Red Man's Religion : Beliefs and Practices of the Indians North of Mexico

by Underhill, Ruth Murray

• ISBN13: 9780226841670
• ISBN10: 0226841677
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1972-09-15
• Publisher: Univ of Chicago Pr

Summary

Among the topics considered in this classic study are world origins and supernatural powers, attitudes toward the dead, the medicine man and shaman, hunting and gathering rituals, war and planting ceremonies, and newer religions, such as the Ghost Dance and the Peyote Religion. "The distinctive contribution of [Red Man's Religion] is the treatment of topics, the insight and the perspective of the author, and her ability to transmit these to the reader. . . . Trais and aspects of religion are not treated as abstract entitites, to be enumerated and summated, assigned a geographic distribution, and then abandoned. No page is a dry recital; each is an illumination. Insight and wisdom are framed in poetic prose. An offering of information in such a medium merits gratitude."--American Anthropologist

Table of Contents

Indians and the Supernatural

Religion: Its Geography and History

Impersonal Power

World Origins

The Spirits

Woman Power

Attitude Toward the Dead: Fear and Avoidance

Attitude Toward the Dead: Adoption of a Substitute or ""Delayed Burial""

Medicine Man, Shaman, and Priest

The Vision

Indian Ceremonialism

Hunting and Gathering Rituals

War Ceremonies

For the General Welfare: The Sun Dance

Planting Begins

Planting Ceremonies: The Southern Woodland

Planting

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