took his disciples on a 25 mile hike to ask them one question: Who do you say that I am? His reason for the hike was to bring them to a geo-political sight to make his point.
My guess is if Jesus was here today he may have brought us all to Charlottesville to ask us the same question. What would he have said to us and what do we need to be doing?
Check it out:
I. A Great Leader,
II. Death, the Interpreter,
III. The Necessity of Progress,
IV. The Law of Progress, .
V. Grapes of Gall,
VI. The Religion of Humanity,
VII. The AGNosTiasM of Paul, .
VIII. The Dogmatism of Paul,
IX. The Church's One Foundation,
X. The Power of the Keys,
2 Peter 3: Because some scriptures are hard to understand and some will force them to say things God never intended, Peter warns us to take care.
https://youtu.be/nV4kGHFsEHw
The Chakra System in our body - A Portal to Interdimensional Consciousness.pptxBharat Technology
each chakra is studied in greater detail, several steps have been included to
strengthen your personal intention to open each chakra more fully. These are designed
to draw forth the highest benefit for your spiritual growth.
The Good News, newsletter for June 2024 is hereNoHo FUMC
Our monthly newsletter is available to read online. We hope you will join us each Sunday in person for our worship service. Make sure to subscribe and follow us on YouTube and social media.
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, and is the first book of the Deuteronomistic history, the story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.
Exploring the Mindfulness Understanding Its Benefits.pptxMartaLoveguard
Slide 1: Title: Exploring the Mindfulness: Understanding Its Benefits
Slide 2: Introduction to Mindfulness
Mindfulness, defined as the conscious, non-judgmental observation of the present moment, has deep roots in Buddhist meditation practice but has gained significant popularity in the Western world in recent years. In today's society, filled with distractions and constant stimuli, mindfulness offers a valuable tool for regaining inner peace and reconnecting with our true selves. By cultivating mindfulness, we can develop a heightened awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, leading to a greater sense of clarity and presence in our daily lives.
Slide 3: Benefits of Mindfulness for Mental Well-being
Practicing mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, improving overall quality of life.
Mindfulness increases awareness of our emotions and teaches us to manage them better, leading to improved mood.
Regular mindfulness practice can improve our ability to concentrate and focus our attention on the present moment.
Slide 4: Benefits of Mindfulness for Physical Health
Research has shown that practicing mindfulness can contribute to lowering blood pressure, which is beneficial for heart health.
Regular meditation and mindfulness practice can strengthen the immune system, aiding the body in fighting infections.
Mindfulness may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity by reducing stress and improving overall lifestyle habits.
Slide 5: Impact of Mindfulness on Relationships
Mindfulness can help us better understand others and improve communication, leading to healthier relationships.
By focusing on the present moment and being fully attentive, mindfulness helps build stronger and more authentic connections with others.
Mindfulness teaches us how to be present for others in difficult times, leading to increased compassion and understanding.
Slide 6: Mindfulness Techniques and Practices
Focusing on the breath and mindful breathing can be a simple way to enter a state of mindfulness.
Body scan meditation involves focusing on different parts of the body, paying attention to any sensations and feelings.
Practicing mindful walking and eating involves consciously focusing on each step or bite, with full attention to sensory experiences.
Slide 7: Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Life
You can practice mindfulness in everyday activities such as washing dishes or taking a walk in the park.
Adding mindfulness practice to daily routines can help increase awareness and presence.
Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our needs and better manage our time, leading to balance and harmony in life.
Slide 8: Summary: Embracing Mindfulness for Full Living
Mindfulness can bring numerous benefits for physical and mental health.
Regular mindfulness practice can help achieve a fuller and more satisfying life.
Mindfulness has the power to change our perspective and way of perceiving the world, leading to deeper se
Why is this So? ~ Do Seek to KNOW (English & Chinese).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma teaching of Kamma-Vipaka (Intentional Actions-Ripening Effects).
A Presentation for developing morality, concentration and wisdom and to spur us to practice the Dhamma diligently.
The texts are in English and Chinese.
