Native American beliefs

[JKendallDane]

There have been three people in my life that I feel were placed there not only because of a shared love, but also to stimulate the desire to dig into the Native American belief system. One was pure-blooded Algonquin, one was quarter Seminole, and the other one-eighth Cherokee. All three would speak quite seriously about their spirituality, but unfortunately all three were also raised outside the culture in modern-day Christianity. Even so, all three exuded an aura that said their spiritual side was unique and special.

I've picked up a couple of books on the subject...one called The Pipe and Christ by William Stolzman, and one called God is Red by Vine Deloria...but haven't read them yet.

I would love to get a discussion going on this topic.

[Ramblin' Jack]

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[agricola]

Mostly myth. I live in 'Indian Country' (hah). The local tribes are Shoshone and Paiute, with a scattering of Navaho (the largest tribe, and they travel). Native Americans are people. There are cultural differences which often translate into 'spirituality' because, unlike most European-Americans, most Native Americans haven't been raised to think of themselves as radical individualists nor that the 'spiritual' things are radically different from 'material world' stuff.

That said - there's a great range, because really Native Americans are regular people with all the range of any other group of people.

Plus these days a whole lot of them are Baptists.

[JKendallDane]

It seems like white Americans have always had a perception of American Indians as being particularly spiritual people who are more in touch with the natural world than Europeans. Do you think that's true, or is it partly a myth?

From my experiences with my three friends and from visits to the nearby Poarch Creek reservation, it does vary. Some are deeply spiritual, others fall to the worldly side, and everything in between the two. All three friends were also what's known as two spirited, which tend to be looked upon by most tribes as gifted ones when it comes to spiritual matters.

What I have noticed that is an almost constant is a serious respect for nature and its creatures. Nature is like their church building...you use it and come together in it, but you also hold it in awe and treat it with reverence. Certain animals and birds are looked upon as spiritual guides or represent modern-day, visiting angels. I think part of their belief system is that while nature isn't God, it is a very visible and real example *OF* God. That melds together perfectly with scripture where we have been given dominion over the earth and its creatures, but are commanded to care for it and them also.

So overall, yes, I would say that most NA's are far more in touch with the natural world than typical American's or Europeans.

[agricola]

Most NA cultures don't place the divisions between things as much as European Americans. You can say they are 'more in touch with the spiritual' if you want, it is about the same way of saying that. And just like any other large group of people, there is a lot of variation.

[ena]

I am part Cherokee but pass as white. My Cherokee grandmother also passed as white. She did not openly admit she was Indian. My mother noticed my Great Grand mother looked Indian and asked my dad. He did not know and asked his mother. She said she was but she did not think this was a good thing to be. That family line has a host of English surnames. Apparently these ladies had been part of a conspiracy to whiten out the line dating to the Trail on Tears in 1830. I suspect there is a Scotchman some where in that line.