Difference between revisions of "HIST 131--Week 5 Questions/Comments"
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On Samson Occom's "A Short Narrative of my life", he talks about how he taught and preached to the Indian children. He talks about how he was paid 180 pounds for 12 years of service, and then a missionary showed up and he was to be paid 50 pounds for 1 year. Occom says he is not under obligation and owes them nothing. I wonder why the Indians felt they would use the missionary for 3 and a half times what they were paying Occom, especially after being around for 12 years. - Lauren Hicks | On Samson Occom's "A Short Narrative of my life", he talks about how he taught and preached to the Indian children. He talks about how he was paid 180 pounds for 12 years of service, and then a missionary showed up and he was to be paid 50 pounds for 1 year. Occom says he is not under obligation and owes them nothing. I wonder why the Indians felt they would use the missionary for 3 and a half times what they were paying Occom, especially after being around for 12 years. - Lauren Hicks | ||
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| + | In response to Rory Reese’s questions: The conversion from heathen to Christian (English) was not very common at all when the English settlers first came to America. However, as time went on and the Native American heathens learned more and more about the English Christians, the more they saw Christianity as an opportunity for success and prosperity. Though they had their various religions/beliefs, the Native Americans recognized that their legacy was ultimately dying out, especially as the English continued to take over their land as they expanded west. In many cases, the English would use force and threaten the Natives if they did not convert…but in other cases they would go about it in a more positive and convincing way, as in Samuel Occom’s case. Occom tells us that the English would “visit us and preach the word of god,” conveying a very positive view on how many conversions came about on behalf of the Native Americans themselves. | ||
| + | ~Megan Tisdelle~ | ||
In the beginning of Occom’s short narrative, it occurred to me that conversion into a Christian not only encompassed believing in salvation through jesus christ, but also an array of education as well as social belonging. Still to this day I feel as though this is one of the main reasons why people rely so greatly on religion. In his narrative, Occom states that “from this time [since my conversion] the distress and burden of my mind was removed, and I found serenity and pleasure soul, in serving god.” This quote proves my point exactly- people simply want a reason to live, and religion has served that purpose since the beginning of time. If the bible had preached that we should all kill our neighbors if they disgraced us, then that is exactly what followers would do. Occom did nothing wrong- he was just doing what he thought was right, what he was taught. This quote however, really made me think about the role religion played back then, and how the principle of it hasn’t changed a bit. | In the beginning of Occom’s short narrative, it occurred to me that conversion into a Christian not only encompassed believing in salvation through jesus christ, but also an array of education as well as social belonging. Still to this day I feel as though this is one of the main reasons why people rely so greatly on religion. In his narrative, Occom states that “from this time [since my conversion] the distress and burden of my mind was removed, and I found serenity and pleasure soul, in serving god.” This quote proves my point exactly- people simply want a reason to live, and religion has served that purpose since the beginning of time. If the bible had preached that we should all kill our neighbors if they disgraced us, then that is exactly what followers would do. Occom did nothing wrong- he was just doing what he thought was right, what he was taught. This quote however, really made me think about the role religion played back then, and how the principle of it hasn’t changed a bit. | ||
