Lory Ice Religions of the WorldJournal 3 DATE @ & Essays

Lory Ice Religions of the WorldJournal 3 DATE \@ MMMM d, y January 29, 2017 Native American history, unlike other past civilizations and cultures, had very little to no written documents. This made it difficult for historians to explain there past civilization and religions. The information that we do have today is based mostly on oral traditions, indigenous histories, and communication of stories from generation to generation. With this information the historians can conclude that there are common characteristics among the many different Native American religions, and tribes. Due to the wide range of Native American tribes all over the Americas. The Native's religions evolved to match the needs and lifestyles of the location of the individual tribes. Religious traditions of the Native people around the world tend to be heavily influenced by their methods of acquiring food, whether it be by hunting wild animals or by the agriculture. It is understood that Native A merican religions are polytheistic. Many tribes believe in the existence of a High God and multiple spirits. Most seem to believe that all nature is alive with spirits, and that each thing plants, and animals have a spirit. Earth Mother is at the heart of belief and is personified by thunder and lightning. Their High God, also referred to as the Supreme Being, would be called upon only in extreme instances seeing as he was considered separate from the concerns of earth. Matters of daily life where left for the nature spirits and sometimes ancestors. Native Americans have a great respect for nature and very seldomly ever abuse it. Hunting for example was a religious pursuit in which the hunter saw the animal as a fellow creature with a spirit. Before a hunt the hunter would pray to the spirit of the animal he was about to kill, and would only kill it if it was absolutely necessary. After the kill they would ask for forgiveness. They would use every part of the animal and leave nothi ng to waste.Religious practices and rituals were also made in order to pay respect to the spirits. Sacrifice was a way of pleasing the Gods. In the Aztec culture, human sacrifice played an important role in pleasing the Gods. For example people of the Great Plains held The Sun Dance. The Sun Dance would last several days, during which time the dancers would fast and pray for healing. Individuals would make personal sacrifices and sacrifices on behalf of their community. This was a way of acquiring the spiritual power necessary for human survival.Taboos also played a great part in the creation of religion. Taboos were avoided so that spirits would not be offended. An example, would be when women would menstruate. A menstruating woman was thought to be very powerful. During this time the woman is kept away from ordinary society. She was not allowed near men who where about to hunt, because it was thought that even a glance from the menstruating woman might destroy there ability to hun t.Another taboo that was widely observed was the avoidance of the dead. In some Australian cultures the dead are not referred to by their name directly as a mark of respect. This avoidance period may last as long as twelve months to several years, depending on how important the person was. The taboo had been enforced with extreme severity in some cultures. In the Native tribe Guajiro of Columbia, if you where to mention the dead before their family it was considered a dreadful offense, which was often punished by death. Native Americans would also conducted ceremonies and rituals to get in touch with the spiritual world. Songs, dancing, fasting and bathing where the most common way ceremonies where conducted. The natives would use dance as a means of contacting the spirits in preparation for special events. Dance was used to prepare the tribe for a hunt, war or agriculture. During these ceremonies the entire community would participate for long periods of time. With dance came song. The Native Americans would sing about the spirits of animals, while beating drums and sticks in a steady rhythm in a hypnotic way. The Natives would also preform ceremonies before and after a hunt to