1. To help students understand more fully the nature and function of religious diversity and community.

2. To help students develop some skills in deciphering the religious and cultural meanings of symbol, myth, and ritual in Native American Spirituality..

3. To acquaint students with some of the variety in cultural and religious patterns among Native American societies (especially in this decade of the Anniversary of the Columbus landing and European encounter with the indigenous people of America).

4. To help students understand and appreciate some of the characteristic features of Native American religions.

5. To help students discover new depths in their own spiritual traditions through appreciative study of Native American religions.

6. To encourage students toward a respectful concern for the place and conditions of Native Americans in contemporary American society.

7. To help students develop their skills in library research and writing.

NATIVE AMERICA RELIGIONS

Theology 364

Syllabus 2009-2010

Course Description

A study of the most common religious features found in Native American societies north of Mexico.  Attention is given both to the older traditions and to the more recent religious developments.

Required Texts The land looks after us Joel martin

Spirit and Reason Vine Deloria Reader

Native American Religions Sam Gill

On Library Reserve

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown (Bury)

The Sacred Pipe, by Black Elk, edited by Joseph Epes Brown (Pipe)

Teachings of the American Earth, by Barbara and Dennis Tedlock (Earth)

Indian Givers: How the Indians Transformed the World, by Jack Weatherford (Givers)

Native Roots: How the Indians Enriched America, by Jack Weatherford (Roots)

Crying for a Dream, by Richard Erdoes

“An Easter Liturgy: The Creative Syncretism of the Arizona Yaquis,” by Edgar P. Senne, in

The Cresset, March 1986, pp. 6-14.

The Gift of the Sacred Pipe, by Black Elk, special edition with art work by Louise Drysdale

Native American Traditions: Sources and Interpretations, by Sam D. Gill

Black Elk Speaks, by John Neihardt

Course Requirements

1.  Regular attendance in class is required.  Excessive absences will be reflected in the course grade.  A student may have an absence recorded as “excused” by filling out an “Excuse Me” form, available from the instructor.     Administration of this attendance policy is detailed on page seven (7) of this syllabus.

2.  Reading and/or writing assignments for each class period should be done on time, since this makes in-class participation much more helpful to all.  Quizzes may be used to check this discipline.  Assignments will sometimes be adjusted from class period to class period.  Even if absent, students are responsible for adjusted    assignments.

3.  Students will produce one research paper and presentation on subjects identified in course

1. Two examinations, a midterm and a final will be given.
2. .  Topics for course papers and titles for book reports may be determined in consultation with the instructor.  Those choosing the course paper option will submit a prospectus on a specified date.

Attendance Policy

As stated in first course requirement, regular attendance in class is expected, and excessive absences will be penalized in the assignment of the final course grade.  The administration of this policy is here specified:

Native American Leaders

Vine Deloria Jhttp://www4.ipl.org/div/natam/bin/browse.pl/A31r

More of vine Deloria jr

http://www.knowledge.co.uk/xxx/cat/deloria/

A Cree Warrior

Native American dancers

Celebration of life through dance and singing

Music is the heart of the spirit !!!

Apache Warrior.

The land is always the most sacred thing.

Respect mother Earth and All Life.

To disrespect the earth and all of life is to brake the sacred hoop. We must learn from our mother earth and bend our will towards peace and understanding.

To be a man does not mean you must dominate and control all of life.

To be a man means that you have understood that all of life is a lesson in wisdom and must be learned before you and I can move forward.

To enter into right relationship is the goal of all good spiritual journeys.

To claim one belief is better and more profound than another is a detour in your goal to be one with All things.

http://www.tahtonka.com/spirituality.html

Native American Dancers

We must strive to live in peace with all life everywhere.

We must always seek to mend the sacred hoop of life!!

The Ghost dance seeks to reclaim and make right the lost and injustice done to a people!

Respect the spirit of Crazy horse sacred leader of the

Sioux!