A Native American Theology

by Kidwell, Clara Sue

• ISBN13: 9781570753619
• ISBN10: 157075361X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Orbis Books

Summary

This collaborative work represents a pathbreaking exercise in Native American theology. While observing traditional categories of Christian systematic theology (Creation, Deity, Christology, etc.), each of these is reimagined consistent with Native experience, values, and worldview. At the same time the authors introduce new categories from Native thought-worlds, such as the Trickster (eraser of boundaries, symbol of ambiguity), and Land. Finally, the authors address issues facing Native Americans today, including racism, poverty, stereotyping, cultural appropriation, and religious freedom. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Clara Sue Kidwell is professor of Native American studies at the University of Oklahoma Homer Noley recently retired from his position as director of the National United Methodist Native American Center at the School of Theology at Claremont George E. "Tink" Tinker is professor of American Indian Cultures and Religious Traditions at Iliff School of Theology

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	1	(1)
Our Purpose	1	(3)
Indian Theology and the Dream of Freedom	4	(1)
Knowing Our History	5	(3)
Indians and Christians	8	(2)
The Question of Conversion	10	(1)
Religion and Culture	11	(2)
Space, Time, and Place	13	(2)
The Value of Community	15	(1)
Gender	16	(2)
Ethical Values and the Concept of Sin	18	(3)
Hermeneutics	21	(11)
Origin of Belief
Differing Bases for Interpretation of the Bible	22	(6)
Native Hermeneutics	28	(1)
Seeking a Biblical Base for Interpretation	29	(3)
Creation	32	(20)
Balancing the World for Seven Generations
Creation	34	(2)
Beginnings	36	(1)
Human Beginnings	37	(1)
Human Privilege and Communities of Respect	38	(2)
Balancing the World for Life	40	(1)
Reciprocity: A Foundation for Balance	41	(3)
Spatiality: Place and Time	44	(4)
The Circle and Mitakuye Oyasin	48	(4)
Deity	52	(10)
The Creative Power in the World
Diverse Cultural Views of God and Gods	53	(3)
Wakonda: An Indian Deity	56	(6)
Christology	62	(23)
Who Do You Say That I Am?
The Gift of Vicarious Suffering	63	(2)
American Indians and Jesus	65	(2)
Language and Lordship: Jesus as Conqueror	67	(1)
Lordship and the Shaping of the Amer-European Experience	68	(2)
No Other Name: Colonizer's Claim to Universal Truth	70	(6)
Christ, Logos, Pre-existence and Corn Mother	76	(3)
Corn Mother as Christ	79	(4)
Conclusion	83	(2)
Theological Anthropology	85	(15)
Is the Windingo Real?
A Brief History of Anthropology	86	(2)
The Concept of Personhood	88	(1)
The Nature of Power	89	(2)
Sacred Clowns	91	(1)
Myth and Sacred Text	92	(2)
Sacred Time and Sacred Space	94	(1)
Models of Cultural Change	95	(3)
Indian Anthropologists	98	(2)
Sin and Ethics	100	(13)
The Nation of Sin
Will and Power	101	(2)
Sin and Sexuality	103	(2)
Death and Afterlife	105	(1)
Sin and Law	106	(1)
Sin and Sickness	107	(1)
Ethical Values and the Concept of Sin	108	(3)
The Sin of Pride	111	(2)
Trickster	113	(13)
The Sacred Fool
The Reversal of the Ordinary	114	(7)
Jesus as Trickster	121	(5)
Land	126	(23)
We Sing the Land into Existence
The Howling Wilderness	130	(1)
A Problematic Historical Context	131	(2)
Culture and Conversion	133	(1)
Legal Constructs of Indian Land	134	(2)
``Let Him Begin without Lands''	136	(4)
Contemporary Issues with Regard to Land	140	(1)
Redefining Land	141	(5)
Christian Attitudes Toward Native Spirituality	146	(1)
Native Americans and Environmental Concerns	146	(3)
Eschatology	149	(17)
End, Salvation, Rebirth
The World Wears Out	151	(1)
Pre- and Post-Contact Eschatological Traditions	152	(3)
Messianic Traditions	155	(6)
Who Do You Say That I Am?	161	(5)
Afterword	166	(15)
Racism	167	(2)
Land Claims	169	(1)
Stereotyping	170	(1)
Wannabes	171	(2)
Mascots, Brand Names, and Cultural Appropriation	173	(2)
Freedom of Religion and Its Violation	175	(1)
Native Americans and the Church	176	(2)
Poverty and Other Issues	178	(2)
Conclusion	180	(1)
Notes	181	(16)
Index	197