Manitou and God: North-American Indian Religions and Christian Culture

by R. Murray Thomas

Overview

Manitou and God describes American Indian religions as they compare with principal features of Christian doctrine and practice. Thomas traces the development of sociopolitical and religious relations between American Indians and the European immigrants who, over the centuries, spread across the continent, captured Indian lands, and decimated Indian culture in general and religion in particular. He identifies the modern-day status of American Indians and their religions, including the progress Indians have made toward improving their political power, socioeconomic condition, and cultural/religious recovery and the difficulties they continue to face in their attempts to better their lot. Readers will gain a better sense of the give and take between these two cultures and the influence each has had on the other.

In Algonquin Indian lore, Manitou is a supernatural power that permeates the world, a power that can assume the form of a deity referred to as The Great Manitou or The Great Spirit, creator of all things and giver of life. In that sense, Manitou can be considered the counterpart of the Christian God. From early times, the belief in Manitou extended from the Algonquins in Eastern Canada to other tribal nations—the Odawa, Ojibwa, Oglala, and even the Cheyenne in the Western plains. As European settlers made their way across the land, the confrontation between Christianity and Native American religions revealed itself in various ways. That confrontation continues to this day.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313347795
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/30/2007
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

R. Murray Thomas is professor emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Table of Contents

Preface     ix
In the Beginning     1
North-American Indian Religions
Christian Culture
North-American Indians
Indian Tribes
The Religions' Components     9
Sources of Belief     13
The Origins of Beliefs
Accepting Beliefs as True
Sources of Christian Beliefs
Sources of Indian Beliefs
Traditions Compared
Spirits     32
Christian Spirits
Indian Spirits
Traditions Compared
Places     42
Significant Christian Sites
Significant Indian Sites
Traditions Compared
Creating the Universe     58
Christian Perspectives
Indian Perspectives
Traditions Compared
Causes and Ceremonies     72
Christian Religious Practices
Indian Religious Practices
Traditions Compared
Maxims and Tales     92
Christian Maxims
Christian Tales
Indian Maxims
Indian Tales
Traditions Compared
Symbols and Sacred Objects     120
Christian Symbols and Venerated Objects
Indian Symbols and Venerated Objects
Traditions Compared
Religious Societies     142
Christian Societies
Indian Societies
Traditions Compared
History's Path     157
The Colonies-1600-1775     159
Invaders from the East
Invaders from the West
Conclusion
The New Nations-1776-1876     181
The Early Years-1776-1800
The Middle Years-1801-1860
The Epoch's FinalYears-1861-1876
Conclusion
The Growing Nations-1877-1949     202
Influential Political Events-The United States
Influential Political Events-Canada
Schooling for Amerindians-1877-1920s
A New Direction in the United States
Conclusion
Modern Times-1950-2007     217
Political Triumphs     219
A View of Political Power
Native-North-American Political Organizations
Indians' Political Accomplishments
Conclusion
Seeking Reparations     236
The Canadian Case
Reparations in the United States
Conclusion
The Path Ahead     252
Religious Faith Among Indigenous Peoples
Expanding Knowledge of Indian Religions
Unfinished Business
References     263
Index     273

Editorial Reviews

In Manitou and God, Thomas describes American Indian religions as they compare with principal features of Christian doctrine and practice. He traces the development of sociopolitical and religious relations between American Indians and the European immigrants who, over the centuries, spread across the continent, captured Indian lands and decimated Indian culture in general and religion in particular. He identifies the modern-day status of American Indians and their religions, including the progress Indians have made toward improving their political power, socioeconomic condition, and cultural/religious recovery and the difficulties they continue to face in their attempts to better their lot. Readers will gain a better sense of the give and take between these two cultures and the influence each has had on the other.” —allfreedownloadlinks.com

“Scholars comparing traditional American Indian religious beliefs and practices with Christianity will find this an abundantly useful volume. Thomas writes in an academic but clear style as he examines North American Indian religious beliefs and their historical relationship to Christianity. . . . This is a superb place for researchers of North American Indian religious beliefs to begin. It is highly recommended for academic and public libraries.” —Catholic Library World

From the Publisher