BACKGROUND: 313 A.D. Creation of an Unholy Alliance of Religion & Power…of G-d & Money…
I first learned about the Doctrine of Discovery from my Franciscan teacher Richard Rohr. In order to understand how it was created and justified, Richard described a necessary preliminary step: the alliance in 313 A.D. between the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire - when Emperor Constantine decreed that the Catholic Church was the official religion of the Empire. See also "In hoc signo vinces" below.
“Convert or die!”..."Your land in now our land"...
...now had enforcement powers.
And, most importantly, the Church’s perspective switched from a view from the bottom to a view from the top.
The conquered cry out...
--Buffy Sainte-Marie performing "My Country Tis of Thy People You're Dying" as Pete Seeger watches her mournful and powerful tale of theft and murder (From Pete's Rainbow Quest)
(from this Nov. 27, 2022 post) Don't fall into the trap of believing your religion is the only way to the Creator. Religion can be quite a trap. Rituals, rites, and rules enable people to feel spiritual, when they really are not. They can, in fact, limit the growth of consciousness, quenching the spirit.
Creator is bigger than any religion and cannot be contained in a building nor by the commandments of men.
We were all humans until race disconnected us, until politics divided us, until wealth classified us, and until religion separated us.
"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful." - Seneca
War Paint...War Songs...
Crow has brought the message
To the children of the sun
For the return of the buffalo
And for a better day to come
You can kill my body
You can damn my soul
For not believing in your god
And some world down below
You don't stand a chance against my prayers
You don't stand a chance against my love
They outlawed the Ghost Dance
They outlawed the Ghost Dance
But we shall live again, we shall live again
-Ghost Dance - Robbie Robertson
--you may remember Robbie from his time with The Band
--video contains memorable photographs of these noble people along with the injustices they suffered because they didn't have OUR G-d on THEIR side...
In Hoc Signo Vinces
“In Hoc Signo Vinces,” Latin for “In this sign, you shall conquer,” is a phrase with historical significance that has been associated with Christianity and the Knights Templar. The origin of this motto can be traced back to the legend of Emperor Constantine the Great, who ruled the Roman Empire in the early 4th century.
According to the legend, as Constantine prepared for a decisive battle against his rival Maxentius in the year 312 AD, he witnessed a miraculous vision in the sky. Some accounts describe it as a dream or vision, while others assert that Constantine saw the sun with a cross of light above it, along with the inscription “In Hoc Signo Vinces.” This celestial spectacle was interpreted as a divine message and an omen of victory.
Taking the sign as a divine mandate, Constantine embraced Christianity and adopted the cross as his symbol. On the following day, he had a banner made, known as the labarum, featuring the monogram of Christ, a combination of the Greek letters “rho” (P) and “chi” (X), forming the first two letters of Christ’s name in Greek. This banner became Constantine’s imperial standard and was carried into battle, signifying his allegiance to Christianity and belief in its protective power.
The phrase “In Hoc Signo Vinces” became synonymous with Constantine’s conversion and his ultimate triumph over Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, a victory that secured his position as the sole ruler of the Western Roman Empire. As a result, Christianity gained official recognition and became a favored religion within the Roman Empire, a significant turning point in history.
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#music #racism #Indian #indigenous #DoctrineOfDiscovery #OscarJerome #ChiefPontiac #OrenLyons #BuffySainteMarie #Cross #SocialJustice #RichardRohr #Constantine #Seneca