world religions native american religions

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World World Religions Religions Native American Native American Religions Religions

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Page 1: World religions native american religions

World ReligionsWorld ReligionsWorld ReligionsWorld Religions

Native AmericanNative American

ReligionsReligions

Native AmericanNative American

ReligionsReligions

Page 2: World religions native american religions

The Spirit WorldThe Spirit World

• Generally polytheisticGenerally polytheistic

• Believed in the Great Spirit, in nature as Believed in the Great Spirit, in nature as alive with spirits, and in Mother Earthalive with spirits, and in Mother Earth

• The high god was appealed to only rarely, The high god was appealed to only rarely, usually in the case of great emergenciesusually in the case of great emergencies

• Very animisticVery animistic

• Reverential toward soil, plants, and treesReverential toward soil, plants, and trees

• Reverence toward these things varied from Reverence toward these things varied from tribe to tribetribe to tribe

Page 3: World religions native american religions

Control over the Spirit WorldControl over the Spirit World

• The universe is not under control of any one supreme The universe is not under control of any one supreme godgod

• Attention focused on achieving good relations with Attention focused on achieving good relations with earth spirits, the forests, the streams, and the animals earth spirits, the forests, the streams, and the animals upon which they dependedupon which they depended

• Sacrifice is sometimes practicedSacrifice is sometimes practiced

• Taboos include the dead (often the dead were not Taboos include the dead (often the dead were not spoken of for years)spoken of for years)

• Little fear of death.Little fear of death.

• Sin or righteousness have nothing to do with one’s Sin or righteousness have nothing to do with one’s afterlife destinyafterlife destiny

Page 4: World religions native american religions

• Dance Dance used to deal with the spirits and gain control used to deal with the spirits and gain control over the spirit worldover the spirit world

• Particular dances could last up to three daysParticular dances could last up to three days

• Religious leadership included both medicine men Religious leadership included both medicine men and womenand women

• Primary responsibility of leadership has to do with Primary responsibility of leadership has to do with healing by eliminating foreign objects, usually in the healing by eliminating foreign objects, usually in the form of spiritual obstructionsform of spiritual obstructions

• Tobacco—about six times stronger than modern Tobacco—about six times stronger than modern cigarettes—used to placate the spiritscigarettes—used to placate the spirits

Control over the Spirit WorldControl over the Spirit World

Page 5: World religions native american religions

““The Native American Church”The Native American Church”

• A Native American church based on a syncretistic A Native American church based on a syncretistic faith, located primarily in western statesfaith, located primarily in western states

• Use peyote extensively in worship rituals and Use peyote extensively in worship rituals and ceremoniesceremonies

• A church in Oregon was invaded by state authorities A church in Oregon was invaded by state authorities and its leaders arrested for peyote use in worshipand its leaders arrested for peyote use in worship

• The church fought the case on grounds of religious The church fought the case on grounds of religious liberty. They lost at the local and state Supreme Court liberty. They lost at the local and state Supreme Court levelslevels

• In Utah, the same thing happened, but the Utah In Utah, the same thing happened, but the Utah Supreme Court found that all members of the Native Supreme Court found that all members of the Native American church qualify for the religious exemptionAmerican church qualify for the religious exemption