Religion of the Native Americans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Religion of the Native Americans - Essay ExampleThe present research has identified that in numerous Indian tribes healing, spiritual belief or power, and community are not separated. Often the cause of a disease is considered to be an imbalance between spiritual, physical, mental aspects of a personality Indian euphony is a medicinal drug of spirit that restores order in a hu reality soul by ceremonies, special forms of prayer, honoring the sacred and herbal remedies. Many Western pharmaceuticals are actually based on Native American Herbal medicine. Dietary rules of Indians largely depend on the geographic area. Location is the major determinate of the federal agency a tribe acquired food in some tribes, the major source of food was hunting, whereas others specialized in fishing, gathering, planting, desert farming. Native American food can be dangerous, traditional ethnic food involves risk, as home processed sea mammal blubber foster continuation and growth of Clostridium bo tulinum. These bacteria produce the deadly botulinal toxin that causes the disease. This disease, botulism, affects nerve transmission what results is paralysis and possible d expelh. Even though pagan traditions die hard and some just cannot give up eating fermented fish heads and seal flippers, in general, Native Americans adjusted to modern food customs. These sacred places are experienced by Native Americans as alive where unknown becomes known. In such way, Indians have no Sabbath Sunday every week, but they do have everyday prayer and rest when there is a need for it. Native American imagination Quest is a substitute for Baptism in Christianity. Boys at puberty are encouraged to enter into a period of fasting, meditation and physical challenge. He separates himself from the tribe and goes to a wilderness area. The goal is to receive a vision that will guide his development for the rest of his life. Vision Quest is obligatory only for Indian boys girls usually get their ears pierced at the same age. Indian medicine man is called Shaman. This holy man not only healed the sick by smoking tobacco, performing dances, burning sweet gauge and praying to the spirits but also could interpret dreams and signs, change the weather and foretell future. Indians also used medicine bundles that contained unusual rocks, herbs, animal skin, and a strand of hair. As the owner of the bundle grew older, more items were added. A medicine bundle could be passed to friends and was buried together with the owner. Mortuary customs of Indians vary from tribe to tribe and in every specific occasion, different rituals are carried out depending on the social and moral condition of a person, ethical conduct of a tribe. Good Indians after death are believed to go to the distant West, where their passe-partout ancestors used to live, whereas bad Indians have to serve another earthly life reborn in a body of a grizzly bear as a punishment. That is why Indians do not eat the meat of g rizzly bears.