Religion Among American Indians

Murray L. Wax and Rosalie H. Wax
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Murray L. Wax: Departments of Sociology and Anthropology, Washington University at St. Louis
Rosalie H. Wax: Departments of Sociology and Anthropology, Washington University at St. Louis

The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 1978, vol. 436, issue 1, 27-39

Abstract: The traditional worldview of North American Indians is outlined as a basis for explicating the central tribal ceremonials and for comprehending the tribal response to prolonged missionization from Christian denominations. The missionaries operated in a context of authoritarian superiority, and most conceived of themselves as bearing civilization, rather than a plain scriptural message; hence, there was little concern to modify Euro-Christianity to fit with native rituals and values. Today, most Indians are Christians, at least nominally; but, in many cases, the Christianity is integrated with the native worldview, and the individual participates in a variety of both Christian and neotraditional rituals. The destructive impact of the European invasions stimulated millenarian movements, such as the Ghost Dance; the continued vitality of these movements was expressed in the recent occupation of Wounded Knee, which should be comprehended as a religious, rather than a political, action. The Peyote Cult, organized as the Native American Church, constitutes a syncretism of Christian and traditional rites and attitudes, and it is widespread as intertribal and pan-Indian. Further pan-Indian, neotradi tional, revivalistic, and millenarian movements may be anticipated.

Date: 1978
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:anname:v:436:y:1978:i:1:p:27-39

DOI: 10.1177/000271627843600104

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