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The Slippery Earth: Nahua-Christian Moral Dialogue in Sixteenth-Century Mexico
242 pages, Hardcover
Published May 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 30, 2023
Set in the period of transition from Renaissance humanist attitudes of interest in other ways of life (which might have worthwhile aspects) to a more intolerant Catholicism that studied pagans only to convert them and destroy their prior culture, this study focuses on language, the medium by which foreign concepts (such as "sin") were introduced. Language, with its connotation and denotation, reflects ideology: does one present black and white absolutes? dialectical dualism? cultural alchemy (eg expressing Christianiy as part of a continuity with paganism)?
September 28, 2018
2014-05 - The Slippery Earth: Nahua-Christian Moral Dialogue in Sixteenth-Century Mexico. Louis M. Burkhart (Author) 242 Pages. 1989.
This was my Lenten season book to read this year. It took a little longer than I expected to get through but it was worth it in terms of thought fodder. Essentially Spanish missionaries sought to learn the languages and culture of the natives of New Spain in order to more effectively convert them in to the Roman Catholic Faith. Two themes struck me in this text; The first is the notion of teaching sin to a people who have no concept of sin. Catholicism at the time had a very black and white … good vs. evil orientation … Native thought did not … it was predicated on harmony vs. disharmony and seeking balance. In native thought nothing was evil only disharmonious and required a balancing out. It raises that age old notion of teaching what evil is in order to save someone’s soul who has no concept of it. The second theme is the idea of salvation in terms of individual vs. community. In Christianity we are saved on an individual basis and in many other faiths it is on a community/civilization basis. This last bit really resonated with me when I think of missionaries, conversions, the pre-Constantinian Church and the Body of Christ. I have stated a rough essay or thought piece on this very notion … it also struck me as interesting that this was also an underlying theme in another book I read following this (The Human Zoo by Desmond Morris) If I get to it I will post my rough thoughts.
2017-10-09: In reflection this book has had a huge impact in my life....it shook me to my very core, challenging many assumptions and causing me to reevaluate many tings in my world view and life. This book is one of a very, very few that has profoundly affected me.
This was my Lenten season book to read this year. It took a little longer than I expected to get through but it was worth it in terms of thought fodder. Essentially Spanish missionaries sought to learn the languages and culture of the natives of New Spain in order to more effectively convert them in to the Roman Catholic Faith. Two themes struck me in this text; The first is the notion of teaching sin to a people who have no concept of sin. Catholicism at the time had a very black and white … good vs. evil orientation … Native thought did not … it was predicated on harmony vs. disharmony and seeking balance. In native thought nothing was evil only disharmonious and required a balancing out. It raises that age old notion of teaching what evil is in order to save someone’s soul who has no concept of it. The second theme is the idea of salvation in terms of individual vs. community. In Christianity we are saved on an individual basis and in many other faiths it is on a community/civilization basis. This last bit really resonated with me when I think of missionaries, conversions, the pre-Constantinian Church and the Body of Christ. I have stated a rough essay or thought piece on this very notion … it also struck me as interesting that this was also an underlying theme in another book I read following this (The Human Zoo by Desmond Morris) If I get to it I will post my rough thoughts.
2017-10-09: In reflection this book has had a huge impact in my life....it shook me to my very core, challenging many assumptions and causing me to reevaluate many tings in my world view and life. This book is one of a very, very few that has profoundly affected me.
June 19, 2025
Essentially: the Nahua religion is based on moderation in everything, from over indulgence down to the way one walks. The world was a “slippery”, evil place but the people had to be an active participant in it. This conception lent itself well to Christian conversion, as many concepts were parallel if not aligned.
The Christian missionaries expertly used native language and phrases to communicate their dualist ideas to the monist Nahua. eventually reaching an indigenous-Catholic synchronism: “Nephantlism”.
Definitely helps put the Nahua worldview into context, rather than the standard lists of Gods and myths. Also would assumedly be a great resource for Nahua language learners (specifically religious terms).
The Christian missionaries expertly used native language and phrases to communicate their dualist ideas to the monist Nahua. eventually reaching an indigenous-Catholic synchronism: “Nephantlism”.
Definitely helps put the Nahua worldview into context, rather than the standard lists of Gods and myths. Also would assumedly be a great resource for Nahua language learners (specifically religious terms).
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews