amber_lux's Journal: Chasing Gods Not Our Own

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Some years ago, I read the book Chasing Gods not our own. [ I do not remember who the author was.] It is the story of how Europeans systematically destroy African culture. A slightly more academic version of Something of Value by Robert Ruark.

But the two books are not the same. In one, civilization is removed, in the other civilization is replaced. In both, the traditional culture is discounted.

Hakim's lists it with an author of SME Bengu. Google only has 4 910 listings of the name Bengu As I recall, it was written by a Nigerian, which would more or less exclude this SME Bengu though my impression may be simply because Nigeria is a bleeding edge country falling into the clutches of Islam. Islam attacked Traditional African Culture from inland, and Christianity attacks it from the coast. Between the two, the traditional cultures are destroyed.

Amazon, as can be expected, does not list it.Or at least Amazon Light did not find it.

But I think of that title in a more personal way. What is the religious heritage of my great grandparents? What was the religion of my great-*-grandparents?

My Fathers's Mother traces a lineage back to Guy Fawkes Solid Roman Catholic from at least 1600. My Father's Father hit a rough spell between 1400 and 1850. From 1850 they were Roman Catholics. But they were expelled from Spain during the Fifteenth century. Probably political, but it need not have been. Christopher Columbus is probably the best known Spanish Jew. Leaving town just before the curfew set it.

My Mother's side of things is a little more stable. Solid Scottish. Clan Gunn Sept Jameson. Either wild picts, or tame norsemen. In either case, Druid or Asatru, then Roman Catholic, then Church of Scotland . Neither side wandered far from home --- the migration from the Orkney Islands was at the pleasure of the reigning monarchs.

OTOH, this quest for roots, and research family trees, can be viewed as just another aspect of racism.

Wind under Thy Wings

Amber

Moo

[Chacham]

Christopher Columbus is probably the best known Spanish Jew.

He was Jewish? He believed in Christian doctrine. What exactly makes you say that he was Jewish? The guy's name was "Christopher"!

Hmm... A quick google shows people making the case. Interesting. Irrelevant, but interesting. :-)

Leaving town just before the curfew set it.

Yeah, same day as the expulsion.