Summary

Native American religions consist of a set of basic attitudes that relate people to their natural surroundings. Ceremonies that include stories, songs, chants, magic formulas, and prayers are intended to help the faithful focus on the essential, yet often ignored, things in life, such as the forces of nature, natural resources, and birth and death. 

Native American Religions, Fourth Edition presents the history of the Native American religions, starting from their roots as tribal religions, and then details the detrimental effects of European colonization, the annihilation of the Native Americans that threatened the religions, and their sudden restoration in the 20th century. Engaging sidebars, recommendations for further reading, a list of websites for additional information, and full-color photographs add to the well-written text. A glossary and bibliography make research easy and enjoyable for students.

Coverage includes:

• Ethical and religious principles that guide believers to living a harmonious and balanced life
• The influence of geography and nature on Native American beliefs
• Ceremonies and rituals that are an intrinsic part of the lives of tribe members
• The relationship between Native American religions and Christianity
• The death of Sitting Bull and the Wounded Knee Massacre
• A shift from the age of “Vanishing Americans” to the struggle to lobby for Native American rights.

Specifications

eBook

About the Author(s)

The late Paula R. Hartz was a teacher and a textbook editor, and specialized in writing nonfiction and educational materials for elementary and secondary school students. She was the author of Baha'i Faith, Daoism, Shinto, and Zoroastrianism, all from Facts On File's World Religions series. 

Series editor Joanne O'Brien has an M.A. degree in theology and has written a range of education and general reference books on religion and contemporary culture. She is coauthor, with Martin Palmer and Elizabeth Breuilly, of Religions of the World and Festivals of the World, published by Infobase, and, with Martin Palmer, of Atlas of Religion. She is a consultant to WWF, the World Bank, the World Council of Churches, UNESCO, and UNDP.

Series editor and religious historian Martin Palmer is the founder of International Consultancy on Religion, Education, and Culture (ICOREC), in 1983, and the secretary-general of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC). He is the author of many books on world religions as well as a translator of ancient Chinese texts.