Mark Charles on Decolonizing America and the Doctrine of Discovery
- Jul 24, 2020
- 3 min read
How do we move from a narrow understanding of history toward a shared, authentic truth? In this early, solo episode of the Christian Podcast, host Beto Gudiño sits down with author, speaker, and 2020 independent presidential candidate Mark Charles.
The inspiration for this conversation began years prior, when Beto attended a packed lecture given by Mark Charles at Biola University in Southern California. Coming from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico—a city filled with 550-year-old colonial architecture—the concept of colonization deeply resonated with Beto’s own cultural upbringing. In this episode, the two dive into identity, theological errors in church history, and what it truly means to build a "common memory" in America.
How do we move from a narrow understanding of history toward a shared, authentic truth? In this early, solo episode of the Christian Podcast, host Beto Gudiño sits down with author, speaker, and 2020 independent presidential candidate Mark Charles.
The inspiration for this conversation began years prior, when Beto attended a packed lecture given by Mark Charles at Biola University in Southern California. Coming from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico—a city filled with 550-year-old colonial architecture—the concept of colonization deeply resonated with Beto’s own cultural upbringing. In this episode, the two dive into identity, theological errors in church history, and what it truly means to build a "common memory" in America.
Key Takeaways from the Conversation
1. Dual Identity and Overcoming "Blood Quantum"
Mark Charles introduces himself traditionally through his four clans, reflecting his dual identity as a citizen of both the United States and the Navajo Nation. With a mother of Dutch heritage and a Navajo father, Mark rejects modern legal concepts like "blood quantum" to fully embrace his lineage. He shares how his journey toward decolonizing faith began over 20 years ago as the first Native pastor at the Christian Indian Center in Denver, leading him to connect with global indigenous Christian movements.
2. The Gentile Tension in the Early Church
The conversation hits a fascinating theological point regarding how the Church handles cultural differences. Mark points out that the tension of contextualizing faith goes all the way back to the Book of Acts. When the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius—a Gentile—it upended the early Jewish-Christian community's expectations. Historically, Western European christianity reconciled this tension by culturally colonizing the faith and imagery of Jesus. Mark challenges believers to look at how indigenous and minority voices fit into the larger Kingdom narrative.
3. Historical Mythologies vs. Common Memory
A major theme of the episode is the concept of Common Memory. Quoting indigenous leader George Erasmus, Mark notes: "Where common memories lacking, where people do not share in the same past, there can be no real community." They discuss how nations often substitute history with sanitized mythologies. Mark highlights painful historical discrepancies, such as:
The Declaration of Independence referring to Native Americans as "merciless Indian savages" just lines after stating "all men are created equal."
The hidden, devastating impacts of structural decisions made during the eras of Abraham Lincoln.
4. Moving from Reconciliation to "Truth and Conciliation"
Beto shares his personal reflection on raising his three American-born children, observing them say the Pledge of Allegiance at school, and trying to understand how sovereign Native nations coexist within the U.S. framework. Mark explains that true healing cannot be called reconciliation because that implies a previous state of structural harmony that never existed. Instead, he advocates for Truth and Conciliation, a process aimed at fixing structural flaws in the nation's foundations so that "We the People" can finally mean all the people.
Notable Quotes From the Episode
"I am not half Navajo and half Dutch or half American. I am Navajo, and I am Dutch, and I am American." — Mark Charles
"If you want to build communities, you have to start by creating common memory." — Mark Charles
"Until you fix the foundations, it doesn't make any sense to debate what color to paint the house." — Mark Charles
Featured Resource: Unsettling Truths by Mark Charles
To dive deeper into the historical and theological frameworks discussed in this episode, check out Mark Charles's groundbreaking book, Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery (co-authored with Soong-Chan Rah). The book expands on how 15th-century papal decrees shaped modern definitions of human rights, national identity, and land titles in America. It serves as an essential reading resource for anyone looking to challenge sanitized historical mythologies and actively participate in building an honest, shared common memory.
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