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
Discover various methods for clearing negative entities from your space and spirit, including energy clearing techniques, spiritual rituals, and professional assistance. Gain practical knowledge on how to implement these techniques to restore peace and harmony. For more information visit here: https://www.reikihealingdistance.com/negative-entity-removal/
7. Anne has concluded that she will never
truly belong to the “quarrelsome, hostile,
disputatious, and deservedly infamous
group” known as Christians unless she
becomes “anti-gay … anti-feminist …
anti–artificial birth control … anti-
Democrat … anti–secular humanism …
anti-science … anti-life.”
8. Tell that much of the story, and you have the
sort of thing the news media love to report—
another celebrity break-up, if you will. But this
time, the celebrity is divorcing God.
But that’s not the whole story. Really, it’s not
the story at all. Anne explains that, “My faith in
Christ is central to my life.” She is still “an
optimistic believer in a universe created and
sustained by a loving God.” “But,” she says,
“following Christ does not mean following His
followers. Christ is infinitely more important
than Christianity and always will be, no matter
what Christianity is, has been or might
9. And so, she concludes, “In the name of
Christ… I quit Christianity and being
Christian.”
16. Back in 1972, Dean Kelley rocked the
religious world with Why Conservative
Churches are Growing (HarperCollins)...
He spoke the then-shocking truth that
“Mainline” Protestantism, which had
historically been the main form of
Christianity in the United States, was fast
becoming “old line” as it declined in
numbers.
17. It was losing ground to a “new line” of
conservative churches characterized by
seriousness and strictness. These
churches were serious about the
meaning they offered and strict in
regards to wholehearted conformity to
their norms of belief and behavior.
This ... made them socially strong, and
this social strength made them grow – as
their adherents enthusiastically recruited
others.
19. In contrast, old-line churches were
increasingly ecumenical -- respectful of
and open to dialogue with other faith
communities and the meaning they
offered. They were about making
friends, not converts. Old-line churches
valued individual freedom over group
conformity when it came to issues of
purpose, belief, and behavior.
20. To old-liners, ecumenism, respect,
dialogue, individualism, nonconformity,
and freedom were precious qualities, but in
terms of creating growth or even
sustainability for the future, Kelley claimed
they were counterproductive at least, and
potentially even suicidal. That’s why he
used unflattering terms like lukewarmness
and leniency to describe them in contrast to
the strictness and seriousness of their
counterparts.
22. According to Kelley, strict, serious, and
growing groups ...
are not ‘reasonable,’ they are not ‘tolerant,’
they are not ecumenical, they are not
‘relevant.’ They often refuse to recognize
the validity of other Christian churches’
teachings, ordinations, sacraments. They
observe unusual rituals … they [persist] in
irrational behavior … They try to impose
uniformity of belief and practice among
members by censorship, heresy trials, and
the like. (26).
23. The Paradox:
There is about any serious meaning venture
a certain irreducible fierceness, asperity,
insistence, exclusiveness, rigor – a
fanaticism that brushes everything else
aside. Yet that very single-mindedness
renders it objectionable to those who value
balance, brotherhood, respect for individual
diversity, mutual forbearance and self-
restraint, civic peace, pluralism ... (164)
25. “But why must there be any conflict? Are
not freedom, justice, respect for others
essential parts of the Christian faith?
Ideally they should be, if rightly
understood. One can conceive of a high-
demand religious movement devoted to
justice, freedom, beauty, respect for others,
and so on, which could effectively explain
life to [humankind] without fanaticism,
absolutism, intolerance, or judgmental
moralism. That is what – ideally –
Christianity ought to be.”
26. “Yet where is such a phenomenon
to be found?”
-- Dean Kelley, 1972
30. We know how to have
a STRONG-
HOSTILE
CHRISTIAN
IDENTITY.
31. STRONG-
HOSTILE
We have the only way.
You are going to hell.
We are God’s chosen.
You worship false gods.
resistance if futile.
you will be assimilated - or
eliminated.
32. We know how to have
a weak-
benign
CHRISTIAN
IDENTITY.
33. weak-benign
it doesn’t matter what you believe.
all religions are the same.
all roads lead to god.
only sincerity matters.
doctrines divide.
keep religion private.
Mind/Matter: I don’t, it doesn’t.
37. Actuality:
It is not our religious
differences that keep us apart,
but rather a haunting
religious similarity ... that we
build strong identities
through hostility.
