Native American Spirituality

[laohaire]

I am a lifelong agnostic who always thought she was atheist. I never discounted the possibility of God, but I never believed in a persona. In the past few years I've been trying to figure out what I do believe, and it's not been easy. I've looked into Christianity, Buddhism, even Wicca, and there are elements of each that interest me, but none really fit. I'm not looking for a perfect fit, but none of those fit at all.

So last night I'm drifting off to sleep and it hits me! My stereotypical view of Native American spirtuality actually does seem to potentially fit, for me.

However - note I said "my stereotypical view." That's because I know almost nothing about it. I'm also, yes, quite aware that there was hardly this one Native religion, but many spiritual beliefs for many nations. All the same, I do assume there were some common threads.

Can anyone suggest any reading to start me along my way?

In case it matters to anyone, I do have some First Nation heritage (grandfather's grandmother was Cherokee - yeah, pretty distant).

[doubledutch]

i liked this book - i haven't read another one to compare it against, but i thought it was really good. it's a collection of essays and speeches (mostly speeches) from several different chiefs and elders. i guess what i liked about it was the directness - that it's the words of people who held these beliefs and lived them, rather than a third party explaining it to me.
http://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-of-Nati...8666380&sr=8-3

[peacelove]

A few book suggestions......


Walking in the Sacred Manner:
http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Sacred...8669800&sr=1-3

Black Elk Speaks:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...ack+Elk+speaks

Touch the Earth:
http://www.amazon.com/Touch-Earth-Se...8669929&sr=1-2

Leslie Marmon Silko:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...e+marmon+silko

[laohaire]

Oops, I forgot to say thanks!! I have two suggested books requested on interlibrary loan

[mommaduck]

Originally Posted by laohaire

I am a lifelong agnostic who always thought she was atheist. I never discounted the possibility of God, but I never believed in a persona. In the past few years I've been trying to figure out what I do believe, and it's not been easy. I've looked into Christianity, Buddhism, even Wicca, and there are elements of each that interest me, but none really fit. I'm not looking for a perfect fit, but none of those fit at all.

So last night I'm drifting off to sleep and it hits me! My stereotypical view of Native American spirtuality actually does seem to potentially fit, for me.

However - note I said "my stereotypical view." That's because I know almost nothing about it. I'm also, yes, quite aware that there was hardly this one Native religion, but many spiritual beliefs for many nations. All the same, I do assume there were some common threads.

Can anyone suggest any reading to start me along my way?

In case it matters to anyone, I do have some First Nation heritage (grandfather's grandmother was Cherokee - yeah, pretty distant).

Various tribes believed different things. You can't lump them together. The Cherokee were monotheistic even before Christianity came to America for example.

http://www.cherokeediscovery.com/religion.html

http://www.thepeoplespaths.net/Books...reColumbus.htm

[doubledutch]

the op acknowledged that, even within the text you quoted.

[mommaduck]

Originally Posted by doubledutch

the op acknowledged that, even within the text you quoted.

I wasn't criticising her personally What I am saying is that not all of them have common threads in the manner generally assumed...like you said, she noted that there is a stereotypical view. I was shooting off of that and her mentioning her Cherokee ancestry, which I share as well.

[mommaduck]

Another book, that I'm currently reading, is God is Red.

[kittywitty]

Great book recommendations. Our family has some Cherokee and Powhatan Algonquian blood. But most of it is either impossible to prove on paper(can't find the records) or far enough away I don't feel comfortable claiming it usually. My mother carries the Native beliefs she was taught by her great-grandmother and the subject has always fascinated me. I'll have to check these out.