Why is the native american religion so secretive?

Question

It seems like nobody wants to give any details about it. That you have to be a native to know about the great spirit, evil spirits, rituals, etc....Is that true or can anyone follow the religion?

PS
my grandmother was 1/4 blackfoot, which makes me 1/16

not that I think that is significant, just thought I'd throw it in there.

I mean that when they talk about their rituals they say they don't want to give details in public, that if you are this religion you already know, etc. There are a few good answers here for that, like ravencadwell, miloscrack and a few others. It's probably so it doesn't get morphed or diluted by new aged religions, so it stays pure.

Thank you, Diary of a mad black man, that was very helpful.

I think I asked a dumb question...But I'll leave it up anyway.

Answer 1

For some, it's because New Age weirdos diluted their belief systems.

http://puffin.creighton.edu/lakota/war.html

Answer 2

Do you have a Native population near you? For outsiders Natives will give you a glimpse of their spirituality but in a very commercial way. They pretty much keep it to themselves for very good reason. So they wont be ostrasized by the outside world that does not understand their spirit path. A good book to get a basic understanding of the Native existence is one called TOUCH THE EARTH BY TC Mcluhan. Another would be THE TEACHINGS OF DON JUAN by Carlos Castaneda. Start attending Native events in your area, ask questions, show a sincere interest and you may develop a trust that could eventually lead you inside. The saga for the Natives has been at first there was a willingness to share their ideas and possessions with the white man (the hairy man from the East), but as they were encroached more and more they became angry at his treachery, their desperation with his broken promises and their final despair.

Answer 3

I think you mean "Native American Religions", since there is more than one. Each tribe had it's own beliefs.
In general I think they protect them because it's such a part of the culture, and one of the only things they have left (that hasn't been destroyed by the "white man").
Another reason is that so many New Age people want to use or borrow these beliefs, although they are well meaning, they sort of dilute the beliefs.
This is just my humble opinion, and I'm Irish/ Cherokee.

Answer 4

I don't think its secretive, and to generalize all Native Americans would be an overstatement.

But to answer your question: I think it is all just a matter of spirituality and if you really want to know what its all about, perhaps the best way to learn is to observe and ask questions directly to those of your family. If your grandmother is 1/4, she's a good start to find more into it. Find where the tribe is located and make a visit and start learning.

That's probably the best way to learn where you come from and learn a new culture and way of life :).

Answer 5

My speculation would be that it would be so that the influences of the outside world could have as few effects on it as possible. I would say so that it can not be morphed to meet today's standards of a religious ritual. I think that it is great that it is secretive. It helps to keep the ritual the same way it has been for years.

Answer 6

I have never found them to be secretive in anyway. I'm 1/4 blackfoot. Interesting! I guess it would depend upon the tribe and the leaders. I have only had personal dealings with the Blackfoot, the Hopi and the Lakotas though.

Answer 7

Perhaps you're expecting the kind of answers a christian would give you: this is our dogma, we believe this, we don't believe that, these are the rules and this is what happens if you break them, this is the history of the universe in six easy steps. But Native American spiritual traditions are not that rigid. It's something much more right-brained.

If you are expecting the former and someone is explaining the latter it could well seem like they're being elusive, when in fact they're doing their best to explain something that is beyond words.

Answer 8

According to the museum keepers in Cherokee, NC, many of the tradition, religion, and cultural aspects of the American Indian tribes were lost during the encroachment of European settlers.

Answer 9

Well, let's see. White people took our: lands, freedom, languages, children, and way of life. That leaves us. . .hey, our religion!

Whites have been trying to get their hands on our belief systems for years. Maybe we just want to preserve our traditions without having them diluted or abused. Just look at people like Lynn Andrews, Sunbear, and that lot of money/power hungry wannabes.

Besides which, our religions have power that can be misused and/or harmful. It's best to leave spiritual matters in the hands of those who understand and believe.

Answer 10

Well, let's look at it from their perspective.A bunch of whitey's came in, took their land, raped their women, exterminated their people by the millions, nearly wiped out the natural resources that they lived on,forced them to move onto 'reservations',and were forced to give up most of their culture.When a person has experienced that much trauma, a common reaction is to want to hoard any kind of knowledge, because it is 'yours', only yours and if only you know it, no one can take it from you.And the hoarding thing is often passed down from generation to generation.Look at the post Holocaust Jews and Croatian/Serbian imigrants.