History of Christanity in Samoa
RUDY SOOALO YEAR 12 LUKE INFLUENCE OF CHRISTIANITY IN SAMOA
In the early 1800 's Catholic ministries, Tongan Methodist ministries, and London Missionary Society Ministries all settled in the South Pacific region. Their combined objective was to spread the 'good news ' far and wide; establishing Christianity in the land of savages who would eventually steer from the error of their pasts and into the light of Christianity. European ministries were of the philosophy that Christianity brought an end to barbarianism, cannibalism, civil war, and other aspects associated to isolated regions. Eventually almost every religious organisation on earth has made valid head-way into the South Pacific region, promoting religious diversity and encouraging multi-religious integration. Christianity has passed its blood-line of influence deep into the fine-mat of fa 'asamoa. A number of aspects of our culture are now embedded with religious references (primarily from Christianity). It is now very difficult to distinguish between Fa 'asamoa and Christianity - the two are almost coexistent in nature, and function side by side. You could also pose the same question to Europeans, Christianity is also the majority in the continent of Europe. The Age of Enlightenment also contains reference to the global expansion of Christianity, and by all means, a European affair. but also a lot has to do with the fact that Nafanua [whom was a well respected historical figure within Ancient Samoan history - Goddess of War] is said to have prophesied the forth-coming of Christianity to Samoa. "In her prophecy, Nafanua told Malietoa that his next kingdom (malo) would be from the sky (lagi) and that this new God would be all-powerful, more powerful than the traditional gods of Samoa at the time. The arrival of Christianity is connected by most Samoans to Nafanua 's prophecy." And so to a large extent, our ancestors accepted Christianity generally rapidly - due to the fact that they believed
In the early 1800 's Catholic ministries, Tongan Methodist ministries, and London Missionary Society Ministries all settled in the South Pacific region. Their combined objective was to spread the 'good news ' far and wide; establishing Christianity in the land of savages who would eventually steer from the error of their pasts and into the light of Christianity. European ministries were of the philosophy that Christianity brought an end to barbarianism, cannibalism, civil war, and other aspects associated to isolated regions. Eventually almost every religious organisation on earth has made valid head-way into the South Pacific region, promoting religious diversity and encouraging multi-religious integration. Christianity has passed its blood-line of influence deep into the fine-mat of fa 'asamoa. A number of aspects of our culture are now embedded with religious references (primarily from Christianity). It is now very difficult to distinguish between Fa 'asamoa and Christianity - the two are almost coexistent in nature, and function side by side. You could also pose the same question to Europeans, Christianity is also the majority in the continent of Europe. The Age of Enlightenment also contains reference to the global expansion of Christianity, and by all means, a European affair. but also a lot has to do with the fact that Nafanua [whom was a well respected historical figure within Ancient Samoan history - Goddess of War] is said to have prophesied the forth-coming of Christianity to Samoa. "In her prophecy, Nafanua told Malietoa that his next kingdom (malo) would be from the sky (lagi) and that this new God would be all-powerful, more powerful than the traditional gods of Samoa at the time. The arrival of Christianity is connected by most Samoans to Nafanua 's prophecy." And so to a large extent, our ancestors accepted Christianity generally rapidly - due to the fact that they believed
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