Religions of Native America
Religion in America
Diversity
300 societies and distinct languages
Diversity
Cultural diversity
◦
Eastern
Woodland
◦
Great
Plains
◦
Southwest
Pueblo cultures
◦
Hunter-gatherers
of West Coast
Differences in material culture
Differences in social organization
Common Characteristics
No separation between sacred & everyday
◦
Kinship
between spirits, people, natural world
◦
Shifting
of shapes
Common Characteristics
Continuity of sacred & present time
◦
Sacred
origins
Common Characteristics
Power and the spirit world
◦
Rituals
for taking & restoring food
◦
Controlling
& directing the powers of nature
◦
Interpreting
dreams,
visions, and signs
Trance and transformation
The Trickster figure
The sacred clowns
◦
Funny
and vicious
Masked dancers and the spirits
Harmony
The sacred four, five, or seven directions
The sacred wheel
Significant deities
The Sun God of Central America
Significant deities
The Corn god