Indigenous Religions Essay - 1368 Words

Indigenous Religions of the World What is an ‘indigenous’ religion or belief system? When we hear the term ‘indigenous religion’, what comes to our minds? How do we react internally when those words are mentioned? How do adherents of indigenous religions feel about those outside of their social and cultural circles, who know very little of their beliefs and who understand them even less. And how did the term ‘indigenous’ become associated with various belief systems that, in many cases, preceded most modern religions being practiced today? The term ‘indigenous’ means originating or occurring naturally in a country, region, etc. Indigenous religions do not constitute a â€Å"world religion† in the same way as, Buddhism, Islam or†¦show more content†¦The belief in kinship with creation is widely supported within most indigenous religions. In this way of thinking, there is more importance placed on the concept of â€Å"we† than there is on the concept of â€Å"I†. Here, the family or village is where strong emphasis lies. In many indigenous traditions, developing and maintaining a respectful relationship with spiritual energy is paramount. This concept doesn’t only apply to humans, but also, in many cases to the immediate natural environment as well. The oneness of the body and the land is vital. Many think of themselves as mere ‘caretakers’ of the earth, and nothing more, who has a duty to nurture and preserve it for future generations. Certain animals are seen as spiritual conduits, just as certain trees are seen to impart herbal healing secrets. Another characteristic of an indigenous religion deals with the emphasis placed on the spiritual specialists. The general consensus is that anyone can have personal or direct access to spirits or that which is unseen, yet felt (democratized shamanism). There is no special requirement in most indigenous systems that stipulate ‘who’ can commune or interact with spirits, however, as a general rule, many feel that it is best to leave interactions with spirits to those that have been taught or trained through ritual or purification of some sort. Most indigenous religions are not written down, but based on oralShow MoreRelatedIndigenous Religion Essay1785 Words   |  8 PagesIndigenous religions, full of vibrancy and color, are often misconstrued or written off as primitive. Examples include: Animism, a belief system that stretches back to the earliest human and is still in practice today. It is thought to be a dangerous, shamanistic religious practice that is looked up on negatively. Buddhism, a religion that people believe is practiced only by environmentalists and the â€Å"hippies† of the world. The reality is it is practiced by the majority of East Asia. It has a powerfulRead MoreEssay on Indigenous Religion: Druid Religion672 Words   |  3 PagesThe Druids are a major division of Indigenous Religion and are located in the British Isles and Scotland. The Druids are most commonly associated with the Indigenous Celtic people of Ireland. Druids are known to have existed as far back as 3rd century B.C.E. (History of Britain: Rise and Fall of the Druids) The Druids passed down rituals and history through stories rather than through written text so a lot is still unknown about how they lived. There are still many people in today’s culture who activelyRead MoreThe Indigenous Religions Of The World1244 Words   |  5 PagesThe Indigenous Religions of the World Throughout the world there are many various religions, some very common to you and I. However, there are many religions that are common in several isolated places all around the world in Japan, Australia, and the Americas. Many of these religions, called Indigenous Religions are based on nature, and the earth. The practice of these religions is considered sacred to the people that follow them. Many of these indigenous people are fully sacrificed to their religionRead MoreEssay on Indigenous Religions of the World1535 Words   |  7 PagesIndigenous religions exist in every climate around the world and exhibit a wide range of differences in their stories, language, customs, and views of the afterlife. Within indigenous communities, religion, social behavior, art, and music are so intertwined that their religion is a significant part of their culture and virtually inseparable from it. These religions originally developed and thrived in isolation from one another and are some of the earliest examples of religious practice and beliefRead MoreIndigenous African Religions1192 Words   |  5 PagesSan 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 the pre-colonial period, allRead MoreAfrican Indigenous Religions Essay930 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction African traditional religions were the first recorded religions to grace the plains and coasts of Southern Africa and possibly even the world. The earliest group of people living in Southern Africa has been named the San people. It was thought that San etchings and implements found in caves dated back to between 10 000 and 20 000 years ago (Deacon, 1999). However in 2008 the oldest art to date was found in a cave in Still Bay in Cape Town, called the ‘Blombos’ cave. It was named by ChristopherRead MoreFreedom Of Religion : Indigenous People And The United Nations2340 Words   |  10 PagesFreedom of religion is a widely accepted right recognized through various governments and the United Nations. In Canada this right has been neglected for Indigenous people, specifically First Nations. Indigenous religions describe a religion that belonged to the people who are originally from an area. They are known to be holistic and focus on relationships, whether that be with the Cr eator, the land or the people. They often have a common belief that they are apart of nature and it is viewed asRead MoreIndigenous Religions : Native American Indians Essay823 Words   |  4 PagesAround the world, many indigenous religions exist and share their beliefs and culture with other individuals around them. Indigenous religions are unique because in the world today, a lot of people can go back in history and reveal that they came from indigenous people. When examining indigenous religions, there are a variety of cultures within this religion, but specifically looking at the Native American Indian tribes, there were many ways they practiced their culture in order to serve a purposeRead MoreReligious Beliefs And Practices Common Among Indigenous Religions964 Words   |  4 PagesIn what ways might the various beliefs and practices common among indigenous religions relate to definitions of religion as being that which binds back or re-connects people to an underlying and g reater sacred reality? Although western religions have some parallels, indigenous religions are much more interconnected with each other and their sacred reality. After reading this chapter, it is apparent that studies have found there is a greater connection between the people and the earth. WhileRead MoreIndigenous Religions and Their Sacred Reverence Toward Nature2252 Words   |  10 PagesIndigenous Religions and their Sacred Reverence Toward Nature Kimberly Kitterman Barstow Community College Abstract Many indigenous religions and cultures viewed the earth with great respect and reverence. This can be seen through their kinship with the land, their belief in animism, their hunter/hunted relationship, and their origin stories. Indigenous Religions and their Sacred Reverence Toward Nature Most indigenous cultures had a profound respect for their environment. They believed that