How does Las Casas view the Natives?
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How does Las Casas view the Natives?
![Merry E. Wiesner, William Bruce Wheeler, Franklin M. Doeringer, and
Kenneth R. Curtis, "Las Casas, Teaching the True Religion (1530s),"
Discovering the Global Past: A Look at the Evidence, Wadsworth, Cengage
Learning, 2012, pp. 14-15.
Page 2
Page 1
and afflicted by the misfortunes of wars, through the loss of their children, their
goods, and their own liberty ... how can they be moved voluntarily to listen
to what is proposed to them about faith, religion, justice and truth? Or how will
they be able to adhere to what has been preached? Likewise, if a soft word mul-
tiplies friends and, on the contrary,"An ill-tempered man stirs up strife" (Prov.
15, 18), how many enemies will not such bitter words and works make? .
Source 6 from Bartolomé de Las Casas: A Selection of His Writings, trans. & ed. George
Sanderlin (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1971), pp. 158–161. Translation copyright © 1971 by
Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. Used by permission of Ålfred A. Knopf, a
division of Random House, Inc.16
Las Casas, Teaching the True
Religion (1530s)
Source 7 from Richard Hakluyt (the Younger), Discourse of Western Planting (1584), in
David B. Quinn, ed., English Plans for North America, vol. 3 of New American World:
A Documentary History of North America to 1612 (New York: Arno Press, 1979), vol. 3,
Pp. 71-72, 82.17
The one and only method of teaching men the true religion was established by
Divine Providence for the whole world, and for all times: that is, by persuadmg
the understanding through reasons, and by gently attracting or exhorting the
will. This method should be common to all men throughout the world, without
any distinction made for sects, errors, or corrupt customs.
This conclusion will be proved in many ways: by arguments drawn from
reason; by examples of the ancient Fathers; by the rule and manner of preaching
which Christ instituted for all times; by the practices of the Apostles; by quota-
tions from holy teachers; by the most ancient tradition of the Church and by her
numerous ecclesiastical decrees
And first, this conclusion will be proved by arguments drawn from reason,
among which let this be the first. There is only one method peculiar to Divine
Wisdom by which it disposes and moves created beings gently to actions and to
their natural ends. But among created beings, rational creatures are higher and
more excellent than all others which were not made in the Image of God. ...
Therefore, DivineWisdommoves rational creatures, thatis, men, to their actions
or operations gently.... Therefore, the method of teaching men the true religion
ought to be gentle, enticing, and pleasant. This method is by persuading the
understanding and by attracting the will....
A method contrary to the one we have been defending would be the follow-
ing: that ... the pagans should first be subjected, whether they wished to be or
not, to the rule of the Christian people, and that once they were subjected, orga-
nized preaching would follow... [But a} rational creature has a natural capacity
for being moved, directed and drawn to any good gently... because of his free-
dom of choice. But if pagans find themselves first injured, oppressed, saddened,
16. Bartolomé de Las Casas (1484–1566) was bon in Spain, the son of a merchant. At age 18, he
went to the "New World" as part of an expedition to conquer Santo Domingo, and also participated
in the conquests of Cuba and Mexico. In a change of heart, he became a Dominican priest and wrote
numerous treatises urging humane treatment for the Native Americans. In 1537, Pope Paul II is-
sued a papal buil declaring that "the Indians are truly men (and] . by no means [should they] be
deprived of their liberty." The bull was generally ignored by Spanish and Portuguese conquerors
and slave masters.
[14]
[15]](/v2/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcontent.bartleby.com%2Fqna-images%2Fquestion%2Fea3dd567-7be8-4aac-be4e-72088740403d%2Fccbca1e4-d970-4cf1-b799-7508f6d14040%2F2fz8yaf_processed.jpeg&w=3840&q=75)
Transcribed Image Text:Merry E. Wiesner, William Bruce Wheeler, Franklin M. Doeringer, and
Kenneth R. Curtis, "Las Casas, Teaching the True Religion (1530s),"
Discovering the Global Past: A Look at the Evidence, Wadsworth, Cengage
Learning, 2012, pp. 14-15.
Page 2
Page 1
and afflicted by the misfortunes of wars, through the loss of their children, their
goods, and their own liberty ... how can they be moved voluntarily to listen
to what is proposed to them about faith, religion, justice and truth? Or how will
they be able to adhere to what has been preached? Likewise, if a soft word mul-
tiplies friends and, on the contrary,"An ill-tempered man stirs up strife" (Prov.
15, 18), how many enemies will not such bitter words and works make? .
Source 6 from Bartolomé de Las Casas: A Selection of His Writings, trans. & ed. George
Sanderlin (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1971), pp. 158–161. Translation copyright © 1971 by
Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. Used by permission of Ålfred A. Knopf, a
division of Random House, Inc.16
Las Casas, Teaching the True
Religion (1530s)
Source 7 from Richard Hakluyt (the Younger), Discourse of Western Planting (1584), in
David B. Quinn, ed., English Plans for North America, vol. 3 of New American World:
A Documentary History of North America to 1612 (New York: Arno Press, 1979), vol. 3,
Pp. 71-72, 82.17
The one and only method of teaching men the true religion was established by
Divine Providence for the whole world, and for all times: that is, by persuadmg
the understanding through reasons, and by gently attracting or exhorting the
will. This method should be common to all men throughout the world, without
any distinction made for sects, errors, or corrupt customs.
This conclusion will be proved in many ways: by arguments drawn from
reason; by examples of the ancient Fathers; by the rule and manner of preaching
which Christ instituted for all times; by the practices of the Apostles; by quota-
tions from holy teachers; by the most ancient tradition of the Church and by her
numerous ecclesiastical decrees
And first, this conclusion will be proved by arguments drawn from reason,
among which let this be the first. There is only one method peculiar to Divine
Wisdom by which it disposes and moves created beings gently to actions and to
their natural ends. But among created beings, rational creatures are higher and
more excellent than all others which were not made in the Image of God. ...
Therefore, DivineWisdommoves rational creatures, thatis, men, to their actions
or operations gently.... Therefore, the method of teaching men the true religion
ought to be gentle, enticing, and pleasant. This method is by persuading the
understanding and by attracting the will....
A method contrary to the one we have been defending would be the follow-
ing: that ... the pagans should first be subjected, whether they wished to be or
not, to the rule of the Christian people, and that once they were subjected, orga-
nized preaching would follow... [But a} rational creature has a natural capacity
for being moved, directed and drawn to any good gently... because of his free-
dom of choice. But if pagans find themselves first injured, oppressed, saddened,
16. Bartolomé de Las Casas (1484–1566) was bon in Spain, the son of a merchant. At age 18, he
went to the "New World" as part of an expedition to conquer Santo Domingo, and also participated
in the conquests of Cuba and Mexico. In a change of heart, he became a Dominican priest and wrote
numerous treatises urging humane treatment for the Native Americans. In 1537, Pope Paul II is-
sued a papal buil declaring that "the Indians are truly men (and] . by no means [should they] be
deprived of their liberty." The bull was generally ignored by Spanish and Portuguese conquerors
and slave masters.
[14]
[15]
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