“My” God is not “Our” God
In Richard White’s book, The Middle Ground, he argues that the French missionaries and Indians in the American Northwest region created a new culture after a process of accommodation and acculturation. It is agreed that both sides misinterpreted the practices and values of the other, but these misunderstandings did not create an entirely new culture. Instead, the immersion of two vastly different people simply caused both religions to reflect and begin to question the choices they’ve made. While both cultures started to question their practices, when faced with death, these individuals continued to have unwavering faith to their core religion. It was during the first brush with physical violence and imminent death …show more content…
When the canoes stood well offshore, she looked back. Her father lay alone in the clearing, resting on the pallet of branches. But, as she watched, his spirit rose out of his body. The spirit of her dead father walked toward the trees, his hand in the She Manitou’s hand,” (189).
Although Annuka and Father Laforgue believed in different higher powers, they were remarkably similar in the fact that they were loyal to their religions and were not going to abandon those beliefs, regardless of the questions they started to ask and the flaws they started to see. Each culture would continue to be complacent and tolerant of the other, but never fully-accepting. A statement that proved true when …..
When the Huron tribe was battling a fever that killed everyone it touched, they were desperate for a cure. As the Huron were panicked and worried of imminent death, Father Jerome used the opportunity to exploit the tribe’s fears in order to further spread the faith. Once again, Laforgue questioned what his faith wanted him to …show more content…
The Huron people do not wish to lose their sense of self and adopt the Norman faith and culture, but would agree to the water sorcery to avoid death. Laforgue had to decide whether he would put his reservations aside and continue to follow the order of Catholicism or if he would listen to his conscious and reject the faith.
Although, Laforgue knew his faith had been questioned. He ultimately would always be heavily influenced by the power of the Church and the need to help others. With Father Jerome killed by savages, it was up to Laforgue to follow through with the mission of the faith, despite his reservations. In an effort to save the lives of the tribe, Laforgue must look past the flaws of the Church and once again restore his faith. As stated in the text, “’Do you love us?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Then baptize us,’” (245).
Throughout the journey from Quebec to the Huron tribe in the far North, two cultures were made to relay on each other for survival. It was in these close quarters that each culture saw from first-hand experience how the other lived and what they chose to believe in. Although, the cultures spent a substantial amount of time together, the religions always remained
In Richard White’s book, The Middle Ground, he argues that the French missionaries and Indians in the American Northwest region created a new culture after a process of accommodation and acculturation. It is agreed that both sides misinterpreted the practices and values of the other, but these misunderstandings did not create an entirely new culture. Instead, the immersion of two vastly different people simply caused both religions to reflect and begin to question the choices they’ve made. While both cultures started to question their practices, when faced with death, these individuals continued to have unwavering faith to their core religion. It was during the first brush with physical violence and imminent death …show more content…
When the canoes stood well offshore, she looked back. Her father lay alone in the clearing, resting on the pallet of branches. But, as she watched, his spirit rose out of his body. The spirit of her dead father walked toward the trees, his hand in the She Manitou’s hand,” (189).
Although Annuka and Father Laforgue believed in different higher powers, they were remarkably similar in the fact that they were loyal to their religions and were not going to abandon those beliefs, regardless of the questions they started to ask and the flaws they started to see. Each culture would continue to be complacent and tolerant of the other, but never fully-accepting. A statement that proved true when …..
When the Huron tribe was battling a fever that killed everyone it touched, they were desperate for a cure. As the Huron were panicked and worried of imminent death, Father Jerome used the opportunity to exploit the tribe’s fears in order to further spread the faith. Once again, Laforgue questioned what his faith wanted him to …show more content…
The Huron people do not wish to lose their sense of self and adopt the Norman faith and culture, but would agree to the water sorcery to avoid death. Laforgue had to decide whether he would put his reservations aside and continue to follow the order of Catholicism or if he would listen to his conscious and reject the faith.
Although, Laforgue knew his faith had been questioned. He ultimately would always be heavily influenced by the power of the Church and the need to help others. With Father Jerome killed by savages, it was up to Laforgue to follow through with the mission of the faith, despite his reservations. In an effort to save the lives of the tribe, Laforgue must look past the flaws of the Church and once again restore his faith. As stated in the text, “’Do you love us?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘Then baptize us,’” (245).
Throughout the journey from Quebec to the Huron tribe in the far North, two cultures were made to relay on each other for survival. It was in these close quarters that each culture saw from first-hand experience how the other lived and what they chose to believe in. Although, the cultures spent a substantial amount of time together, the religions always remained