Church and discovery of America Cover Image

Kościół i odkrycie Ameryki
Church and discovery of America

Author(s): Mirosław Olszycki
Subject(s): History, History of Religion
Published by: Wyższe Seminarium Duchowne w Łodzi
Keywords: Columbus; America; Church; evangelization; missionaries

Summary/Abstract: The scope of historical transformation starting from 1492 could have been caused by the fact that Columbus’s voyages triggered off the process of re-defining rules and connections in the New World inhabited by various peoples. Important questions were raised: how to reconcile the variety of cultures and historical trajectories with a Christian impulse, and mainly with a universality of human values which could harmonize social relations with the variety of peoples and cultures, permeated by the power of otherness and inequality. Those issues brought about political and moral dilemmas for America’s conquerors. One can state that year 1492 symbolized an early dawn of our own era and many towns which were founded in America by Christopher Columbus and his successors became a symbol of struggle for justice, equality and peace for many nations, with memorable victories and failures, the majority of which have been too easily forgotten or ignored. But the most important sign of this significant year 1492 was kindling of the holy fire of the future, which gave hope to release a vital force of America’s peoples, regardless of their skin color and country of origin.

  • Issue Year: 28/2019
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 137-151
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Polish
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