38. Give people a common enemy, and you
will give them a common identity. Deprive
them of an enemy and you will deprive
them of the crutch by which they know who
they are.
- James Alison
39. Can Christians today re-build our
identity without hostility to the
other?
Can we build an identity that is
both strong and benevolent
toward the other?
40. strong-
benevolent
Because I Follow Jesus, I love you.
I move toward “the other.”
I break down walls of hostility.
i stand with you in solidarity.
you are made in God’s image.
i am your servant.
I practice human-kindness.
41. In the “old apologetics,”
exclusivism and superiority were
attractive features.
42. In the “old apologetics,”
exclusivism and superiority were
attractive features.
In the “new apologetics,”
religious supremacy is a
disqualifying factor.
43. Can there be
... uniqueness without
supremacy?
... benevolence without
weakness?
... strength without hostility?
44. It depends on the stories we
tell ...
and the way we tell them.
63. - From Jurgen Moltmann, Experiences in Theology
What hope motivated the Spanish and Portuguese conquerors? ...
Columbus evidently sought for both God’s Garden of Eden and
Eldorado, the city of gold. Apart from personal enrichment, the gold
was designed to help the reconquest of Jerusalem by the Christian
empire. He appealed to a prophecy of Joachim of Fiore [d. 1202]:
“From Spain will come the one who will bring the Ark back to
Zion” ...
64. According to their vision of world
history, which was borrowed
from Daniel 2 and 7, the rise and
fall of the four great empires of
Babylon, Persia, Greece and
Rome will be followed by the
redeeming empire of the divine
Son of man ... But whereas
according to Daniel this empire of
the Son of man is the great divine
alternative to the ‘bestial’ empires
of the world, the conquistadores
interpreted it as ‘the fifth empire’
which was to consummate
previous attempts at world-wide
rule.
65. The fifth earthly empire was to be the
universal Christian monarchy in which there
is only ‘one flock and one shepherd’ ... Its
capital had to be Jerusalem, according to
ancient prophecy, for there Christ’s ‘second
coming’ was to take place.... [T]he universal
Christian monarchy is the true legal heir of
the ancient empires and the fulfilment of
humanity’s dream of the unifying kingdom of
the world ‘which shall have no end.’ The
Iberian quintomonarchians - the court
theologians of the Spanish kings - set the
empire of Charles V in this historical
framework, which was both universal and
messianic.
66. The discovery and conquest of the new
continent was one of the final acts in this
eschatological drama of salvation, and this
apocalyptic interpretation for its part justified
the violence which the Christian rulers were
bound to use in taking possession of the whole
earth and converting the peoples. The rulers
also justified the violence through the ‘stone’,
which according to Daniel 2:34 f. shatters the
kingdoms of this world, a symbol of the eternal
kingdom of God which will ‘break them in
pieces’ (2:24).
- From Jurgen Moltmann, Experiences in Theology
(Augsburg, 2000), p. 222-223
67. 1495
2nd Voyage Return Cargo: 1600 male
and female Taino slaves for Spain
“It is possible, with the name of the
Holy Trinity, to sell all the slaves which it
is possible to sell … Here there are so
many of these slaves … although they are
living things they are as good as gold.”
68. The Spaniards who remained in Hispaniola were
encouraged to take Taino slaves “in the amount
desired.” Columbus himself gave a teenage girl to one
of his crew, Miguel Cuneo, for his personal “use.”
Cuneo wrote that she “resisted with all her strength”
when he attempted to have sex with her, so he
“thrashed her mercilessly and raped her.” Being given
a Taino woman to rape was, in fact, a popular
“company perk” for Columbus’s men. Columbus
himself wrote to a friend, “There are plenty of dealers
who go about looking for girls; those from nine to ten
[years old] are now in demand.”
69. - An eyewitness in the early 1500’s
As a result of the sufferings and hard labor they
endured, the Indians choose and have chosen suicide.
Occasionally a hundred have committed mass suicide.
The women, exhausted by labor, have shunned
conception and childbirth…. Many, when pregnant, have
taken something to abort and have aborted. Others after
delivery have killed their children with their own hands,
so as not to leave them in such oppressive slavery.
