Folks,

I have been reading some modern African literature (particularly Chimamanda Adichie) and note the presence of European Christian missionaries in the narratives. The European imperialists seem intent on simple plunder, but the missionary role is much more sinister IMHO.

It is understandable that someone might think that they have discovered a religious or other truth, even share it as a personal happiness, but the effort to foist this on others is something else. Then to take this mindset to another country and trample on that country's cultural history, wiping out their traditions, beliefs and conventions, even their language, is beyond me. Of course such mindset is not confined to religion, considering Mao's China and Stalin's Russia, but to do it in the name of goodwill is very hard to swallow.

The African writers have been remarkably restrained in their descriptions of this practice, which I guess makes them more readable. But, the darkness of the missionary mindset comes through.

I am wondering where this level of arrogance comes from, and how it is so easily clothed in religious 'goodwill' ?

D.