Opinions: sweat lodge

[newcalling]

I have been invited to participate in a Native American sweat lodge ceremony. I’m not sure if it’s alright or not. I’m praying about it, and some opinions would be appreciated. Here’s my thinking about the subject so far:

Reasons for no; it is a pagan ceremony, and the songs they sing and prayers they say are to Lakota gods, primarily Wakan Tanka and Tunkashila. The people participating and leading are not Christian.

Reasons for yes; it fosters community. It’s good for physical health. It can be a form of fasting or mortification. Their prayers are theirs, mine are mine. Catholic priests have, without scandal, been blessed in Native American ceremony. When local tribes meet with our church we allow them to “smudge” by burning sage and saying their prayers.

I have participated in a sweat lodge before, but it was many years ago and I was not Christian at the time. I don’t necessarily see it as all that pagan though. There’s a long tradition of melding in ideas, including names for God, from indigenous cultures.

Anyway, what do y’all think, and why?

God bless

 

[godisgood77]

Not an issue for the reasons you indicated it’s not. I’ve paticipared in sweat lodge ceremonies on several occasions and found the experiences spiritually rewarding.

 

[pianistclare]

So long as the people know what they are doing.
There have been some deadly consequences in the past.
Be careful.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

They are particularly good after a strenuous session of yoga (not hot yoga, that would be too much heat), and a massage with a reiki master attenuating other spirits. (sarcasm added).

You sort of mentioned it “the songs they sing and prayers they say are to Lakota gods”. As I read it, that would cause an issue with the first commandment, as would all the other practices mentioned in the above sentence. (as would smudging, sage burning and receiving pagan blessings…)

Good question to ask though.

 

[angell1]

They are particularly good after a strenuous session of yoga (not hot yoga, that would be too much heat), and a massage with a reiki master attenuating other spirits. (sarcasm added).

You sort of mentioned it “the songs they sing and prayers they say are to Lakota gods”. As I read it, that would cause an issue with the first commandment, as would all the other practices mentioned in the above sentence. (as would smudging, sage burning and receiving pagan blessings…)

Good question to ask though.

smudging and sage burning are not necessarily pagan in themselves.

in parts of Canada with larger population of first nations catholics, they are allowed to replace incense with sage or smudge sticks at mass.

depends on how it is used

 

[The_Reginator]

A very interesting question for me.

A couple of summers ago I was invited, nay, encouraged, to go to a Sweat Lodge. I could not even consider doing so. For me it is deathly important to bring everyone to the Catholic Church. To participate in some event where mere idols rather than God is the focus is fraught with danger. It would be different if you had some hope that you could (eventually) use this as a stepping stone to evangelize I suppose.

Here’s a way I want to try to judge all my behaviours and choices: What if Jesus was to return when I’m involved in _____________ ? Your motives, of course, would play a huge role in trying to answer a question like that.

God be with you in your decision making ChurchSoldier.

In Christ, Reg.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

An article on smudging.

womenofgrace.com/blog/?p=19512

 

[newcalling]

An article on smudging.

womenofgrace.com/blog/?p=19512

Thank you for the article. I’m too new to the Catholic church to feel confident to challenge our bishop’s decision to allow it, and I don’t have any role in arranging events with the local Native American community and our diocese. I just know that they smudged with sage when we had them at a local parish to discuss Junipero Sera being canonized last year. We have a lot of historic missions in our diocese, including my home parish. I like the smell of sage and sweetgrass, another plant they use, burning. It makes me feel happy because it is a pleasing aroma, but I don’t smudge my home. Prayers and the holy water font by my door are enough, and way more powerful anyway.