Do European colonists/explorers forced the natives to convert to Catholicism?

Yes they did. Forced conversion happened throughout the world in the European colonies. One of the strongest examples was in the "New World". As early as the first voyages of Columbus Spain sought to establish missions in order to convert the pagans to Catholicism in Nueva Espagna, the area stretching from the Caribbean, Mexico, the Southwestern United States, and California. The native people were forced into the missions, forced into baptism, and then held against their will in the mission. They basically became slaves. All of the new "converts" were taught European agricultural practices and other labor meant to self-sustain the mission. Children were separated from their families in early adolescence and forced into labor. All were forced to live on the missions while worshipping daily under the direction of the Franciscan friars.

There was a lot of resistance to the forced labor and conversion in the missions, but any resistance was easily suppressed by the always present Spanish soldiers and their superior weapons.

The conversion to Christianity was dominated by Spain in the Americas but not solely reserved to that group of explorers and colonists. There were groups of English colonists who forced the native people to convert as well. Forced conversion is very evident in the Americas, but Spain also spread their religion throughout all of their colonies, The Philippines being one example. Portugal also forced conversion in their colonies throughout the world.

The irreversible damage to the native people from the colonization and forced religious conversion is easily seen in California where in some areas the native population was virtually destroyed.

Greed, bigotry and lust for power were the driving forces for the forced religious conversion.

I hope that this info helps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_missions_in_C...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_missions_in_T...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encomienda

http://spirittalknews.com/MissionIndians.htm

http://www.tallahasseemagazine.com/index.php?optio...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_India

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonialism

It was called Save them, and if they couldn't convert them, just kill them to save them from sinning anymore.

it was based on the Papal Bulls, which consistet of dividing the land and triggered the race to claim land. But included was the idea that indigenous needed saving from themselves.

So all did it to some extent and various periods, But the Spanish and Portugese were alittle more zealous as they were still catholics so the Papal Bulls had more direct meaning and intent to them, But for the others it ment the better hurry up and make there land claims

Do you know about VOWELS?... "DO" means RIGHT NOW... and there are not 'colonists/explorers' in the AmeriKans these days.

DID European colonists, etc would mean BACK IN TIME

The Spanish colonized to steal the gold and had priests with them to save souls... at the point of a bayonet... for geezus... The French only wanted to trade with the Indians and were much more successful.

Spain and Portugal were the most notorious. But, for some reason, you leave out Protestants such as England and the United States, which did the same.