North America

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Shushan
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
North America ◽  
Reciprocal Relationship ◽  
Native American Religions ◽  
Widespread Acceptance ◽  
Revitalization Movements ◽  
Per Se ◽  
High Level ◽  
Near Death Experiences ◽  
Afterlife Beliefs

Dozens of Native American near-death experiences (NDEs) from the late sixteenth to early twentieth centuries are presented, ranging from across the continent. Many were accompanied by indigenous claims that they were the source for local afterlife beliefs. There were also many afterlife-related myths, and shamanic practices with NDE-like afterlife themes. In addition, numerous religious/cultural revitalization movements were claimed to have been grounded in the NDEs of their founders, and were conceptually related to the phenomenon. Near-death experiences could thus be an empowering force on a socio-cultural-political level in response to the threat of European dominance. There was a widespread acceptance and valorization of NDEs and related phenomena, and a high level of interest in the afterlife per se. Native American religions often showed a clear reciprocal relationship between shamanism, afterlife beliefs, and NDEs.

Intolerance toward Native American Religions

2020 ◽  
pp. 125-146
Author(s):  
John Corrigan ◽  
Lynn S. Neal
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Native American ◽  
Native Americans ◽  
North America ◽  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Settler Colonialism ◽  
Religious Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Military Force ◽  
Native American Religions

Settler colonialism was imbued with intolerance towards Indigenous peoples. In colonial North America brutal military force was applied to the subjection and conversion of Native Americans to Christianity. In the United States, that offense continued, joined with condemnations of Indian religious practice as savagery, or as no religion at all. The violence was legitimated by appeals to Christian scripture in which genocide was commanded by God. Forced conversion to Christianity and the outlawing of Native religious practices were central aspects of white intolerance.

Religion, Bioethics and Nursing Practice

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 393-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marsha D Fowler
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
Nursing Practice ◽  
Religious Faith ◽  
Religious Studies ◽  
Complete Understanding ◽  
Religious Traditions ◽  
Native American Religions ◽  
Whole Person ◽  
Per Se ◽  
Ethical Systems

This article calls nursing to engage in the study of religions and identifies six considerations that arise in religious studies and the ways in which religious faith is expressed. It argues that whole-person care cannot be realized, neither can there be a complete understanding of bioethics theory and decision making, without a rigorous understanding of religious-ethical systems. Because religious traditions differ in their cosmology, ontology, epistemology, aesthetic, and ethical methods, and because religious subtraditions interact with specific cultures, each religion and subtradition has something distinctive to offer to ethical discourse. A brief example is drawn from Native American religions, specifically their view of `speech' and `words'. Although the example is particular to an American context, it is intended to demonstrate a more general principle that an understanding of religion per se can yield new insights for bioethics.

Interpretations, Implications, and Conclusions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Shushan
Keyword(s):  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Analytical Comparison ◽  
Life After Death ◽  
Attitudes Toward Death ◽  
Revitalization Movements ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Interdisciplinary Theory ◽  
Near Death Experiences ◽  
Afterlife Beliefs

An analytical comparison is made of the near-death experiences (NDEs), afterlife beliefs, and myths in the three regions, in relation to their shamanic practices, funerary rituals, revitalization movements, and attitudes toward death and the dead. In order to explain the cross-cultural similarities and differences in all their manifestations, a comprehensive interdisciplinary theory is put forth. The experiential source hypothesis is combined with elements from the psychological, cognitive, social, and historical sciences. Beyond the three regions, despite general thematic similarities worldwide, certain NDE themes occur only in indigenous societies, while some occur in seemingly random unrelated pairs of cultures. Philosophical implications for beliefs in life after death are explored in light of the cross-cultural evidence, and models of the nature of a possible afterlife are discussed. The implications of the study for contemporary historiographical and epistemological issues are also put forth.

"Sathans inventions and worships": Two 17th-century clergymen on Native American religions

2006 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-290
Author(s):  
Nancy Senior
Keyword(s):  
Native American ◽  
North America ◽  
New England ◽  
17Th Century ◽  
Native People ◽  
Indigenous Language ◽  
Apparent Paradox ◽  
Native American Religions ◽  
Indigenous Religions ◽  
Roger Williams

Roger Williams (1603-1683) and Louis Nicolas (1634-1682?) discuss the native people and religions of North America in different ways. Each wrote a book about an indigenous language; both describe Native customs and religious practices. Both of them believe that any non-Christian is lost, but their references to indigenous religions are different in tone, and reflect their positions in 17th-century controversies. In an apparent paradox based on theological grounds, the man who found New England Puritans not pure enough speaks more tolerantly of non-Christian religions than does the more broadly educated Jesuit.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document