Do Christian Missionaries Destroy Native Cultures?

Answer 1

Yes. I've seen this happen. I've worked in the Amazon region as a biologist for 27 years. Missionaries have absolutely devastated the culture of the Huagramona Achuar living in northern Peruvian Amazon. They brought them out of the rainforest interior and settled them in riverside villages so they could have easier contact and control over them. Of course it was there that malaria first infected the people. Then they required them to wear clothes. Wearing clothes in the damp rainforest leads to rheumatism and other health problems. The took away the influence of the shaman and so now there is no one that knew how to use the medicinal plants to cure illness. Instead the natives travel to the oil outpost in Nuevo Andoas to get white pills. And now half of the young girls are working there as prostitutes. The few Huagramona Achuar left in the interior, outside the reach of the missionaries, have much better lives. Another example I've seen is with the Matses, off the River Javari Mirin (near border of Peru and Brazil). These beautiful people, known as the cat people or jaguar people have just been devastated by missionary influence. Same goes for the Huitoto. I could go on and on....

Answer 2

Historically, yes, they do. Though they would disagree with that statement, as they feel converting people is a good thing. Try reading anything about the "White Man's Burden". This is what it was referred to. The people of South America were not predominantly catholic until Europeans made their mark on the continent. They were just considered "savages", and it was the Europeans job to properly "educate" them.

Answer 3

Some parts of culture are reduced(cannibalism, worship of idols), but it never destroys their entire culture.

I know culture is a prize that is protected with great effort by the LDS church. I don't know about other Christian churches though.

Most of the missionaries I've met from my church bring back part of the countries culture back with them.

There are over 150 different countries that are part of the LDS church and I've only seen meshing of cultures at most--not destroying.

Answer 4

I believe so. There is no compulsion in religion. I would never force my beliefs down somebody's throat and destroy their culture. It's so sad that it's happening.

Answer 5

Sure seems like they do, and it's silly because they could teach them about God and Christ without ruining many of the beautiful cultures of the world. Some of the original differences of cultures started when God mixed up the people because of what they were capable of doing. It's like He didn't want us to get together until the end. It was part of His plan all along.

Answer 6

It was missionaries who stopped Indians from burning living women with their dead husbands. It was Christians who stopped foot binding in China. It was Chrsitians who brought literacy to the world. The world was going to reach native cultures in time with it's cigarettes, drugs, and exploitation. Thank God for missionaries who gave native cultures some preparation for this invasion.

Answer 7

At one time the object of Christianity was to convert. These days missionaries are more into helping people who need help without preaching to them.

Answer 8

Yes. They could be out there building a fire to cook with, now they pray, sit and wait for God to do it. And we wonder why there's world hunger.

Answer 9

Historically, yes.

More recently they are just not helping but not necessarily harming.

Answer 10

yes they try to convert every one and destroy their traditions they don't even ask to be changed