How devastating to Native American spirituality has been the christian invasion of the Americas?

Question

And what can be done to heal these wounds?

Answer 1

Have you ever visited any of the reservations? Alcoholism, drug addiction, poverty, domestic violence, displacement....imagine being sent as a child across the united states to a boarding school to learn to be white "unlearn your Indian ways": cutting of your hair, reprimanded for speaking your language, dressing in "anglo" clothes, basically being brainwashed that your culture is nothing and of no significance in the world. ...how would you feel? Then given alcohol and told to stay put on a reservation, when your people were hunters and nomadic in nature?Anger, resentment, mistrust, hatred run rampant on the rez, just visit one and you'll see for yourself. Those who are catholic converts and practice pagan native traditions are looked on as betraying their religion. They live in two worlds: modern and spiritual native world. Its a constant battle.

Answer 2

The Christian invasion did much to damage the people. but they could never break our hearts and our spirits. i would say that the most damaging things to the Spirituality of the people has been the modernization of the world around us.

afterall, who needs to rain dance, when water flows into our homes. who needs to hunt buffalo and become a man by warrior traditions when you can buy food at a local store.

who needs to learn to make a weapon and to survive with just your blanket and fang, when there are few places in the country where you cannot find another human in 4 or 5 days time.

people do not respect the old ways because they are not required for survival anymore.

I am a Celtic Pagan with Blackfoot Ancestors. i have been learning the traditions of the People for the last several years.

Answer 3

The invasion of America broke their spirit, but not their soul. Many are returning to their roots and learning the old ways. Some are very bitter against the whites. Other, thankfully, are happy to teach everyone and invite them to the powwows, etc. I have great respect for the Native American religion and the Shaman. I tried to learn one of the languages, but I am not good with languages so gave up.

Answer 4

It's sad and terrible thing when any religion proselytizes at the hand of the sword. Christianity was never intended to be a forced or coerced thing. In fact, it's fairly clear from scripture that the only kind of commitment Jesus ever wanted from His followers was one made out of uncoerced willingness. When people came to Him to ask to be His follower, He told them to count the cost before committing. So it's a very unfortunate and misguided thing when people use violence or intimidation to try and convert someone.

With that said, it's not a devastating thing at all when someone shares their belief system in a loving and caring way and another person makes a free decision to embrace that belief system. If any conversion took place in this manner, then that's an honorable way of converting and no one should oppose that.

Answer 5

Native American spirituality? Most of the old gods are dead, and the few religions that survived are just fading into the New Age movement and running together. Of course, you already knew this...

As for how to reverse it, that's your crusade, not mine. I would suggest reading up on the Great Awakening preachers and modern televangelists to start with, and borrowing tactics from there. You need to get past the giggle factor when you start talking seriously about the Great Spirit by amassing a core of true believers to go out and be missionaries. Good luck doing the impossible.

Answer 6

Considering that the majority of true Native Americans are now considered Christians and most of them practicing, I would say it has been devastating.

When the government stole babies from Native Americans and "adopted" them to white families was also extremely damaging to the beliefs and culture of the Native Americans.

Answer 7

All religions have been devastating to the world, including Native American Spirituality.

An example of the latter is the Wounded Knee Massacre. Although, the massacre was a tragic event perpetrated by religious settlers who objected to a newly founded Indian spiritual belief, the Indians might have fared better if they didn't think their "Ghost Dance" would protect them. Yet another example of hundreds of people dead because of religious belief (on both sides this time).

The only way to heal the wounds is to stop picking at them. We have to educate people about the harm of religious superstition, so that events like this won't repeat.

Answer 8

Well considering a lot of their decedents are now followers of some form of Christianity, largely thanks to all those boarding schools that children were stolen from their families and shipped off to (in an effort to "civilize" them and make them Christians)... Weren't allowed to speak their own languages there, weren't allowed to follow their own beliefs...still a lot lost today... What is fully lost is probably not correctable.

Answer 9

I dont understand the question or comment, I dont know Native American spirtuality enough to know of any downfalls but I think generally its a good thing that really should be the base of most people religions, again not knowing it fully, i'm curious as to what the downfall is in reguards to chrisitans and America, Kim

Answer 10

First off, it wasn't a Christian invasion. It was a European invasion, and the actions resulting from the invasion were politically based, not religious.
Secondly, like the guy above said, beliefs have to be surrendered, they can't be taken away. Look at how the Irish Catholic managed to keep their faith despite the Penal Laws.