World Religions

Introduction to World Religions Study Guide

©2018 Achieve Page 12 of 96 Chapter 2: Indigenous Religions Native Americans have worshipped various aspects of nature since they walked over the land bridge of the Bering Strait into North America. Each tribe practiced their own religion, some of which were animistic, while others were pantheistic. Animistic religion is the worship of inanimate objects. The belief is that all objects, places and creatures of the earth all have a spiritual essence. Native American Culture connects in a spiritual way to all the natural forces and elements of the earth like water, fire and the land itself. These forces can include all aspects of nature from the dirt under our feet to the birds in the sky and the wind in which they fly upon. It is the Native American belief that no creature can hold dominion over another. Instead, they instead live in harmony with all aspects of the earth. To thank an animal for their sacrifice during a hunt is a good example of this. The act of giving thanks is not to appease some spirit that they believe would do them harm otherwise or to appease some ritual. It is instead an act to signify that animal’s life is as important as those that hunted and killed it. The animal in its death has bestowed a great gift of life. Religion for the Native American is not an institution. They do not attend a “church”, but rather worship in the open. Many stop when they see a beautiful scene, such as a sunset, and worship. Some Native Americans hold that there is a great spirit called Wakan Tanka, which in Sioux translates to “Great Mystery”. Others worship Mother Earth. T he Great Spirit of the Panthiestic View is believed to be both Father Sky and Mother Earth, a single, divine entity. It’s the creator of earth, history and all existence. The Shohone call it Tam Apo with means “Our Father.” The Chicasaw call it Ababnili. The Ojibwe call it “Gitchi Manitou.” The Blackfoot call it “Apistoke.” The Arapaho call it “Chebbeniathan.” The Abenaki call it “Gici Niwaskw.” The Huron call it “Ha-Wen-Neyu.” The Cheyenne call it “Maheo.” Native Americans are also tied to the land and the life cycle of humans. They are keenly aware of an invisible force that is connected to birth, puberty, and death. Many of their ceremonies are a celebration of the life cycle. For Native Americans, religion is a journey, not a process. In fact, they may not see what they do as “religion”, but a part of their lives and the principals by which they live. Therefore, Native American religion is not one that is evangelistic. They do not recruit individuals to be a part of their religion; it is one of spirituality, not membership. Native Americans use many different avenues to worship, but all are a part of their daily life. They may practice the Snake Dance, kachinas, the Sun Dance, sweat lodge ceremonies, and the sacred pipe. While these are specifically religious ceremonies, they are ceremonial aspects of their world that includes many ceremonies for their families, clan, or tribe. The outsider wants to separate these ceremonies and quantify them as “religious” ceremonies, but they are the spirituality of the daily life and existence of the Native Americans. The ceremonies are community based and have no real meaning outside of the specific community in which they are practiced. It is up to that community to ascribe the specific meaning to the ceremony. A ceremony is not held for personal benefit, but for the benefit for the entire community.