• The Absolute --- although many native Americans had a senior god, they did not have consensus on his name.
• The senior god was one among many spirits. This is HENOTHEISM as opposed to monotheism.
• For them, most animals, forces of nature, natural objects, and heavenly bodies qualified as spirits.
• Spirits could be good, like Ahone, the god of Powhatans, or evil like his counterpart, Okeus.
• The fluid organization of spirits reflected the open organizations of their own tribal societies.

The World

• Native American religious view of the world can be illustrated by Cherokee myth.
• The world rises from the water and separates waters from the sky.
• It is not a finished place. The world is a manifestation of active spirits ever involved in its changes- winds, clouds, seasons, day and night, etc.
• Animals and Humans originated from a region beneath the earth – from mother earth.
• Humans and animals are kin. Animals could once talk, and they willingly give themselves to the hunters who treat them well for food.

View of Humans

• Native American religions see humans and animals as closely related.
• Humans have a spirit or soul that is essential.
• The problem for humans:
• Problems faced by humans result from ignorance or carelessness. This was the point suggested by the story of the two boys who released animals from a cave so that they must now be hunted.
• They dragged “mother” on the earth leading to problems of infertility.
• Other problems are caused by “Trickster” who introduces obstacles for humans through his delinquent behavior. He has been called Cayote or Tsaka’bek by Naskapi Indians.

Solution for Humans

• Native American societies were highly traditional, and all aspects of life was regulated by customs and rules.
• Group solidarity was valued. To be banished from the group often meant starvation and death. Community was very important.
• Individuals were encouraged to gain insight through dream quest – this could tell them where the game was, and thus contributed to survival.
• Individual responsibility was emphasized in the context of the tribe. Each young person had to get visions which guided his life.
  
  
• Healing practice was part of Native American religion.
• Disease was viewed as originating from spiritual disorder.
• Healing required gaining assistance from benevolent spirits or appeasing vengeful spirits. The Sherman was the person who communicated with the spirits.

Community and Ethics

• Within Native American societies, communities and individuals shared responsibilities.
• Every one was taught the proper behavior.
• Women were to obey their husbands. Sex outside marriage was not allowed, however, a wife could have sex with someone else with the approval of the husband.
• Sex symbolized removing animosity and receiving a foreign object into the family.
  
  
• Illegitimacy was scorned.
• Abortion was widely practiced on fetuses conceived outside marriage, or in times of severe hardship, and when mothers had too many children to raise.
• Infanticide was considered merciful when the infant was too deformed to the harsh requirements for survival in the tribe.
  
  
• Killing members of ones tribe was forbidden, but killing the enemies of the tribe was expected.
• Chief were very powerful, but were often responsive to the collective will of their people.
• Recurring times were a common theme – sunrise and sunset, and the four seasons recurred each year.
• People and animals recurred through reincarnation – time was circular.

Rituals and Symbols

• For all the people of Americas – it seems that feathers were the most important symbol.
• Spirits of birds and humans were similar.
• They practiced rite of passage from, puberty, marriage, to death. Rituals ensured good life and tribal survival.
• Most practiced burial. Cremation was not widespread.

Other Features

• Life after death – there was a widespread belief in reincarnation. The souls of the departed would be reborn as a child within the tribe.
• A soul could enjoy an indefinite stay in a pleasant hunting grounds
• Ancestors were remembered and honored. They considered death a mystery and never sought to understand it systematically.
• They all shared belief in spirits, souls, and rituals.

Religions of Mesoamerica and South America

• When Spanish explorers first arrived in central and south America, they were surprised because of the highly evolved civilizations they fund there.
• These people had built pyramid and towering cities. Their chiefs and priests communicated with gods
• They supported a well developed agriculture that supported the people of the cities.

The Aztecs

• Then Aztecs built major city and called it Tenochtitlan. Buildings were pyramid like and were built for the gods.
• Their main deity was “Huitzilopochtli” god of the sun, Tuzcatlipoca (night sky), & Tlaloc (earth and rain).
• They practiced human sacrifice.
• They viewed themselves as chosen people. The symbol of their god was an eagle – king of the birds.