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Organized religion has been one of the most destructive elements in human society. It has done so with deliberate purpose and conscious recognition of the most stringent brainwashing techniques. It is no great secret that the myth of Jesus was modeled after the myth of Attis, the son of Cybele, mother of the gods. Attis was born of a virgin (on December 25), sacrificed his life for humanity, descended for three days into hell and then was reborn. The day of his death was called Black Friday, his ascension was called the Hilaria (circa March 25th), the festival of joy. The Easter celebration for Jesus Christ is the identical myth, during the identical season of the year, save that the myth of Cybele and Attis were pre-christian by thousands of years, as were other parallel myths.
What isn't as well known is that Maria, Ma Rhea, another name for Cybele, mother of the god(s), first designated as Maria, mother of god in 431 C.E. by a synod in Ephesus, was modeled clearly and with deliberate intent on Cybele. Cybele was almost always depicted in the company of two lions and her heart, a black stone thought to be a meteorite was kept in a cave on a hill. Take careful notice that the path to the replica of Our Lady of Lourdes at San Xavier del Bac (reflecting the exact appearance of the ancient one at Lourdes) is guarded by two lions and that there is also a grotto in a hill where Ma Rhea (Maria) can be found. Compare it to just these two statues of Cybele: The first is from Catal Huyuk. It's over 7,800 years old. The second is from the Greco-Roman period. Both display two lions, one on either side of the Goddess figure.
The overall plan of the church fathers was to use the threads of pagan belief to draw the common people into the new religion. It was not only the myths of the pagans, their gods and goddesses, that were incorporated into the new religion, but the sacred sites were co-opted in a concerted effort to insure the simple minds of plain folk would be captivated.
While some believe that these things were done unconsciously by devoutly religious men, I do not. The trappings of intent are too clear. It is observable in all the edifices, art, and writings of the church no matter where you find it. Let us observe "The White Dove of the Desert", built to awe and convert the Indians and discover whether spirituality or raw propaganda are the most common element. In addition to the grotto of Ma Rhea, mother of the gods, downgraded to Maria, mother of god, the entrance to the mission is on a grand scale. The effort and expense of creating this edifice in 1692 was enormous. The entire structure, taking over 14 years to complete, dwarfs the landscape and must have certainly accomplished its goal of astonishing the Indians and piquing their superstitious fears that "Here Be Spirits."
Take notice of the alcove which contains "a wooden saint in a casket", representative of Francis Xavier and is called "Chapel of the Suffering Savior." Look carefully at the gaudy images, how the mannequin is dressed in actual clothes because it appeals to Indian folklore, and if you look closer still you will find money, pictures, cards. letters, tokens, and gifts pinned to the saint in hopes that this idol will grant favors to the gift giver. The ostentatious alcove is reminiscent of a drag queen having a bad hair day. Glitter and Glitz for the sake of impressing primitive minds, nothing sophisticated or elegant. The "Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother" directly across from the idol of the dead monk is, if anything even gaudier and more a glitter with the graven images of pseudo-gods, effigies, icons, and other superstitious fetishes. The Mother herself, like many of the other dummies in the church is garbed in a fresh dress, laundered and replaced regularly by volunteer Indians.
The main chapel and altar area contains yet another idol, also dressed in real clothes. This one is Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, another in the unending legion of Catholic Saints. Carefully observe (if you can find it at all amongst the clutter) the minute and diminutive cross with the image of Jesus, how it is dwarfed by all the other images of Catholic heroes. When the countless candles where aflame, reflecting all the dazzle, flash, and glitz, the impression on the unsophisticated minds of the Indians must have been stupefying. For those who doubt the "deliberate" intent of the church to work an ignoble intrigue on the Indian people, the final damning evidence is a painting that used to hang on the left wall just past the main doors. A painting depicting a gargantuan Saint Xavier and lilliputian Indians, genuflecting, groveling, and prostrating themselves before the Catholic representative of god. This picture was taken down, but versions of it exist through out all third world countries, used over and over again to good effect against simple folk. (Click here for an accurate example of a sales strategy that would have done the experts on Madison Avenue proud.)
Again and again I have heard people speak of visiting San Xavier del Bac, of its beauty and grandeur. There is no beauty in brainwashing, mind control, and indoctrination of a people who are virtually defenseless against such heavy handed propaganda. Butchering the Indian way of life, stealing from them the pride they had in their own traditions, their own culture, and their own religions was a heinous crime with repercussions still extent today. Much of the depression, lack of self-image, and high suicide rate in Indian tribes can be traced directly to the treatment they received from Catholic missionaries. The missionaries were hell bent on convincing the "inferior aborigines" that they were gods to be served and obeyed without question.
It is true that the aborigines were gullible and easily manipulated by the masters of the art, masters who had spent the Dark Ages honing their skills. But were the Indians inferior? The Indians, with all their faults, were paragons of virtue compared to the abominations who dominated and exploited them. Furthermore, these downtrodden tribes are thought to be the descendants of the Hohokam, builders of the great four-storey observatory-fortress of Casa Grande. These are the people whose thirteenth century ancestors built great irrigation systems and developed various technologies, such as etching with natural acids ... BEFORE their European conquerors had mastered such techniques. The inherent worth of Indian peoples was callously trodden over by a hostile religion, a religion that had no conception of the history of who they had humbled.
Also see Joan Lansberry's views and insights of the missions at Tumacacori, south of San Xavier del Bac.
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