Circle of Life

Circle of life

In terms of animism it was said that stars, trees, rivers and mountains, but is not limited to any other living aspects of the earth. In most religions whether in previous years or of the modern world today animism is shown. it has been around for so many years because it offers ways to deal with everyday problems, but this does not make all religions the same. Through these religions their basic practices and concepts aren’t written, but passed on through their traditional practices. The downfall of these traditional practices not being written down is their beliefs and practices being lost or forgotten through time. These animistic religions includes Native American religions, and African American religions, but is not limited to other religions. Throughout this essay I will discuss the Native American worldview in terms of their understanding and perceptions of reality while contrasting their perceptions to a more modern cultural religion, and also discussing the Black Elk’s introduction to the circle of life with a comparison to the christian worldview of nature and purpose of creation.

In the Native American religion worldview they all believe that spirits are alive with nature, specifically spirits of animals and plants. All of these spirits that Native Americans believe to be alive through nature is mother nature who is considered to be the, “heart of nature, (Religions of the world).” Though animism, Native Americans also believe that there are levels of Gods that exist with spirits within the universe. However it was said that there is a supreme being or high God above all other spirits. Native Americans have a gracious attitude towards nature because it is what they are dependent on for survival. The animistic Native Americans have a sense of spirits that exist can either help or harm them; Therefore, the worship these spirits to bring good to them. Hunting also played an important role for Native American cultures. Although they couldn’t keep a great amount of animals around because of the arrival of Europeans, hunting was always necessary for the Native Americans, in fact they only hunted what was needed while praying upon prey and asking for forgiveness because of the respect they have for all spirits and nature.

Through contact of the spirit world Native Americans do not see the world as being controlled by one supreme or high God. In fact