The Biblical Basis for the Oppression of Native Americans

This is the first of a three part series

Introduction: Historical Context

Between the 15th and 19th centuries, European colonizers and later American settlers systematically displaced, exploited, and enacted violence against Native American populations throughout the Americas. This historical period includes significant events such as initial colonization, westward expansion, and the forced removal of indigenous communities—exemplified by notorious episodes like the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and the Trail of Tears (1838–1839). Many settlers and policymakers identifying as Christians selectively invoked biblical passages to justify oppressive actions against Native Americans, employing distorted interpretations of scripture to legitimize violence, forced displacement, and cultural genocide.

Contextualization and Misuse of Biblical Texts

The biblical texts colonizers misused were originally rooted in specific historical and theological circumstances, aimed at ancient Israelites dealing with particular geopolitical realities. However, these colonizers removed the texts from their original contexts, reinterpreting and selectively applying them to rationalize their own colonial ambitions.

1. Divine Mandate to Conquer and Occupy

One passage frequently misapplied was Deuteronomy 7:1–2, initially intended specifically for ancient Israel’s conquest of Canaanite territories:

“When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations…then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.”

By equating Native American communities with ancient biblical peoples, colonizers justified violent conquest, dispossession, and forced removal.

Another text, Joshua 1:3–4, originally offered divine assurance specifically to the ancient Israelites regarding their Promised Land:

“I will give you every place where you set your foot…Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon…”

Colonizers twisted this narrative to frame North America as a “New Promised Land,” granting them perceived divine sanction to expand territorially at the expense of indigenous populations.

2. Dominion Over the Earth

Genesis 1:28, originally describing humanity’s responsibility as caretakers of creation, was distorted by colonizers:

“God blessed them and said…’fill the earth and subdue it.'”

Interpreting this as authorization for domination rather than stewardship, colonizers justified exploiting and dominating Native American lands and peoples, framing indigenous communities as “uncivilized” or inferior.

The Doctrine of Discovery and Colonial Rationale

The Doctrine of Discovery, originating from 15th-century papal decrees such as Pope Alexander VI’s Inter Caetera (1493), entrenched the ideology that Christians had divine authority to colonize non-Christian lands. Colonizers misapplied Genesis 1:28 again to support their supposed divine right to colonize, dominate, and control indigenous peoples and their territories, underpinning oppressive colonial policies like forced relocations and cultural assimilation.

Manifest Destiny and Religious Justification

Manifest Destiny emerged prominently in the 19th-century United States, proclaiming that Americans had a divinely ordained mission to expand across the continent. Advocates selectively cited biblical texts to justify this territorial and cultural expansion. For example:

• Psalm 2:8 was selectively employed to legitimize territorial ambition:

  “Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.”

• Matthew 28:19 (the Great Commission), originally intended for global evangelism, was similarly twisted:

  “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”

John O’Sullivan, who coined “Manifest Destiny” in 1845, argued explicitly that America’s westward expansion was divinely sanctioned. This ideology was deeply embedded in political rhetoric, thus giving religious justification for oppression, forced displacement, and treaty violations.

Separatism and Purity Narratives

Passages emphasizing cultural separation and purity—such as Ezra 9:10–12—were distorted to rationalize the segregation of Native American peoples:

“…the land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples…Therefore, do not give your daughters in marriage to their sons…”

Colonizers claimed a biblical imperative for cultural and racial purity, advocating for reservations as necessary to prevent “contamination” of European settlers, thereby enforcing segregation and cultural marginalization.

Historical Consequences and Impact on Indigenous Peoples

The misuse of biblical texts had devastating consequences, including forced relocations, broken treaties, and impoverishment of Native communities. For example, the Cherokee Nation suffered profoundly during the Trail of Tears, where approximately 4,000 individuals died due to forced removal policies justified by distorted biblical interpretations. This event highlights the severe human cost directly attributable to these religiously framed justifications.

General Jeffrey Amherst’s correspondence during Pontiac’s Rebellion (1763) documents another tragic example—his proposal to distribute smallpox-infected blankets to Native populations. Amherst’s letters explicitly illustrate the genocidal strategies underpinned by ideologies reinforced by distorted biblical interpretations.

Summary Table: Misused Biblical Texts and Historical Applications

Ethical Implications and Lessons Learned

The historical misuse of scripture highlights profound ethical implications. Recognizing how biblical texts were manipulated to justify oppression teaches important ethical lessons about interpretive responsibility. Responsible biblical interpretation must recognize historical contexts, emphasizing values of justice, compassion, and respect for human dignity. Contemporary communities can learn from these abuses by actively challenging and preventing similar distortions, ensuring scripture promotes ethical and humanitarian values rather than oppression.

Conclusion: Lasting Cultural, Social, and Ethical Repercussions

The selective biblical interpretations utilized by colonizers left lasting wounds on Native American populations, resulting in enduring social, economic, and cultural disparities. These historical abuses continue to inform contemporary discussions around religion, race, justice, and social responsibility. Acknowledging this troubling legacy serves as a critical step toward promoting reconciliation and ethical accountability. Today, the necessity of responsible scriptural interpretation remains urgent, guiding modern communities to prevent repeating such historical injustices. By confronting these historical misuses openly, communities can ensure a future guided by genuine respect for all peoples, informed by ethical reflection, historical understanding, and justice-driven scriptural interpretation.