Unsettling truths The ongoing, dehumanizing legacy of the doctrine of discovery

Mark Charles, 1970-

Book - 2019

"You cannot discover lands already inhabited. In this prophetic blend of history, theology, and cultural commentary, Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah reveal the damaging effects of the "Doctrine of Discovery," which institutionalized American triumphalism and white supremacy. This book calls our nation and churches to a truth-telling that will expose past injustices and open the door to conciliation and true community"--

Saved in:

2nd Floor Show me where

261.7/Charles
1 / 1 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
2nd Floor 261.7/Charles Checked In
Subjects
Published
Downers Grove, Illinois : IVP, an imprint of InterVarsity Press [2019]
Language
English
Main Author
Mark Charles, 1970- (author)
Other Authors
Soong-Chan Rah (author)
Physical Description
234 pages ; 24 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN
9780830845255
  • Introduction: Who we are and what we bring
  • The Doctrine of Discovery and why it matters
  • The power of narratives and the imagination
  • The kingdom of God is about relationship not empire
  • The rise and defense of Christendom
  • A dysfunctional theology brought to the "new" world
  • Exceptionalism and the founding documents of the United States
  • Dysfunctional theology and the spread of settler colonialism
  • Genocide, the impact of a dysfunctional theology
  • Abraham Lincoln and the narrative of white messiahship
  • Abraham Lincoln and native genocide
  • The complex trauma of the American story
  • The Christian worldview and the failure of re-conciliation
  • Conclusion: Truth and conciliation.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

In this trenchant analysis of the roots of white supremacy in American culture, blogger and preacher Charles (Reflections from the Hogan) and religion professor Rah (The Prophetic Lament) team up to examine the insidious legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery, a set of 15th-century legal principles based on Catholic papal decrees. Rooted in a Christian movement advocating compassion for all of humanity, the Doctrine of Discovery also contains elements of the early transformation of the church under Constantine, who accepted "just war theory" (which approved of violence against non-Christians) and went on to undergird the driving narrative of American exceptionalism. The authors challenge numerous American mythologies, beginning with the Puritans' self-perception as "chosen people" of pure Anglo-Saxon lineage "ordained by God to tame the savage world of the Natives of North America." Examining the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the concept of manifest destiny, and the reputation of Abraham Lincoln, the authors offer numerous historical examples demonstrating how the narrative of "white American Christian exceptionalism" continues to have devastating effects on African-American and Native American communities. For instance, he argues that Lincoln understood the that 13th Amendment "simply redefined and codified" slavery "under the jurisdiction of law enforcement officers," and that he didn't believe "black people should be judges, jurors, or even be allowed to vote." This sobering critique presents a disturbing yet welcome analysis of how the Doctrine of Discovery has split American church and society along racial lines, and makes a powerful argument for engaging in national dialogue around issues of class, gender, and race. (Dec.)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved