I’ve have been following a series of blog posts (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3) over at Jesus Manifesto (JM) that deal with the perceived unjust nature of Christianity. The blog series follows an interview (Part 1, Part 2) that JM did With Dakota scholar Waziyatawin. It is an intensely challenging two part interview in which they discuss how Christianity is intrinsically unjust, how justice requires the entire dismantling of civilization, and how denominations, if they are sincere in their apologies to Indigenous peoples, should take the first step of handing over unused lands to the tribe upon whose land they occupy.

To say the least, the interview left me feeling challenged and uncomfortable. Waziyatawin’s critique and challenge of Christianity is much needed. One of the most powerful parts of the interview for me was towards the end of the first part of the interview:

…she basically says that Christianity has no real place in creating a just world because Christianity, at its core, is about subduing the land, asserting its superiority over other faiths, and believes that it is the one true religion.

These qualities, if indeed central to Christianity, make it the ideal imperial religion. I’m sure more than a handful of Roman Emperors, European Rulers, and American Presidents would agree.

Mark Van Steenwyk, who interviewed Waz goes on to say this:

This may not always be the case with all Christians everywhere, and it certainly wasn’t true for the earliest followers of Jesus, but it is such a well-worn pattern of Christian practice that it would be foolish to simply dismiss those who argue that Christianity is inherently oppressive.

The idea of Christian supremacy is at the core of this critique. Waz, in the interview, quotes a couple of bible verses (out of context of course) which point to this reality: John 14:6, Acts 4:10b-12, Philippians 2:9b-11.

It is so hard to foster or defend a pro-Christian stance on this and not seem inadequate or insensitive. After all, isn’t being silent to the screams of those who are persecuted the same as condoning the oppressive act? I do not know. But I, like Mark, am not willing or wanting to jettison my faith–Yet, Waz’s challenge remains potent and potentially ruinous. I do find some comfort, however, in one of the JM commentors wise, thoughtful remarks:

Ms Waziyatawin alludes to the basic struggle between the colonists and the Native Americans: land use. Each way of living was antithetical to the other. I see this issue played out in the story of Cain and Able. Cain representing the agriculturalist, and Able representing the more nomadic, even hunter/gather, way of living. God does not use either lineage, but a third alternative in the children of Seth.

Ms Waziyatawin grieves over the loss of her culture, and I grieve with her. But at some point we need to recognize that all cultures change over time. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, it depends upon the changes. But we cannot go back in time; we cannot become what we once were. We live in a world of diversity, where some differences are mere expressions of our uniqueness and others are in compatible with unity and harmony. No one culture is perfect. We all need to learn from each other. We need to learn from the Dakotas their love of nature and the many wonderful uses that indigenous plants have. We need to learn from Westerners about science and logic and machines. Each community and ethnicity brings to the world unique and wonderful gifts and talents that the rest of the world can benefit from.

I’ve heard it said that if your faith does not lead to egalitarianism, then it is a weak faith not a faith worth holding. I’m agreeing with this notion more and more these days.

Painting by Conor Harrington

Tags:Christianity EmpireDakota peopleEmpireJesus ManifestoWaziyatawin