Steve, yes I do think it’s relevant. How people see themselves is relevant, because it dictates their behaviour. People don’t see themselves as XYZs and behave like ABCs. Steve, you see yourself as a rational person and behave accordingly – correct? How is that different than someone who sees themselves as XYZ and behaves accordingly? Yes, Germans who saw themselves as Nazis, behaved accordingly.
For example, the Doctrine of Discovery is a direct reflection of the way Christians have seen themselves and the way they’ve behaved since 1493. The Doctrine of Discovery is the foundation of “Christian colonialization” all around the planet – and was not repudiated until a year ago – March 30, 2023 to be exact. IOW, that horrible doctrine has influenced the world you and I live in our entire lives.
Commonly known as the Doctrine of Discovery, The Papal Bull "Inter Caetera," issued by Pope Alexander VI on May 4, 1493, supported Spain’s strategy to ensure its exclusive right to the lands discovered by Columbus the previous year. The Bull stated that “any land not inhabited by Christians was available to be "discovered," claimed, and exploited by Christian rulers and declared that "the Catholic faith and the Christian religion be exalted and be everywhere increased and spread, that the health of souls be cared for and that barbarous nations be overthrown and brought to the faith itself."
During the 1500s, the doctrine of discovery morphed into Christian Zionism among Protestants. In 1607, the Puritans brought Christian Zionism to North America.
In the 1823 US Supreme Court case Johnson v. McIntosh, Chief Justice John Marshall cited the Doctrine of Discovery, in the court’s unanimous decision that held "that the principle of discovery gave European nations an absolute right to New World lands.” In essence, the U.S. Supreme court held that Native Americans had only a right of occupancy, which could be abolished – and soon after, was abolished.
Until Christian nations start acting rationally, their unrelenting religious fervor will continue to incite violence, genocide and desperation everywhere they go. To appease Christian Zionists Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the US embassy to secure ‘real estate” for American Christians evangelicals in Jerusalem.
Steve, I’m tired of watching Christians divert attention from themselves with endless attacks on all “others”. I’m tired of Christians never ending culture wars against “others” here in the states.
Steve, I agree, you are a rational man. But I cannot understand how you can dismiss or ignore the role of Christians in the 80 year long Israeli Palestinian conflict.
Removing Christians and their beliefs, from the conflict might just be the key to peace. After all, that’s the only thing that has not been tried – yet.
