Bruchko: The Astonishing True Story of a 19-Year-Old American, His Capture by the Motilone Indians and His Adventures in Christianizing the Stone Age Tribe

Bruchko is written in the context of evangelical Christianity, and how Olson frames the narrative stems from that worldview. Evangelism is an interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that is premised on a commitment to the truth of the biblical Gospel. This asserts that Jesus, as the son of God and God incarnate in human form, died for the sins of humanity, was resurrected, and offers salvation to those who believe in his sacrifice, granting them access to Heaven in the afterlife. Evangelism entails the dissemination of this message worldwide with the aim of persuading others of its validity. This mission is driven by the Great Commission in the Bible, which is Jesus’s instruction to his disciples that they must spread the Gospel.

In the post-World War II era, there was a surge of evangelicalism in the United States, partly driven by the proliferation of mass media platforms like radio and television. Due to his adherence to this ideology, Olson perceived the conversion of the Barí as an act of love that would lead to the best possible outcome for them. According to evangelicals, individuals who have not embraced Christianity face damnation in the afterlife, so it is essential that those who are unaware of Christianity be introduced to the Gospel and offered the opportunity to attain salvation.