CIM Briefing Papers
C.I.M. Outline #37
NATIVE AMERICAN RELIGION
(Animism)
I. Introduction
A. After many years of negative stereotypes from Hollywood
movies, Native Americans (formerly North American
Indians) are currently riding a crest of popularity.
They and their culture are the subject of much
discussion in the media, best-selling books, and major
motion pictures.
B. Reasons for the Current Popularity
1. After reading this outline you will no doubt realize
that what we are here describing sounds much like
the New Age Movement. That would be perceptive.
The current popularity of the NAM is largely
responsible for the new interest in NAR. The NAM is
a synthesis of eastern pantheism (Hinduism) and
nature religions (animism). Neo-paganism is in!
2. Best-selling books in the '70's by Carlos Casteneda
(THE TEACHINGS OF DON JUAN: A YAQUI WAY OF
KNOWLEDGE) and Theodore Rozak (WHERE THE WASTELAND
ENDS) openly advocated nature religions. Casteneda,
a Ph.D in Anthropology, actually became a shaman and
wrote of his experiences in the spirit world. Note
the new best-selling book by Bill Moyers, HEALING
AND THE MIND.
3. Current movies like "Dancing with Wolves" and "The
Last of the Mohicans" romanticize NAR. Look for more
movies in '93.
4. The current administration has openly been called
"New Age" by the press. VP Al Gore frequently
quotes from NA religious leaders in his book on the
environment.
C. Those of us who descended from white-European ancestry
are indeed indebted to native Americans. A short list
of contributions would include:
1. They taught our forefathers how to survive in the
wilderness, e.g., the Plymouth Colony.
2. For foods such as: beans, corn, peanuts, peppers,
potatoes, squash, and tomatoes.
3. For words such as: canoe, skunk, succotash, and
toboggan, as well as hundreds of cities, mountains
and rivers having Indian names.
4. Our forefathers borrowed ideas for the formation of
our government from the structure of the Iroquois
federation.
5. Their art, literature, and music have greatly
enriched our own.
6. Other things we have to thank Native Americans for:
maple sugar, snow shoes, fertilizing crops, root
beer, lacrosse, and sign language.
D. The concern of this outline:
It is not the current interest and popularity of Native
American Peoples that disturbs us. We can all profit
from the study of cultures other than our own. Our
concern is the romanticism through which mostly white,
guilt-ridden American scholars, who disdain anything
having to do with the Christian roots of western
civilization, are interpreting past history. That would
be bad enough, but it does not stop there. The same
people are openly pushing Native American beliefs as the
religion that can save our decadent society. Note the
following quotation from PARADE MAGAZINE (found in some
of your Sunday papers) Oct. 11, 1992:
"After years of urging Native Americans to take up
our ways, however, we may have at last realized that
it's time to take up theirs. This is not merely a
venture into the exotic. As the year 2000
approaches, we are threatened by an environmental
catastrophe and afflicted by spiritual malaise. By
providing a different way of looking at the world
and what it means to be human, American Indian
culture could be our salvation."
But can Native American Religion bring us salvation?
What are the major tenets of their beliefs? Is it true?
Does it correctly represent reality?
E. Native American Religion is a religion of animism. Each
tribe of course has its distinctive beliefs and
practices. However, the major tenets of animism are the
same the world over. Animism may be the world's largest
religion based on the number of practitioners.
II. Definition of Animism
A. Animism is a worldview that underlies primal or so-
called pagan religions. This does not mean that they
are simple. Pagan religions are highly complex
interplays of ideas, rituals and liturgies.
B. Animism comes from the latin word "animus" which means
"spirit". Animism is the belief that all natural life
is inhabited by souls of spirits, i.e. trees, rivers,
animals, stones, and men. These spirits can exist in a
separate state. Animists believe that the spirit is
the sole organizing principle of the physical universe.
C. Some animistic religions believe in one god that is more
powerful than all the rest ("the Great Spirit"). Some
even attribute the creation to this god. However, this
powerful god is almost invariably seen in a deistic
way. In other words, detached from the creation.
III. General Outline of Animistic Beliefs
A. The Oneness or Connectedness of all Reality
Animists believe that reality is all one piece. There
is no clear-cut distinction between human beings and
animals, between animate and inanimate matter, or
spirit and matter. Ultimately, there is a unity to all
of life. The cosmos is but a continuum of spirit and
matter. Animals may be ancestors of men, people may
change into animals, trees and stones may possess
souls. The universe is a symbiotic (interdependent)
system. Seeing this inter-connectedness, or oneness in
nature, is the ultimate religious experience. It may
come while meditating alone in the wild, in a dream, or
in a religious ceremony.
B. Ultimate Reality is spiritual
The natural universe is inhabited by countless
spiritual beings. These spiritual beings are
manifestations of a general life-force. Without this
life-force nothing could exist. The true character and
power of any object is found in this non-material
substance. This includes inanimate objects as well as
animate objects. This "spirit stuff" or life-force,
can exist in varying concentrations. A great man is
said to have a greater concentration of it. The
stronger gods (or spirits) have more of it; a strong
charm or revered fetish may have more of it. The
secret to success, fame, or victory, is to acquire more
of this force. This is done by magic of various means.
C. There is a Hierarchy of gods
The spirits, or gods are usually perceived as being in
a hierarchy (e.g. the spirit of the sun is over the
moon). They may be embodied in an object or exist as
disembodied spirits. Several diverse spirits may also
inhabit a single body. For example, the spirit of a
bear may be transferred to a leader of a tribe or even
the whole tribe. See totemism below.
