God in indigenous religions?

[TheTrinitySaves]

For example the Native Americans would never have ever heard of Jesus or the old testament God, until europeans arrived in the 1500s.

Is it possible that groups such as Native Americans experienced our God in a different way. Such as through the spirits of nature and other spirits they believe in?

 

[Perplexity]

Indigenous peoples experienced Gods that were not YHWH. Re-writing their experience by filtering it for lowest common denominators only produces an experience of the monotheist’s own making.

 

[adamhovey1988]

For example the Native Americans would never have ever heard of Jesus or the old testament God, until europeans arrived in the 1500s.

Is it possible that groups such as Native Americans experienced our God in a different way. Such as through the spirits of nature and other spirits they believe in?

This deals directly with my heritage, so I’ll let you read up on it yourself
accessgenealogy.com/native/sauk-indian-religion.htm

 

[Beryllos]

The Catechism says this:
843 The Catholic Church recognizes in other religions that search, among shadows and images, for the God who is unknown yet near since he gives life and breath and all things and wants all men to be saved. Thus, the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as “a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life.”
which is to say that they have some understanding of God.

 

[Casilda]

Mention should be made about Mary of Agreda’s work among the Indians of Texas and New Mexico. Her ardent desire, prayers, and sacrifices for their conversion were apparently rewarded with the gift of bilocation. Between 1621 and 1631, when Mary of Agreda was between nineteen and twenty-nine years of age, she made some five hundred visits to the Texas Indians, coming, as it seemed to them, from the hills on their horizon and returning that way after her instructions were over. When these Indians presented themselves to the Franciscan missionaries in New Mexico and asked that fathers be sent among them, it was learned that a Lady in Blue had often come among them, instructed them, and ordered them to seek out missionaries to baptize them.

Upon investigation it was learned that this Lady in Blue was Mary of Agreda, who, when she was put under obedience to tell what had happened, said she had no explanation. She could not say how she got there, only that when she was praying for the welfare of the Indians, she just found herself among them and began to instruct them. Presently she found herself home again. This happened many times.

roman-catholic-saints.com/mary-of-agreda.html

 

[The_repentant]

For example the Native Americans would never have ever heard of Jesus or the old testament God, until europeans arrived in the 1500s.

Is it possible that groups such as Native Americans experienced our God in a different way. Such as through the spirits of nature and other spirits they believe in?

While they did not have the true God himself every pagan religion has signs of The true Triune god sprinkled in their doctrines.The cathochism posted above has the churchs judgment on this.

 

[Kliska]

Is it possible that groups such as Native Americans experienced our God in a different way. Such as through the spirits of nature and other spirits they believe in?

The only things they would actually interact with are those things that really exist; God, Angels, fallen Angels, humans, animals, plants, etc… but they couldn’t interact with things that don’t actually exist. God makes it clear to us that He has spoken to us in various ways, including through nature itself (“the Heavens declare the glory…”). So, while the gods and beings they believed in don’t exist objectively as those things, they could grasp that there is a spiritual reality, they could grasp there is a Creator, morality, etc…

 

[FabiusMaximus]

For example the Native Americans would never have ever heard of Jesus or the old testament God, until europeans arrived in the 1500s.

Is it possible that groups such as Native Americans experienced our God in a different way. Such as through the spirits of nature and other spirits they believe in?

I think the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium discusses issues like this.

 

[arthra]

As a resource I’d suggest consulting this:

paganwiccan.about.com/od/pagantraditions/a/Native-American-Spirituality.htm?utm_term=native+american+religions+list&utm_content=p1-main-1-title&utm_medium=sem&utm_source=google_s&utm_campaign=adid-502039c0-ea6f-42de-b827-823ff8c973c5-0-ab_gsb_ocode-5955&ad=semD&an=google_s&am=broad&q=native+american+religions+list&o=5955&qsrc=999&l=sem&askid=502039c0-ea6f-42de-b827-823ff8c973c5-0-ab_gsb

lifescript.com/well-being/articles/u/understanding_native_american_spirituality.aspx?gclid=CNjjwYXWqtICFRBEfgod0mgKTQ&trans=1&du=1&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Connect+34±+SEARCH&utm_content=0%3E12098%3EUnderstanding+Native+American+Spirituality&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=native+american+religion&ef_id=ViPNsQAAASY6miep:20170225065846:s

 

[Peter_J]

Indigenous peoples experienced Gods that were not YHWH. Re-writing their experience by filtering it for lowest common denominators only produces an experience of the monotheist’s own making.

But even if someone believes in gods, plural, he or she might nevertheless believe that one of them is above the rest, and possibly is the creator of all.

 

[abucs]

For example the Native Americans would never have ever heard of Jesus or the old testament God, until europeans arrived in the 1500s.

Is it possible that groups such as Native Americans experienced our God in a different way. Such as through the spirits of nature and other spirits they believe in?

I would answer with the analogy that people experience oxygen and gravity whether they have precise knowledge of it or not.

God bless.

 

[friardchips]

For example the Native Americans would never have ever heard of Jesus or the old testament God, until europeans arrived in the 1500s.

Is it possible that groups such as Native Americans experienced our God in a different way. Such as through the spirits of nature and other spirits they believe in?

It is stated from the Church’s position, that while the world in all its understanding did not hold the fullness of truth before Revelation, it would still have experienced lesser truths - reflections of truth even - as a kind of in-waiting.

However, God of the OT, is the same as the NT and therefore the Truth was already being shared, very early on.

In terms of Native ‘spirits’ etc… I don’t think so. I think they were aware, with heightened senses, and no doubt might have been more in touch with nature - the earth has a vegetative soul - but this does not mean they were summoning Godly spirits. The only spirits being summoned, if summoning occurred, would have been not-so Godly spirits (and we have names for them).

 

[Peter_J]

Not all creator gods are the same.

True.

 

[meltzerboy]

For example the Native Americans would never have ever heard of Jesus or the old testament God, until europeans arrived in the 1500s.

Is it possible that groups such as Native Americans experienced our God in a different way. Such as through the spirits of nature and other spirits they believe in?

Indigenous peoples had and still have their own religious beliefs and teachings. Our G-d is their G-d but in a different form. I know of NO culture that does not have some conception of G-d or gods.

 

[arthra]

For example the Native Americans would never have ever heard of Jesus or the old testament God, until europeans arrived in the 1500s.

Is it possible that groups such as Native Americans experienced our God in a different way. Such as through the spirits of nature and other spirits they believe in?

Baha’is believe that God does not leave mankind alone without His guidance and that includes the indigenous people in the Americas… before contact with Christian missionaries…

*He is God! …

In ancient times the people of America were, through their northern regions, close to Asia, that is, separated from Asia by a strait. For this reason, it hath been said that crossing had occurred. There are other signs which indicate communication.

As to places whose people were not informed of the appearance of Prophets, such people are excused. In the Qur’án it hath been revealed: “We will not chastise them if they had not been sent a Messenger” (Q. 17:15)

Undoubtedly, in those regions, the Call of God must have been raised in ancient times, but it hath been forgotten now.
bahaiteachings.org/native-american-messengers-of-god