70. Of the estimated 300,000 Taino alive when Columbus
“discovered” them in 1492, about 12,000 remained in
1516, fewer than 200 in 1546, and zero in 1555. What our
history calls “the discovery of America,” Taino history
might call “the arrival of the Christian genociders,” if, that
is, any Taino survived to tell an alternate history. None did.
71. “Here those Christians
perpetrated their first ravages
and oppression against the native
peoples. This was the first land
in the New World to be destroyed
and depopulated by the
Christians.”
--another eyewitness, Bartolome De
Las Casas about Christian invasion of
Hispaniola
72. In North America, it was
the story of the conquest
of the Canaanites ...
God’s people entering the
Promised Land ... the
elect displacing the
damned.
74. From Eusebius:
[Constantine] said that about noon, when the day was
already beginning to decline, he saw with his own eyes the
trophy of a cross of light in the heavens, above the sun, and
bearing the inscription, CONQUER BY THIS. At this sight
he himself was struck with amazement, and his whole army
also, which followed him on this expedition, and witnessed
the miracle… [That night] in his sleep the Christ of God
appeared to him with the same sign which he had seen in
the heavens, and commanded him to make a likeness of
that sign which he had seen in the heavens, and to use it as
a safeguard in all engagements with his enemies.
75.
76. 76
“In hoc signo vinces”
IN THIS SIGN CONQUER?
CONVERT BY THE SWORD?
DOMINATE?
COLONIZE?
ASSIMILATE?
INVADE AND OCCUPY?
KILL?
TERRORIZE?
77. From Eusebius:.
At dawn of day he arose, and communicated the marvel to
his friends: and then, calling together the workers in gold
and precious stones, he sat in the midst of them, and
described to them the figure of the sign he had seen,
bidding them represent it in gold and precious stones. And
this representation I myself have had an opportunity of
seeing.
79. “Now it was made in the following manner. A
long spear, overlaid with gold, formed the
figure of the cross by means of a transverse
bar laid over it. On the top of the whole was
fixed a wreath of gold and precious stones;
and within this, the symbol of the Saviour's
name…”
81. This spear-cross was further adorned with an embroidered banner that featured the
emperor and his family. The finished product, Eusebius said, “presented an indescribable
degree of beauty to the beholder.” He added, “The emperor constantly made use of this
sign of salvation as a safeguard against every adverse and hostile power, and commanded
that others similar to it should be carried at the head of all his armies.”
Eusebius, it should be noted, would be considered more of a propagandist than a historian
in the modern sense. For more on Constantine’s life and work, see James Carroll,
Constantine’s Sword: The Church and the Jews—A History (New York: Mariner Books,
2001).
82. The violent cross of Caesar
The nonviolent cross of Christ
The violent cross of Constantine
Which Cross?
83. 1 Cor 1
For the message about the cross is
foolishness to those who are perishing, but
to us who are being saved it is the power of
God... we proclaim Christ crucified, a
stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to
Gentiles, but to those who are the called,
both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of
God and the wisdom of God. For God’s
foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and
God’s weakness is stronger than human
strength.
84. ... But God chose what is foolish in the
world to shame the wise; God chose
what is weak in the world to shame
the strong; God chose what is low and
despised in the world, things that are
not, to reduce to nothing things that
are, so that no one might boast in the
presence of God. (1 Cor.1)
87. Serve like this ...
Love like this ...
Reconcile like this ...
Transcend violence like this ...
88.
89. Islamophobia Today:
We should invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to
Christianity. We weren’t punctilious about locating and punishing only
Hitler and his top officers. We carpet-bombed German cities; we killed
civilians. That’s war. And this is war.
- Ann Counter, National Review
Islam is something we can’t afford any more in the Netherlands. I want
the fascist Quran banned. We need to stop the Islamisation of the
Netherlands. That means no more mosques, no more Islamic schools,
no more imams.
- Geert Wilders, Dutch politicians
90. These people [Arabs and Muslims] need to be forcibly
converted to Christianity ... It’s the only thing that can probably
turn them into human beings.
- Michael Savage, syndicated radio host
Islam has attacked us ... The God of Islam is not the same
God.... Islam is a very evil religion. All the values that we as a
nation hold dear, they don’t share those same values at all,
these countries that have the majority of Muslims.
