Canaanites Cowboys And Indians Summary

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In the article “Canaanites, Cowboys, and Indians”, Robert Warrior addresses the issues present in the church attempting to help liberate the Native Americans. Warrior states that most oppressed people relate to the Israelites during the exodus from Egypt, but the Native Americans can relate the most to the Canaanites, in the book of Joshua, being removed from their homeland. I was surprised by the author’s interpretation of the biblical text. I had never thought about what had happened to the Canaanites when the Israelites took their land. This story is very similar to the Europeans, mainly the English, coming to America. Both of these have oppressed people who leave their country to find a land that they believe is promised to them and in turn; they oppress a group of people and drive them from their land. Warrior believes that, like the Canaanites, the Native Americans are a group of forgotten people in the eyes of God. When I went to a Presbyterian church, I had learned the God loved everyone and I never thought that God would annihilate a group of people for living on a piece of land that God had promised to another group of people. During this time, the stories of the Canaanites …show more content…

He gives a different perspective on the Exodus stories. He shows that God chose a group of people whom would be watched over and protected. Warrior also made the connection between the Canaanites and the Native Americans, by showing that a group people were negatively affected by another group who wished to claim what they believed their promised land. I believe that Warrior’s interpretation shows a more malevolent god leading the Israelites. Although, God is protecting the Israelites, God also works against other groups that he has not chosen to represent. I believe that the Canaanites are innocent and that the only reason that could be given to justify their removal and oppression is that they were not God’s chosen

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