Overcoming “Colonization of the Mind” Through Citizenship Education: A Four-Dimensional Perspective

Abstract

This article is based on research into the phenomenon referred to as the “colonization of the mind.” It commences with a discussion of four different backgrounds and concomitant experiences regarding this persistent form of colonization: two with reference to the authors of this article, and two with reference to distinguishable categories of Indigenous people who still feel the enduring effects of the colonization of the mind. After theorizing about the “living in two worlds” that seems to be typical of the colonization of the mind, the authors propose a number of biblically justifiable measures that can be implemented by those still feeling themselves suffering from this lingering form of colonization. These measures include the adoption of a reformed ontology, anthropology, ethics, and education. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of an adapted Citizenship Education school program that may contribute to the eradication of the colonization of the mind issue.