Native American Culture is something that has been passed down from generation to generation. This culture and religion have had a lot of influence from Christianity and American culture. However, these influences may have not impacted the Native Americans and their culture positively. Christianity and Indigenous American Religions do have some similarities. But just because these two lifestyles have some things in common, that doesn’t mean that everything is perfect between the two. Whether or not the two have some good within them, they have unintentionally brought each other down and have had some negative influence on one another.
Native American culture is a practice that was used far before Christianity was first seen in America. Their lifestyle has been seen as confusing to a vast majority of people because they didn’t have any texts that they followed and not a lot of written information about their group. But this was done because their culture was passed down by word of mouth. It can also be seen as hard to understand because there is no one definitive way of practicing this culture. How they practice everything is impacted by location greatly. As a result of this though, the native american religion has mostly died and doesn’t have as large of a following as it once did. Although, there is a lot of information about the once-popular culture. For example, people of this culture often had ceremonies. Even though the reasoning may vary and how often these occurred may differ from tribe to tribe, they had the same concepts. According to an article written by Christopher Jocks and Lawrence E. Sullivan, it states, “Most traditional Navajo ceremonies are enacted on behalf of individuals in response to specific needs. Most Pueblo ceremonial work is communal, both in participation and in perceived benefit, and is scheduled according to natural cycles.” (Jocks and Sullivan). Participation in these ceremonies is considered very important in this culture. It is often seen as more important than the beliefs. Common ceremonies include coming-of-age practices and initiation ceremonies. In the article American Indian Belief Systems and Traditional Practices, it states, “Cultural interventions include ceremonies of name giving, spiritual cleansing of individuals, as well as homes and offices, and education on tribal traditions and practices..” (Duran P.3). Something this culture believes in strongly is teaching children proper manners and very excellent etiquette. When it comes to talking to elders, meeting new people, and more, they value proper manners and behavior (Jocks and Sullivan). In Native American Culture, treating people in the way that you want to be treated is very important. Lastly, death is a significant thing. According to the article written by Jocks and Sullivan, “ death, is understood as a transition and not an ending. Beliefs about death, and ritual responses to it.Many Native American traditions appear to conceive of human beings as complex entities that bind together different kinds of essences, breaths, or spirits, which are thought to undergo divergent outcomes after death. It is believed that after death some of these essences may be harmful for living people to encounter without ceremonial protection.” (Jocks and Sullivan). This is saying that death is seen as a passageway to be able to handle the essences that come from being a human in their eyes. Furthermore, Native Americans had strong beliefs when it came to health. According to Durans article, Native Americans believed that “Health is not just the absence of disease, it is harmony with oneself, including body, mind, and spirit, harmony with others, and harmony with one’s surroundings or environment. Therefore the concept of spirituality and religion are inseparable from one’s health.” (Duran P.3)
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Christianity and Native American culture have a decent amount of common ground. For instance, they both believe in the existence of a single god, which is called monotheism. Although the higher powers may be slightly different, the general idea is similar. According to an article written by the Oklevueha Native American Church, “...both Indigenous American religions and Christianity have the same goal – to bring the individual into harmony with eternal truth and with God or the Great Creator...Increasing in knowledge brings them closer as they realize that terminology and perception are flawed as applied to eternal truth, but that eternal truth is the same for both as they come to understand it more clearly.” (Oklevueha Native American Church) These are some of the things the two cultures have in common. Similarly, they both have similar views in terms of forgiveness. The same article states, “..the concept of repentance or walking in a new way begins with realizing what has been done that is wrong or destructive.” (Oklevueha Native American Church).
When Native Americans and the Europeans first encountered each other, it was hard for them to understand one another. Not only was one invading another’s land, but they also came from totally different religions and cultures. In an essay written in Harvard, it says, “Many of the European missionaries who energetically sought to spread Christianity to Native peoples were motivated by a sense of mission, seeking to bring the Gospel to those who had never had a chance to hear it, thereby offering an opportunity to be “saved.”(President and Fellows of Harvard College and Diana Eck). The new Christians had not only invaded their homes but were imposing their beliefs on people who were content with the way that things were around their environment. Natives were seen as people to be changed, converted, or rescued, and to do that, they had to become new believers in the Christian church. Back when Christians were still new to America, they were harsh and persistent with their ideals of converting everyone to their religion. In an article written by Carolyn Casey, it states, “Mention Christianity and native Americans to some tribal elders, for example, and they will launch into heart-wrenching tales of being forced into boarding schools, banned from speaking their language and forbidden from practicing their tribe’s spiritual customs.”(Casey). The new people in America were insanely insistent in their attempts to transform these people into full-fledged Christians.
On the other hand, after a long time together, these Christians grew to stop being so forceful in their attempts at conversion. Instead, they have started to support the Native American Religion. In the article by Carolyn Casey, it states, “Christian churches have begun apologizing for past oppression of Native spirituality and are trying to include Native cultural traditions into the Christian churches that serve them.” (Casey). Christian churches have realized the wrongdoings that had occurred long ago and are doing whatever they can in their power, to make up for their ancestor's mistakes. They have become much more understanding and unforceful with the Native American Cultures and religions.
In conclusion, Christianity has had a positive and negative impact on the Native American people, cultures, and religions. Although a lot of unfavorable actions had come out of the European's invasion of the Native Americans' homes, it eventually became better between the two belief systems. Christian churches have accepted that what has happened in the past was wrong and shouldn’t have occurred, and have been doing their best to make up for those wrongdoings. Even though some of the elders in Native tribes can have some bad memories when it comes to the early Christians in America, they have worked towards forgiveness because of the effort put in by the Christian Churches. Because of these achievements, Christianity and Native American religions can live peacefully among one another.
- Sullivan, Lawrence E., and Christopher Jocks. “Native American Religions.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., July 2016. Web. 14 Mar 2019. 02.
- Casey, Carolyn. 'Crossing Cultures: A growing number of Christian churches work to support, not destroy Indian spirituality.' Tribal College Journal. 14 May 2012. Web. 14 Mar 2019.
- Duran, Betty. 'American Indian Belief Systems and Traditional Practices.' Tribal Healing to Wellness Courts. 11 Apr 2002. Web. 14 Mar 2019.
- 'The Collision of Christianity and American Native Spirituality. | Oklevueha Native American Church.' Lakota Religion & Native American Church | Oklevueha Native American Church. Web. 14 Mar 2019.
- 'First Encounters: Native Americans and Christians | The Pluralism Project.' The Pluralism Project. Web. 14 Mar 2019.
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