Debunking the Claim: "200 Million Natives Murdered in America, Canada, and Australia in the Name of Christianity"

The assertion that 200 million indigenous people were murdered in America, Canada, and Australia in the name of Christianity is a significant and contentious claim. While the colonization of these regions indeed resulted in profound suffering and loss for indigenous populations, the figure of 200 million is highly exaggerated and not supported by historical evidence. This essay aims to provide a nuanced analysis of the demographic impact of European colonization, the role of Christianity, and the actual historical context.

Historical Context and Demographic Impact

Pre-Colonial Populations

Before European contact, the combined populations of indigenous peoples in the Americas, Canada, and Australia were substantial, but estimates vary widely. In the Americas, pre-Columbian population estimates range from 50 million to 100 million people. In Australia, estimates suggest a pre-contact population of around 300,000 to 1 million Aboriginal people. For Canada, figures are lower, generally estimated to be between 200,000 and 500,000 indigenous people.

Impact of European Colonization

The arrival of Europeans brought diseases, warfare, and policies that led to a drastic decline in indigenous populations. Diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza decimated indigenous communities, who had no immunity to these new illnesses. Historians estimate that disease alone may have caused the deaths of up to 90% of the indigenous population in some regions of the Americas.

While the impact was catastrophic, it is important to note that the total pre-contact population of indigenous peoples across these continents does not support the figure of 200 million deaths. More conservative and widely accepted estimates place the number of indigenous deaths due to colonization in the tens of millions.

Role of Christianity

Missionary Activity and Conversion Efforts

Christianity played a complex role in the colonization process. European colonizers, motivated by a combination of religious zeal, economic interests, and political ambitions, often justified their actions through a sense of divine mission. Missionary efforts aimed at converting indigenous populations to Christianity were widespread.

However, it is an oversimplification to attribute the atrocities of colonization solely to Christianity. While some missionaries were complicit in or supportive of colonial policies, others actively defended indigenous rights and sought to protect native communities. Figures such as Bartolomé de las Casas in the Americas advocated for the humane treatment of indigenous peoples and opposed their exploitation.

Colonial Policies and Secular Motivations

The primary drivers of the violence and exploitation that accompanied colonization were often economic and political rather than purely religious. The quest for land, resources, and wealth motivated many of the brutal policies enacted by colonial governments and settlers. While Christianity was sometimes used to justify these actions, it was not the sole or even primary cause of the violence.

Examining the Numbers

Americas

In the Americas, the combined impact of disease, warfare, enslavement, and displacement led to a dramatic population decline. Estimates suggest that the indigenous population of the Americas declined by approximately 80-90% from pre-contact levels. This translates to a loss of around 50-60 million people, a staggering figure but far short of 200 million.

Australia and Canada

In Australia, the impact of colonization was similarly devastating. The introduction of diseases, frontier violence, and displacement resulted in the deaths of a significant portion of the Aboriginal population. Estimates of population decline vary, but it is generally agreed that the Aboriginal population decreased by around 80-90% in the first century of European settlement.

In Canada, the impact of European colonization also resulted in significant loss of life among indigenous populations, but again, the numbers are far lower than the claimed 200 million. Estimates suggest that several hundred thousand indigenous people died due to disease, conflict, and other factors.

Conclusion

The claim that 200 million indigenous people were murdered in America, Canada, and Australia in the name of Christianity is not supported by historical evidence. While the colonization of these regions resulted in profound and tragic losses for indigenous populations, the true numbers are significantly lower. The primary drivers of these losses were multifaceted, involving disease, economic exploitation, and political conquest, with religion playing a complex and varied role. A nuanced understanding of history is essential to acknowledge the full impact of colonization while avoiding exaggerated and unsupported claims.

References

• Crosby, Alfred W. The Columbian Exchange: Biological and Cultural Consequences of 1492. Praeger, 1972.
• Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. W.W. Norton & Company, 1997.
• Mann, Charles C. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. Knopf, 2005.
• Newson, Linda A. The Demographic Collapse of Native Peoples of the Americas, 1492–1650. Population and Development Review, 1996.
• Taylor, Alan. American Colonies: The Settling of North America. Viking, 2001.
• Windschuttle, Keith. The Fabrication of Aboriginal History, Volume One: Van Diemen's Land 1803-1847. Macleay Press, 2002.