- Franklin Graham, Christian evangelist
91. Sound familiar?
From Martin Luther, “On the Jews and Their Lies” (1543)
They [rulers] must act like a good physician who, when gangrene has set in
proceeds without mercy to cut, saw, and burn flesh, veins, bone, and
marrow. Such a procedure must also be followed in this instance. Burn down
their synagogues, forbid all that I enumerated earlier, force them to work, and
deal harshly with them, as Moses did...
If this does not help we must drive them out like mad dogs.
-Martin Luther (On the Jews and Their Lies)
92. Elie Wiesel:
“All the killers were Christian….The Nazi
system was the consequence of a movement
of ideas and followed a strict logic; it did not
arise in a void but had its roots deep in a
tradition that prophesied it, prepared for it,
and brought it to maturity. That tradition was
inseparable from the past of Christianized,
civilized Europe.”
Quoted in David Stannard, American Holocaust: The Conquest of the New World (New
York: Oxford, 1992), 153.
93. Indigenous scholar Jack Forbes
writes, “The ‘cosmology’ or
‘world-view’ of a people is closely
related, of course, to all of their
actions. The world-view influences
actions and, in turn, actions tell us
what the world-view really is!”
Jack Forbes, Columbus and Other Cannibals (New York: Seven Stories Press, 2008), 20. Originally
published by D-Q University Press in 1979.
94. From this vantage point, Christianity has nothing – absolutely
nothing – to teach Indigenous people about how to live in a
good way on this land. In fact, Christians have only
demonstrated that there is something profoundly wrong with
the cosmology and worldview behind more than five centuries
of carnage—carnage that has yet to even slow down.
Christians have so much negative history and dogma to
overcome within their own tradition, I do not believe the
religion is even salvageable. The world is deep in the throes
of an ecological crisis based in Western economies of hyper-
exploitation. The planet will not survive another 500 years of
Christian domination.
- Waziyatawin, PhD, 2012
95. From this vantage point, Christianity has nothing – absolutely
nothing – to teach Indigenous people about how to live in a
good way on this land. In fact, Christians have only
demonstrated that there is something profoundly wrong with
the cosmology and worldview behind more than five centuries
of carnage—carnage that has yet to even slow down.
Christians have so much negative history and dogma to
overcome within their own tradition, I do not believe the
religion is even salvageable. The world is deep in the throes
of an ecological crisis based in Western economies of hyper-
exploitation. The planet will not survive another 500 years of
Christian domination.
- Waziyatawin, PhD, 2012
96.
97.
98. Can there be
... uniqueness without
supremacy?
... benevolence without
weakness?
... strength without hostility?
99. It depends on the stories we
tell ...
and the way we tell them.
100. The [future] will depend in large
measure on the prevailing stories
that shape our understanding….
Perhaps the most difficult yet
essential aspect of this work is to
change our stories…
- David Korten, The Great Turning, p. 20, 237
101. [Jesus] dedicated his life to
changing the prevailing stories.
- David Korten, The Great Turning, p. 20, 237, 261
102. QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Ivan Illich (Austrian
former priest,
philosopher, social
critic, 1926-2002)
103. Neither revolution nor reformation can
ultimately change a society, rather you
must tell a new powerful tale, one so
persuasive that it sweeps away the old
myths and becomes the preferred story
…
104. … one so inclusive that it gathers all the
bits of our past and our present into a
coherent whole, one that even shines some
light into the future so that we can take the
next step…. If you want to change a
society, then you have to tell an alternative
story.
- attributed to Ivan Illich (Austrian former priest,
philosopher, social critic, 1926-2002)
109. O God, whose love makes us
one family,
May your unspeakable
Name be revered.
110. Here on earth may your
commonwealth come … on
earth as in heaven may your
dreams come true.
111. Give us today our bread for
today.
Forgive us our wrongs as we
forgive.
112. Lead us away from the
perilous trial,
Liberate us from the evil.
113. For the kingdom is yours and
yours alone, the power is yours
and yours alone, the glory is
yours and yours alone, now
and forever. Amen. (Hallelujah
… Amen)