Do you believe that the product of “saving souls” was necessary for the enslavement of indigenous people (and looting of the land) for the goal of Western Civilization expansion? Does this question make sense?

When in the course of human history did it become important to “save the souls” of humans? Savings souls seems like a way of using a future fear to control masses of people in the present.

Though the work of missionaries certainly served “the goal of Western Civilization expansion,” the missionaries themselves didn’t think of it this way (nor did those who sent them out); their desire to “save souls” was genuine.

I can’t pick out a specific date when “saving souls” became an organized enterprise. It certainly gained tremendous momentum when the Age of Discovery brought to light so many aboriginal (“unsaved”) peoples.

ID: 741
posted:
updated: 09 Feb 2006