In which I display my stunning ignorance

[kate_nepveu]

Not once but twice!

These are serious questions, by the way—they might offend people but I'm not trying to make fun, I really am that ignorant and I really would like to know.

What was different about European colonialism?

It seems to me that European colonialism gets talked about in a different, more negative way than the various Empires that came and went in Europe, the Near East, and North Africa (Roman, Byzantine, Abbasid, etc.). First, is it the general consensus that European colonialism was either worse or bad in a different way, and second, how? Was it the method, or the timing, or something else?

How, according to Christian theology, does Jesus's death save humanity?

Okay, as I understand it, Christian theology states that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine as one part of the Trinity, one of the three beings/instances/presences that make up God. (Well, those parts of it that believe in the Trinity.) His death saved humanity.

I think the easiest way to get at my question is by contrast.

When I think of other instances where a single death saves a large group, I come up with two categories, which are basically drawn from fantasy novels. First, the death provides the, hmm, the necessary means for something to happen: life-force or energy to power a spell, a door for the gods to enter into the material world, a messenger to tell the gods that their help is really truly needed, something like that. Second, the death is part of a bargain: for that price (to demonstrate resolve or need, perhaps), the gods agree to intervene.

When it comes to Christianity, the first category doesn't seem to fit at all. Instead, the little bit of doctrine I'm familiar with seems to incline somewhat toward the second—but I can't follow the logic of such an argument. That is, Jesus is part of God, and why would you bargain with yourself or pay yourself a price? (Possibly this is another way of asking whether Jesus, as part of the Trinity, had free will.)

Is this related to the way original sin is transmitted (which I don't know either)? Or is this something not actually explained in doctrine, that needs to be taken on faith?

(I'm most interested in actual doctrinal answers to this question, but personal opinions are welcome too.)

(I am, by the way, thinking of making this my default icon for the next four to six weeks. And how are you?)

Comments

[oyceter]

I think while there is a giant focus on the legacy of Japanese colonialism in Taiwan and China, there's stil also a focus on European colonialism as well, given the Unequal Treaties and etc. It's interesting to see in terms of business and culture in Taiwan (I don't know that much about China, having never lived there). International business is, of course, conducted in English (one of the biggest legacies of European colonialism, I'd argue), and while Korean and Japanese and HK and other Asian pop cultures are very represented in Taiwan, there's still this sense that America is superior.

And this is entirely qualitative and anecdotal: but I do get the impression that there is the notion that to compete in the world in any way (culturally, politically, economically), you (general you) must learn to be European/American (I am combining the two because of the history of colonization and etc. and not because I think they are the same and not because I think Taiwan thinks they are the same).

Sorry, Kate! I am totally spamming your LJ! This is just one of those topics that really, really, really interests me and I ended up taking lots of classes and etc. on it in college (this is not to say that I know anything at all, but just that I adore this kind of discussion and it makes me bouncy and happy).

[kate_nepveu]

You're not spamming, it is interesting, and this has been a very interesting (and civil!) discussion.