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Indigenous Religions

Indigenous Religions. Everything is alive. Indigenous descendants of original inhabitants of lands now controlled by political systems in which they have little or no control The ways of the elders Original WAYS to live paths rules. What happened to them?. Colonization Imperialism

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Indigenous Religions

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  1. Indigenous Religions

  2. Everything is alive • Indigenous • descendants of original inhabitants of lands now controlled by political systems in which they have little or no control • The ways of the elders • Original WAYS to live • paths • rules

  3. What happened to them? • Colonization • Imperialism • Conversions • Spreading the Gospel by the sword • Materialism • Reservation lifestyle • Destruction of Natural Environments • Rainforests or golf courses?

  4. The TRUE great divide • Understanding • Cultural demise • loss of language • suppression • the great melting pot • cultural “mental block.” • Western versus local worldview

  5. What are Indigenous religions REALLY about?

  6. It’s about RELATIONSHIPS • Community • Humanity • Whole Earth • Supreme Being

  7. Community • The area where you live • The backyard Bar B Que and the Cherokees’ • Your “Tribe.” • similar • beliefs • geographic origin • ethnicity

  8. Community Materialism vs. Non-Materialism • Hunter - Gatherer survival techniques • Western concepts of owning and having • more stuff, more power, more influence, more MEANING • Indigenous concepts of owning and having • if it can be easily built or gathered at the next camp, why keep it? • Poverty Spirituality?

  9. An Aborigine Cosmogony • COSMOGONY • an encompassing theory of ALL existence • Origins and beginnings of the universe • Origins and purpose and place of humanity • how the two then combine to determine our responsibility for our local area • stewardship requirements • living harmoniously • teaching the following generations

  10. Indigenous Flexibility • Traditional enclaves • City Dwellers who regularly return to participate in the “Old Ways.” • Often incorporate these ways into the urbane life of the city, creating change • most ancient global religions have been impacted by Indigenous ways in this fashion • Hybridization • Voodoo • vitality is brought to BOTH religious systems

  11. Everything is Related • UNITY • for some, stifling and restrictive • The cycle of life • birth, life, death • A natural shape • corners in nature?

  12. Life among Humanity • Why are we here? • Do we have a role?

  13. Being a Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper • Primary purpose is to help ALL living things on their journey • people • animals • planet • 3 ways to accomplish this • healing • teaching • praying

  14. Third Rock From the Sun • Helping the Earth • Caretakers or dominators? • The spirit of the Earth • Everything is alive? • Is that rock a god? How do you know? • Climbing mountains and asking permission... • Trees, plants, animals • scientific research • Respect for ALL creation

  15. The SUPREME Being • How close can we be to “El Supremo?” • The great unseen but all present power • Great Spirit • All Powerful, Creator, The One who exists by himself • moyo • Takes various forms • sky • mountain • winds • storms

  16. Saint Whose? • The need for “Ancestor Worship” • not really “Worship”... • Indigenous saints • a culture that relies TOTALLY on Oral Tradition • Those elders who have passed over can still provide and communicate wisdom

  17. MANA • Spirit power • can be concentrated at specific sites • Chartes Cathedral • Stonehenge • Black Hills • Can be experiential • Can be intuitive

  18. Gender Symmetry • The Indian Peace Pipe • stem is male • bowl is female • the two joined together make 1 pipe • from which the smoke is made reaching the Great Spirit in the sky

  19. The Purpose of Power • Good and Bad • Good • power assists one in their journey as well as all around them • Bad • power misused can turn on one • one must CONSTANTLY purify oneself to remain out of danger • Power is not and end to itself, rather it is a tool

  20. Who will talk to the Spirits for us? • Anyone can access the spiritual • VERY dangerous to the unknowing and uninitiated • Specific Roles for a specialist • storytelling • oral tradition • teaching • secret societies

  21. Shamans • The Shaman • intermediary between the physical and spiritual world • Healers • Advice • Warnings • Divination

  22. Cosmological Harmony • Ritual Observances • maintains the circle/cycle • correct times for; • actions • stories • dress • Community oriented • rites of passage • continuity • Each person experiences the spirits personally

  23. Returning to the ancient ways • NOT about converts • A journey with a purpose... • There must be a respect for ALL life to ensure universal harmony

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