For those of you who got the white-washed version of history, by their own account, Spanish Inquisitors lead by Pizarro would carry leather pouches of holy water. Before killing anyone under the age of seven (the age of reason), they would squeeze a little bit of holy water on to the sword.
Then, while pushing the sword into the brains of Aztec children, they would perform baptismal rites, thus ensuring the dying child's safe passage into heaven.
Why would they bother with this ritual if they were not men of faith? Certainly they were.
So since the child (ostensibly) ascended directly to Heaven, was the baptism a merciful act?
2007-02-02 06:31:44 · 20 answers · asked by WWTSD? 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Thats sick and disgusting and men that did that should have been killed themselves.
And the religious love to talk about how wonderful they are. This is just one of many reasons why religion has been the single worst murderer in history.
2007-02-02 06:37:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Actually, the killing itself was also an act of mercy. After all, if left alive to be raised by its parents, the child might well have rejected the religion forced on it by the Christians. And that would have been just terrible. After all, my stepfather and grandfather (both Baptist ministers for decades) have assured me that it is better for someone to be a dead Christian than to be a living non-Christian.
Aaron, many explorers brought priests with them to the New World. Those priests brought the practices of the Church with them, which at that time included the Inquisition. So while the Inquisition was primarily found in Europe, it also put out little tendrils of love and compassion (Catholic style) where ever priests went.
BTW, I did a little checking. PIzzaro did conquer the Incas, not the Aztecs. However, his brother accompanied Cortez to Mexico, which might account for some confusion. Regardless of who did what where, no one can deny that many atrocities were carried out in the name of and with the blessing of the Church during this time.
2007-02-02 06:48:34 · answer #2 · answered by Jensenfan 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am really looking forward to this Ashes series and certainly haven't completely written the Aussies off. Having said that England must go into the series as overwhelming favourites due to recent form and the fact that the series is being played in England. I reckon Chris Rogers could be a bit of a dark horse as he knows the conditions over here pretty well. Good to see some friendly banter flying around between the 2 sets of supporters too!
2016-05-24 05:42:24 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
C. S. Lewis
Unfortunately for many people during that period in history, the Spaniards were BOTH. Hip hip hurray for Sir Francis Drake, who was just a fine English gentleman robber baron...DOWN with the Spanish Armada as well, glug, glug, glug, and no-one expected the Spanish inqui...aaaghh!
Ximinez: NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again.
2007-02-02 07:01:32 · answer #4 · answered by AHA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was some pretty warped thinking by my account, but yes it was to be merciful.
Their line of thought was that if they left the babies alive they would just grow up to wage war on the Spanish, but if they killed them unbaptized then the innocent child would go to Hell, and the soilder himself would have to spend a longer time in Purgatory. So, they baptized them before killing them.
Personally, I belive that before a child becomes aware of the choice before them they are covered by grace and would therefore go to Heaven, and that baptism is reserved for those who have made a personal profession of faith and pointless for those who haven't.
For the record, I find the murder of chlidren to be wrong for any reason, and do not supposrt the idea of Purgatory
2007-02-02 06:40:49 · answer #5 · answered by Rixie 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That has been the main reason christians have killed hundreds of millions of people. Kill them before they can commit any more sins. It was an act of religious mercy. And then they wonder why some of us think christianity is weird, especially since it has not really changed much over the last 1000 years.
2007-02-02 06:51:53 · answer #6 · answered by bocasbeachbum 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Pizarro and the Aztecs? I thought it was Cortes. Pizarro persecuted the Incas.
2007-02-02 06:36:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why should anyone believe you? You've given no source, and you don't know an inquisitor from a conquistador, or the Incas from the Aztecs.
2007-02-02 06:40:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Spanish Conquistadores were a freaking gang of brainless idiots, that's why.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArDPPQGiYKt2DwZNA.FnTW3sy6IX?qid=20070202114608AAu2kLJ
2007-02-02 06:35:09 · answer #9 · answered by Malcolm Knoxville 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!
2007-02-02 06:45:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