Euro-Americans were typically of Christian or Catholic origin, adhering to the morals and code of conduct outlined by this extremely structured and sometimes political religion. Indigenous peoples, on the other hand, practiced a freer form of religion, focusing on administration, spirituality, and various rituals. “A Land So Strange” by Andrew Resendez provides many examples of how religion played a role in the encounters between the two groups; the Spaniards and the indigenous peoples. Resendez wrote about Euro-Americans; “Although motivated by material considerations and sometimes engaging in decidedly un-Christian activities such as killing Indians, these pioneers were nevertheless convinced that their exploits served to further God's goals.” This distorted perception of fulfilling God's will through colonial efforts only increased tension between the two cultures and provoked retaliation. Another example of using religion for personal gain was Narvaez from A Land So Strange. He looked for any excuse to get the money to go on his second expedition and urged the emperor to believe that faith would play an important role. "In another petition, almost a threat, Narvaez urged the emperor to avoid delays, because "it would weigh heavily on your royal conscience if this