How are Native American beliefs regarded?

[sidetrack]

If someone were to ask me to state Native American beliefs as religion or mythology I think I’d have some trouble answering that.Even though there are Native beliefs that have syncretistically combined with denominations of Christianity to some degrees such in Latin American countries were Native minorities practise Catholicism with historical influences from Aztec,Mayan,Incan and etc groups and the Native American Church founded by Quanah Parker there are still belief systems which remain the same way they have for centuries and may elements such as animism.However if you were to look them up I have a feeling that sometimes their regarded as mythology which historically for Christians has had connations of falsity and little or no historical value much in the same way as “paganism” has been regarded historically for the most part.To me there seems to be a muddled line as to what category Native beliefs such (“off the top of my head”) as those of the tribes in the Great Sioux Nation would be regarded as.Thank you very much so for your time.

 

[Mystic_Banana]

one interesting thing, fairly fundamental, about native American beliefs in their concept of God. Often idolised as role models for new age pantheism, such a concept of God is apparently very much in the minority, with panentheism apparently much more common - and in common with Christianity.

Just a little footnote

 

[SnakeMauler]

If someone were to ask me to state Native American beliefs as religion or mythology I think I’d have some trouble answering that.Even though there are Native beliefs that have syncretistically combined with denominations of Christianity to some degrees such in Latin American countries were Native minorities practise Catholicism with historical influences from Aztec,Mayan,Incan and etc groups and the Native American Church founded by Quanah Parker there are still belief systems which remain the same way they have for centuries and may elements such as animism.However if you were to look them up I have a feeling that sometimes their regarded as mythology which historically for Christians has had connations of falsity and little or no historical value much in the same way as “paganism” has been regarded historically for the most part.To me there seems to be a muddled line as to what category Native beliefs such (“off the top of my head”) as those of the tribes in the Great Sioux Nation would be regarded as.Thank you very much so for your time.

We appreciate their efforts, but at the end of the day we just have to shake our heads and say “no” and hand them a bible.

 

[GaryTaylor]

True, however we must never underestimate the lessons we can learn from those of other cultures. The Native Americans had, and still have, a huge respect for the land they live in and nature.

 

[kaneata]

When I lived on the Crow Reservation 30 years ago we had a sizable Catholic population. Our church was shaped like a teepee (sort of), the Our Father was signed. When we had gatherings for the tribe, the prayers before eating were said in the Crow language. I was teaching in a Catholic mission school so the children were being brought up in the Catholic faith.