I can understand why the sun worship seemed frightening or "unholy". It was easier for the colonists to think that Native peoples were dumb. Why are they worshipping the sun? What does the sun do for them? The colonists had their God and they believed that was the only god.
Bodin seemed to have a very extreme take on the sun worship. He claimed it to be demonic and evil. In the chapter about sun worship, he often talks about how people are tricked by the devil. I thought it was interesting that Bodin seemed so deranged, but he was a well respected person in that time. The Demon Mania book is ignored in his work.
When it comes to places like Newgrange, it easy to think people in this age were not smart. If you look at how these structures were built, there was A LOT of thought put into them. The sun comes perfectly through the window and into the back of the chamber on the solstice. It's obvious that the sun was important. Sun worship still happens today. I think it's cool. The sun is very important to daily life. Even if I don't worship the sun, it is one of the reasons we are alive.
That's so true that it's easier to think other people are dumb instead of feel open to their ideas. I think this can still be the defect of character I want to struggle against on an individual level.
This article explores how early modern Europeans viewed their ancient past through structures like Newgrange and Stonehenge and how these influenced their spiritual and cultural ideas. Living near such monumental sites likely inspired a mix of reverence and curiosity about those who came before them. This curiosity intersected with Christian beliefs, which often framed non-Christian spiritualities as dangerous or demonic. Bodin’s *Demon-Mania* reflects this, portraying practices like sun worship or Native American spiritualities as connected to the Devil and dangerous knowledge.
The reading emphasizes how Christianization reframed older land-based beliefs, like those associated with the Tuatha de Danaan or Sidhe, as pagan remnants or outright heresy. These ancient beliefs often revolved around the sun and land, elements seen as powerful and sacred by ancient peoples but later linked to occultism or demonic influence by Christians. The images and historical context also highlight how European explorers, such as the French colonists, romanticized Indigenous practices while simultaneously fearing their spiritual power. This mix of admiration and othering reveals how power, culture, and spirituality intersected in shaping early modern European identity.
It is rather interesting to see how people demonized their own past through the colonization of Native Americans. They did not know what we now understand about sites such as Newgrange, but through visuals they were able to understand that it had a deep connection to the sun and to the winter solstice. I think it is rather interesting that it is aligned with the winter solstice, a day when the darkest days are over and the rebirth of spring is beginning again. It represents the cyclical nature of time, and that rebirth and death are ever chasing each other. It’s very sad to see, in whatever view that had of this, this beautiful idea become so taboo. The worship of the sun used to demonize Native people is indicative of how Europeans had the idea of man vs nature, and that a close and deep connection to nature was not aligned with the order of the world. Men were above nature, and so the Native's care and connection with nature as seen through things like sun worshipped allowed colonizers to label Native people as primitive and less advanced. This allowed them to create more propaganda for the Crown and the people of the Crown to fund and support their colonization effort, as they could ‘help’ the Natives become civilized.
I love the way you worded this. I have a biased opinion growing up seeing all the different religions that people practice. I couldn't imagine classifying an entire group of people as "godless" or "demonic". You really put it in perspective, I guess. I had a difficult time understanding the readings. I don't know what it's like to view a whole group of people that way.
I can understand why the sun worship seemed frightening or "unholy". It was easier for the colonists to think that Native peoples were dumb. Why are they worshipping the sun? What does the sun do for them? The colonists had their God and they believed that was the only god.
Bodin seemed to have a very extreme take on the sun worship. He claimed it to be demonic and evil. In the chapter about sun worship, he often talks about how people are tricked by the devil. I thought it was interesting that Bodin seemed so deranged, but he was a well respected person in that time. The Demon Mania book is ignored in his work.
When it comes to places like Newgrange, it easy to think people in this age were not smart. If you look at how these structures were built, there was A LOT of thought put into them. The sun comes perfectly through the window and into the back of the chamber on the solstice. It's obvious that the sun was important. Sun worship still happens today. I think it's cool. The sun is very important to daily life. Even if I don't worship the sun, it is one of the reasons we are alive.
That's so true that it's easier to think other people are dumb instead of feel open to their ideas. I think this can still be the defect of character I want to struggle against on an individual level.
This article explores how early modern Europeans viewed their ancient past through structures like Newgrange and Stonehenge and how these influenced their spiritual and cultural ideas. Living near such monumental sites likely inspired a mix of reverence and curiosity about those who came before them. This curiosity intersected with Christian beliefs, which often framed non-Christian spiritualities as dangerous or demonic. Bodin’s *Demon-Mania* reflects this, portraying practices like sun worship or Native American spiritualities as connected to the Devil and dangerous knowledge.
The reading emphasizes how Christianization reframed older land-based beliefs, like those associated with the Tuatha de Danaan or Sidhe, as pagan remnants or outright heresy. These ancient beliefs often revolved around the sun and land, elements seen as powerful and sacred by ancient peoples but later linked to occultism or demonic influence by Christians. The images and historical context also highlight how European explorers, such as the French colonists, romanticized Indigenous practices while simultaneously fearing their spiritual power. This mix of admiration and othering reveals how power, culture, and spirituality intersected in shaping early modern European identity.
It is rather interesting to see how people demonized their own past through the colonization of Native Americans. They did not know what we now understand about sites such as Newgrange, but through visuals they were able to understand that it had a deep connection to the sun and to the winter solstice. I think it is rather interesting that it is aligned with the winter solstice, a day when the darkest days are over and the rebirth of spring is beginning again. It represents the cyclical nature of time, and that rebirth and death are ever chasing each other. It’s very sad to see, in whatever view that had of this, this beautiful idea become so taboo. The worship of the sun used to demonize Native people is indicative of how Europeans had the idea of man vs nature, and that a close and deep connection to nature was not aligned with the order of the world. Men were above nature, and so the Native's care and connection with nature as seen through things like sun worshipped allowed colonizers to label Native people as primitive and less advanced. This allowed them to create more propaganda for the Crown and the people of the Crown to fund and support their colonization effort, as they could ‘help’ the Natives become civilized.
Interesting in thought-provoking how you foreground the darkness and lightness.
Great connection!
I love the way you worded this. I have a biased opinion growing up seeing all the different religions that people practice. I couldn't imagine classifying an entire group of people as "godless" or "demonic". You really put it in perspective, I guess. I had a difficult time understanding the readings. I don't know what it's like to view a whole group of people that way.
Having an inside understanding on religious intolerance is very valuable, especially in a person who has since become open-minded to other religions.