Theos-Talk Archives (April 1996 Message tl01157)

At 04:29 PM 4/25/96 -0400, you wrote:

>	I would remind everyone that the American Indians found
>a sacredness to life every day of their lives, and were an extremely
>religious people.  Yes they had no church, no institution, and no
>word in their vocabulary that would equate to "religion."  Thus the
>Christian invaders thought them totally heathen and ungodly.  Then
>the conversions began.  Most Indians today would prefer the older
>Shamanistic way of life then the institutionalized religion that they
>have been forced to adopt.
>
>	Jerry S.
>	Member, TI
>
>
>Jerry:

That is wonderfully well put.It is equally true of Shamnism wherever it has
existed, and it has existed everywhere. As to the conversions, at first it
was "convert or die" and that changed to "convert or starve" and that
eventually became "convert or esle". But today those of us who are involved
in shamnic Practice, are seeing the Amerindian Peoples, and many other
peoples elsewhare in the world, throwing off the chains of forced
"conversions" and returning to their roots.

As to their beliefs, they had no word for "religion" and no concept for it
either. All of life was a spiritual synergy for them, all of life was one,
to them, the spirits were the spirits and they were to become spirits when
they died, there was reverence for nature, but no worship. There was
reverence for life, but no fear, and all religion is predicated on fear.
Becuase of their Shamans the peoples of the shamnic world n\knew there was
no such thing as "death" so they didn't fear it, so they didn't need
"religion" to assuage a non-existant fear. That isnot to say that religion
has an attitude like the spiritualists, but they also don't fully agree with
the Theosophical or Buddhist-Brahmanist versions, they have their own
version and it's a reasonable combination of those oterh views.

alexis dolgorukii, MTI., FTSA.
the eclectic theosophist
satyat - nasti - paro - dharma
Shaman, Healer, Psychic, Tulku, Priest
Member of the 'Gang of Five"