Miscellaneous Thoughts, Part 3

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The last (for now) in a series on miscellaneous thoughts on the topic of our time in the Cook Islands.

(Read Parts 1 and 2)


5) While we were visiting, the Cook Islanders celebrated a national holiday. Not too unusual, except the holiday specifically commemorates Christianity coming to the island. This year was celebrated in particular style, as the chiefs of Rarotonga used the day to invite all of the chiefs throughout the nation to visit. This was the first time in the history of the islands that the chiefs gathered in peace. Appropriate, since the name of the royal grounds here in the capital translates "Christianity brings peace". As I see what I perceive to be a compromising of Christian practice in order to cater to secular tourists, I find myself thinking about tourists as I know many secularists think about missionaries. "Stay away, don't spoil the natives!" As if isolating any people group is the key to keeping them happy and innocent.

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