Incas!

Today a fellow classmate presented on the Inca empire who occupied the area of current day Peru.
It was facinating to hear about their advanced culture. They built 10,000 miles of stone roads, homes with stones so perfectly cut there was no need for mortar. The stone temple was sheathed in gold.
To get around their rough mountainous terrain, they built rope bridges that spanned great distances. Llamas and guinea pigs filled their protein quota.
They had so much gold, that their leader Atahaulpa offered a roomful of gold to pay his way to freedom after explorer Pizzaro captured him.
I found it sad how these explorers misused religion for their cause. While wanting to save their souls they conquered them through brutal methods. I believe this is a result of a "formal national" religion where all claim the title but aren't genuine. Where religion is really political, and is used for self-advancement. This has lead to great tarnishes in the precious world of religion.
Yet one day Christ will win the day and all the stains we poor sinners have laid upon His glorious name, will be thrust aside as His truth is established.

Resources:
Sherman, Dennis, and Joyce Salisbury. The West in the World. 2nd Ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2006.

Papal Indulgence signed by Johannes Tetzel. Thank God we don't have to earn salvation through these means! Rather we come to Christ and have our complete righteousness through Him.


Image from: http://theway2k.vox.com/library/photo/6a00cdf3a9bf0ecb8f00e398acd8200004.html