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I am really embarrassed by how much I do not know about these South Pacific Island nations.  As I learn more of the history and culture I am embarrassed by the part the Christian Church has played.

The Mormons and the 7th day Adventists along with the Catholics were the first missionaries on most of the islands.  On a few islands the Presbyterians were the first. None of them have much to be proud of.

The missionaries wanted to bring the pagans/heathens (their words) to Christ.  They wanted the islanders to give up ancestor worship, kava, tribal conflicts and cannibalism.  In the attempt more than a few missionaries became dinner.

Relying on Old Testament stories as justification the Christians turned to violence. Difficult converts were shot. When a group of European Christians encountered a village that was resistant to their message they captured one young man.  They took him to their ship and locked him up with passengers suffering from the measles.  Once he contracted the disease they sent him back to the village.  Before long the village was wiped out and the missionaries could claim it was God's wrath because the villagers did not believe. I guess that is one method of evangelism.

In chapter 11 McLaren talks about violence in the Old Testament.  Did God condone the violence? Bless it?  Enable it? When is violence justified?  I am not a fan of cannibalism but I still think it is morally wrong to try to extinguish an entire culture and force a people to adopted our ways simply because we believe we are right.  I believe that God is much more tolerant than we are.

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