Similarities Between African And Native American Religions

The Indian culture was negatively changed because the Indians’ religion was based upon believing many gods controlled their way of being, while Christianity was based on one supreme being who controls the universe. Common Indian gods included a god for the Sun, Moon, land or the Earth, the creator, and water (Nature). In the Cherokee tribe, the Creator is named Unetlanvhi (oo-nay-hla-nuh-hee or oo-net-la-nuh-hee) (“Legendary”). Some of the other “Creators” in other tribes include Maheu in the Cheyenne tribe, Gitchie Manitou in the Ojibway tribe, and Ahone in the Powhatan tribe (“Legendary”). With all the different types of gods in Indian cultures, the Indians used many spiritual rituals to worship these gods (Religion). Some of the rituals included feasts, music, dances, and other performances. The relationship of the Indian to nature (spirits, land, weather) was tantamount (Religion).

It may well be asked why Native Americans, who numbered in the millions in the New World, were not subject to enslavement. The fact is that on occasion they were forced to work on plantations, although this seemed to happen most often after a skirmish or a battle between settlers and Indians (Jordan, 1968). However, there were fundamental reasons why Native Americans were treated differently than Africans.

The Irish and Native Americans had similarities and one of them was the awful ways in which they were treated. The English colonizers believed that Irish people were lazy and unable to improve the lands they lived on, which is why they prohibited them from purchasing land (Takaki, 29). Native Americans were similarly not allowed to own lands because the English colonizers believed they didn’t work hard enough (Takaki, 40). Both of these groups were denied lands because of a belief that they were incapable of working. However, the Irish and Native Americans were capable of working, but this was used an excuse for English colonizers to take over as much land as they could. Furthermore, another way they were treated equivalently was in the ways that English colonizers wanted both of these groups to assimilate.

Religions have very distinct differences because every religion has something that another one does not. The differences can even cause conflicts between different religions even if they are in the same family. Religions also have similarities that can cause feuds to end if people use it in the right way. You can see these similarities and differences in Hinduism and Native American religions if you look at how they do their rituals, rites of passage, view of gods, view of holy book, afterlife, and the role of women.

Native Americans lost their culture once the Spanish made them a part of the mission system. Before European arrival, they were predominantly pagan and had multiple gods or spirits which they worshipped as part of their rituals for successful harvest or hunt. Through the mission system, they underwent baptism through Catholicism and learned to worship only one supreme being and

European families always put the males first, whereas African and Native American cultures saw the woman as the symbol of family bond. The children were said to be descended through the mother’s side more than the father. Religion was somewhat similar between the Native American and African cultures where the Europeans strongly disagreed with. Africans believed that there was a center power and Native Americans believed there were several deities, where they both believed that focused on nature and the its forces. They both believed that objects (usually scared to them) held sprites of the dad and spirits that can be evil or good. On the other hand, Europeans believed that there was a single deity with written scriptures which was all run through

When most western people think about Native American or African religions there is a certain stigma that comes with the topic. This is in part because there is a lot of misinformation in the world about Native American and African religions. When most westerners think of African religions they think of voodoo and black magic. Likewise, the view of Native American religions is still looked at through the lens of the pilgrims who wrote about Native Americans as being savages and less than human. These stereotypes were all formed from a lack of accurate information. African and Native American religions are very similar. It is difficult to find a lot of accurate information on African and Native American indigenous religions because of the lack of written history but there is a lot of oral history that has been passed down from generation to generation. From this information, it is clear that Native American and African religions have many more similarities than they do differences. Three of these similarities will be discussed in this paper. The first topic of discussion is the similarity between African and Native American people when it comes to their perception of the spirit world. Following this topic are the similarities between Native American and African views on the afterlife and finally, the diversity of beliefs within African and Native American religions.

There was a broad diversity on the view of the world between the Native Americans and Europeans. Together, they created the story of the clash of people, religion, ideas, and cultures.

When examining early American history it is commonplace, besides in higher academia, to avoid the nuances of native and colonizer relations. The narrative becomes one of defeat wherein the only interaction to occur is one of native American’s constant loss to white colonizers. It is not to say that the European colonizers didn’t commit genocide, destroy the land and fabric of countless cultures, but rather when looking at history it is important to take a bottom’s up approach to storytelling. We must examine in what ways the native Americans fought English colonization, not just through war, but also through the legal system that was established after the area was colonized.

There are three key patterns seen in most Native American religions they are the human relationship with nature, framing of time and space and respect for gods/ancestors. The human relationship with nature known as animism, everything is seen as part of the same reality and every object has a spirt, is a practice where there is little distinction between humans and animals. Time and space is sacred, cyclical,

There are may religions in the world, but through out the different religions there are many crossovers and similarities. Mattie Stepanek said “It doesn't matter how you pray. Just pray. All religions are beautiful and they all have one common belief. There's something bigger and greater than us that can give us and take from us life. It is better than the here and now”. Religion itself means “a belief in and worship of a greater power” (dictionary.com). By people believing in any kind of religion, it means that similarities can start there. With so many religions having similarities, it might be hard to distinguish from certain religions from another. Religions like of African and Native Americans might not at first seem alike, but as you look deeper into their religions and see they have similarities. These similarities are attributed as beliefs, rituals, and history. Their growths and struggles might not have happened at the same time, but both religions are still celebrated today.

Compare/Contrast Native American and African Religion Native American and African religions originated on two continents separated by the vast Atlantic Ocean. These basic religions share many similar practices despite the miles between them. Existence of a High God, belief in the afterlife, and the existence of ancestors are three characteristics Native American and African religions share; however, these religions have their own unique beliefs regarding each one. Both Native American and African religions believe the world was created by one High God. While Native Americans share this belief, they do not believe the High God concerns himself with daily life events.

Native American service member in the U.S. were held in high regard for their service, over 21,767 Native Americans joined the military during the war. Unlike African Americans, Native Americans served in the same units as white military member not in segregated units. They served not only with the Code Talkers but in regular divisions of the military on all fronts of the war. Indians were held in high regard for war because of the pre-conceived idea that all Native Americans are warriors. Native Americans were recipients of over 200 military awards, those awards were used as proof in an argument that Native Americans were trying to fit in to American culture.

Now I will be comparing and contrasting their very unique religions. First I will be naming the similarities. They all have many gods. Not just one. They thought that each god controlled something.They thought that the gods made everything too. Now for the differences. They all did sacrifice, but one is for a different reason. The Maya and Aztec did human sacrifice for rain but the Inca sacrificed children so the king could have a longer life. They also sacrificed children right after a king’s death. Another difference is their gods. They all have many gods, but not the same ones. Each tribe has their own gods they

South-Africans have always prided themselves on how rich and diverse their country is. This beautiful country consists of many different cultures each so diverse but yet influencing each other in such an immense way. In this essay I will be critically analyzing both the San hunter-gatherers and the Bantu speaking farmers in every aspect of their unique cultures; how these two groups met and how they influenced each other. I will also discuss the influence the Colonists had on indigenous African cultures and if it is appropriate to refer to all the indigenous cultures as one collective group of people by discussing what these two groups (San hunter-gatherers and Bantu speaking people) have in common. Since there are no written records of