Are Native Americans who buy into christianity selling out on the natural beliefs of their ancestors?

Answer 1

Yes, many have and many still are!
They are right that much is lost, destroy during the European invasion. Somethings we may never find or know again, and it is clear as to who holds the blame for that. But much like the other countries that have fallen to the same horrifying fate as this land, the indigenous spirit of her people lives on. It is in the soil beneath our feet, and refuses to die in the hearts of a growing number of people.History is somewhat subjective, stories that take on different meanings depending on what angle you view them from. All too many of our pale faced society are incapable of seeing anything from more than a single view point. This is their handicap in life.
So while the Lakota people have one of the strongest native spiritual beliefs still active today, is it any wonder that they also have one of the worst records for substance abuse? History shows that those people paid a high price for maintaining their spirituality!
For those who say that this country was built on Christianity...I beg to differ. It was destroyed by Christianity! We are the country with the highest standard of living (excluding the Navajo who are being forced off their land so it can be strip mined). The price...we produce 1/3 of the total CO2 emissions being put into Earths atmosphere today. Thanks Xians!
They nearly extinct the Buffalo just to build a damn railroad! If it weren't for the Lakota tribe we may not have been able to save them!
War...war...and more war! They want to say that the native people here were violent, but they didn't go to someone else's home to conquer it now did they!
Patience my dear friend, for the children are growing up...and some of them very angry! The tide is slowly turning.
Today, I have a new son. 23 year old 1/2 blood. My daughters 1/2 brother has chosen to join our family over his own. Apparently he prefers a mother with a native spirit that rants and raves about the injustices done by the Christians to our native people, over a literally cracked out Christian mother who just wants to borrow money for more crack!
The children want a better life! I have 3 registered Choctaw children who will not sit down and shut up. And they will never sing church hymns in their native tongue!
The tides are turning...talk to the children!

Answer 2

Are ALL white people that buy into Christianity selling out the natural beliefs of THEIR ancestors (Greek gods, roman gods, Norse gods, etc)

Christianity is a relatively young religion, why just ask the native Americans?

It applies equally to all Christians of any race.

Answer 3

We pastored a church with lots of Native American (Choctaw) members a long time ago and I can tell you from experience that they never truly renounce all of their Native beliefs. And why would they?! That is their heritage and any pastor who requires a complete renunciation is wrong in my opinion. We haven't pastored for a long time--but I still remember those people and the respect I had for them. I don't know if they would be selling out if the turned their backs on their traditions, I only know that the Christian Native Americans that I have known personally didn't.

Answer 4

Not necessarily. People are free to believe whatever they like. There's no law stating that people have to believe in exactly what their ancestors did. Choosing a new belief system is not "selling out".

Answer 5

i'm nonaboriginal and that i believe you. There are, in spite of if, non-Indians (my American Indian friends consult from themselves as Indian so i've got long previous back to making use of the non-computing gadget be conscious) who're accompanied formally with the aid of households interior of First countries and do carry on with the tactics of the individuals. interior the 1800's, those human beings would have been viewed contributors of the individuals. it rather is basically now that we insist on differentiating. As to how God sees it, who knows. Am I Christian if I stay a Christian way of existence, carry on with each and all of the precepts, etc, and yet grow to be not at all formally acknowledged as such with the aid of a church? i do no longer think of this question has as effortless an answer because it would look into first look. i've got concept approximately it a lot interior the previous, and the greater i think of and the older i'm getting, the greater tolerant i'm of the various the thank you to physique of innovations a cultural/religious way of being. additionally - interior of reach American is rather a usual term, inclusive of African. If I flow to Africa and stay there and artwork their for 20 years, am I African? Are the whites whose households have lived numerous generations in Africa African? the respond will become differnt in case you point out a particular First u . s . (Indian tribe) and practice a criminal definition. i be responsive to there are various Indian wannabees. I additionally be responsive to that lots of them, to a undeniable quantity, are not basically posers, yet are searching for as genuine a course to God as they are in a position.

Answer 6

If this very question was asked of a Christian, some would say they stay in their religion because they are brainwashed....just because you were raised with a certain belief system does not mean you are "selling out" if you find a different truth for yourself...

Answer 7

My wifes relatives are from Germany.Are they selling out their ancestors for rejecting Nazism?
Paul says in Romans 1 ,they all knew God in the beginning "eternity in their hearts",and chose along the way to forget Him and change Him into 4 footed beasts etc.
When God chose Abraham so soon after the flood,relatively,man had already began to pull away from God even after the flood lesson.Men are incorrigable and "stiff necked" as the Bible says.

Answer 8

I think just like anyone who was brought up in a certain culture or religion they are just trying to find the right path for them.I don't think a person has to believe a certain way just cause they were raised with that belief each person has to find their own way in life.

Answer 9

No, most Native Americans came from purely survival roots which means no spiritual beliefs at all. When you have to hunt every day to survive their isn't much time left over for praising a God. Even their Rain Dances were survival orientated which means if their was adequate rain, they didn't dance.

Answer 10

wow! i am definitely 'starring' THIS question! it is fairly complicated, actually, for various reasons-first, not all native people followed the same 'religious/spiritual' practices...secondly, not all tribal religions. customs, languages, etc are still in existence-some of the earliest tribes to encounter european settlers were simply killed off-others were forced to 'assimilate' in various ways in order to survive-simply following their own religions could mean annihilation by fearful and intolerant colonists, and our own government...my wife's tribe is the backbone and lifeblood of our baptist church...they are deeply spiritual people and as such, they seek to connect with the Creator-they do not see their Christianity as incompatible with their beliefs or culture...and they have a deep respect for other faiths, even if they do not agree with them-an excellent example for all of us