D. The gods of Animism are personal but limited. There
is no infinite-personal God. There are at least 5
types of spirits or gods in animism:
1. Those involved in creation.
2. Those involved with responsibilities for the earth,
sky, sea, animal life, fire, etc.
3. Departed ancestors. These spirits are of major
concern to NA.
4. Evil or mischievous spirits.
5. Spirits of the forest, field, and streams.
E. The gods may be either beneficent or malevolent at any
given time. There is always the uncertainty that they
may change. In general, animists are more concerned
with evil spirits than with good.
F. The Controllability of spirit power.
The spirits can be controlled if only one knows the
right formula, makes the right offering, or uses the
right incantation. The spirit's power can be used to
do either good or evil. Witch doctors, shamans, and
sorcerers are professionals who help control the spirit
world. Guardian spirits are "spirits" who assist you
through life. These are usually attained through
initiation ceremonies.
G. Evolutionism. Though it is not sophisticated like
current scientific evolutionism, it is still a vital
component of animistic belief.
IV. The Terminology of animism.
A. Taboo: acts that are avoided for religious reasons,
i.e. not to offend the spirits. Example: to offend
the spirits of a sacred stream by crossing it might
invite floods.
B. Totems: It is what distinguishes tribes and clans. A
tribe or clan is unique due to its ancestry. For
example, a tribe may believe that it descended from
wolves. The spirit of this animal then imbues this
group with its special characteristics and this spirit
becomes the guardian of the tribe. For a tribe who had
its origin in the wolf it then becomes taboo to kill
the wolf (see above). Members also cannot marry within
their own totem. A totem pole is a carved pole
representing a groups' ancestry (a genealogical
chart!).
C. Sorcerer: One who utilizes the power of the spirits to
control his world. One who practices magic.
D. Shaman: They are religious leaders, sometimes called
medicine men. They have extensive knowledge of the
spirit world and are especially known for attempting to
cure the sick by manipulating the spirits.
E. Fetish: An object with magical powers. Maybe a bone,
or tooth of a specific animal, or a special stone.
Also called a talisman.
F. Prophets: A religious leader who predicts the future.
Dreams are an important medium and taken very
seriously. While dreaming you are actually in the
spirit world (the real world!).
G. Priests: Religious leaders who lead large groups in
public ceremonies. They go through long periods of
formal training.
H. Ceremonies: They are of great importance in animistic
religions. They are often imitative, a mimicry of
nature.
V. Critique of Animism.
A. The major weakness of animistic religion is that it is
basically non-ethical. The goal in this religion is
primarily to procure the best advantage in the power
struggle of the spirit world. There are no ultimate
absolutes other than what the spirits of a clan prefer.
These are the mores of the tribe. The spirits are
finite and experience the same failures as humans.
B. Animism is guilty of worshipping the creature rather
than the Creator (Rom 1). It is also humanistic in that
the goal is always to get the spirits to do your
bidding.
C. It is ultimately subjective and irrational. Animists
are not generally open to a rational examination of
their beliefs. It is the experience that counts. The
authority comes from tradition. "My ancestors did this
for hundreds of years!"
D. Animism leads to fatalism and despair because it
provides no answers to the questions of life's meaning
and significance, or purpose in history.
E. There is no basis for human dignity in animism. Humans
are on the same level as all other forms of life.
F. It is essentially a religion of demons (idolatry).
Missionaries who work on reservations in the American
west often speak of the oppressive atmosphere as a
result of spirit bondage.
G. It is a religion of fear. Alcoholism and suicide are
therefore, two main problems which we believe are a
direct result of its demonic religion.
H. The major point of appeal made by the enthusiasts for
this revival of neo-paganism, is the enormous respect
Native Americans have for nature, and for protecting the
environment. Don't be fooled. Their interest in
preserving the ecology is admirable and one where
Biblical Christians are in agreement. However,
Christians must not succumb to romanticizing nature. It
too, is under the curse waiting the final redemption
(Rom 8:18ff.). Nature has a malevolent side; it
sometimes goes on a rampage and does more environmental
damage in hours than mankind does in years. We cannot
discern right from wrong by observing nature. This is
the naturalistic fallacy.
VI. Sharing the Gospel with Native Americans
A. Be genuinely interested in their culture and beliefs.
Give them respect as God's creatures who are created in
God's image. You must win a hearing. Right now
they're not too interested in listening to a white
person expound his religion. For many NA, white man
and his values (culture) are the enemy. We must
distance ourselves from the mistakes our ancestors may
have made and avoid the false stereotypes.
B. Share with them the Biblical truth about creation and
the Creator, and what the Bible teaches about the
spirits (demons), and how they can be freed from
bondage.
C. The idea that a Father God loves is an entirely foreign
concept to an animist. To them the gods are to be
feared and must be placated. Share how Christ, God's
son, placated the righteous demands of the Father on
the Cross once for all.
Christian Information Ministries is a non-profit ministry and is
dependent on gifts from God's people in order to operate. If you
receive a benefit from our materials would you consider giving a
tax-deductible gift to CIM. We suggest $25. a year minimum.
Send to: Christian Information Ministries
2050 N. Collins Blvd. #100
Richardson, TX 75080
 |
RAPID RESPONSE REPORT |
| BRIEFING PAPERS |
| BIBLIOGRAPHIES |
| MOVIE & BOOK REVIEWS |
| TECHNICAL PAPERS | | ARARAT REPORTS |
| CONTACT US |
| OUR STAFF |
| CIM HOME |
Do you want a printer friendly version of this paper?
Select your format below
