after the fall of the Aztec empire, Christian missionaries came to learn as much as possible about Indigenous religion?Group of answer choicesTrueFalse

Answer

True.

After the fall of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century, Christian missionaries, particularly from the Spanish Catholic Church, came to the New World with the aim of converting Indigenous populations to Christianity. As part of their missionary work, they sought to understand Indigenous religions and belief systems. This understanding was essential for several reasons:

1. Cultural Sensitivity: By learning about local customs and religious beliefs, missionaries hoped to present Christianity in a way that was more relatable to the Indigenous people, which could facilitate conversion.

2. Documentation: Some missionaries documented Indigenous practices and beliefs, providing valuable historical records that would later inform both religious and academic studies. These documents often reflected the missionaries' perspectives and goals, sometimes leading to a biased representation of Indigenous cultures.

3. Religious Conversion: Understanding Indigenous religions allowed missionaries to identify points of contact or common ground they could use in their efforts to persuade Indigenous populations to adopt Christianity.

Overall, the engagement of Christian missionaries with Indigenous religions was complex and multifaceted, involving both genuine efforts to understand and often the imposition of European religious views.