Differring Religions In Todays Essay -- essays research papers

Differring Religions Each religious group possesses its’ own individual world- view. Two groups, which vary a great deal when reflecting upon their world-views are the Native Americans and the Puritans. While one group holds one set of standards and beliefs to be true, the other group abides by a completely opposite set of ideas. The Native American religion functions using its’ own world –view. Unlike in Western religions, the Native American religion does not have certain places in which they need to be more religious than others do. In the Native American religion there is no notion of essential monotheism. There is no one true god in their religion; therefore they are free to have open-ended worship. The Native American religion is also made up of a pluralist belief. This means that different tribes have different myths and rituals, although they are all part of the same religion. In the handout, â€Å"Franciscans and Indian Revolt†, the idea that the world-view of Native American religion differs from many others is evident. The main conflict in this reading is that men dominate most positions in religious power. The Shaman, the Native American religious leader, manipulated the people through rituals and trances. He was said to possess supernatural powers. The Shaman was both feared and admired by the Native Americans. He was known to have the ability to either heal a sick man, or kill him. It was these types of powers, which set him apart from the Jesuit priest in the reading. Originally the Native Americans despised the entire Jesuit religion. The hated their clothing, their ideas, the way they went about their lives, etc. However, the Jesuits immunity to disease made the Native Americans take notice of them. It was through this that they began to admire their â€Å"powers†. The Native Americans saw the Jesuits as sorcerers, just as the Jesuits saw them. The Jesuits ritual of baptism made the Indians believe that Jesuits had the power to ki ll people with water. The Jesuits were also able to read and write, which greatly impressed the Native Americans. In the reading â€Å"French Views of Native Americans†, the Native-Americans are described as â€Å" they are I say, savage, haunting the woods, ignorant, lawless and rude.† They reading continues to go on referring to them as wanderers and basically a senseless use of human life. The French formed these opinions of ... ...one God. The Native Americans do not hold the idea of monotheism true, while the Puritans strictly believe in it. This is discussed throughout the reading â€Å"A Model of Christian Charity†, along with the Puritan system of a covenant. It restates the idea of obeying one God, and following the ideas of the covenant along with the commandments. It also discusses the vital need for a close knit community, yet another Puritan belief. As written in the text, â€Å" every man might have need of other, and hence they might be all knit more nearly together in the bond of brotherly affection.† This is simply the idea of having a community, which is a main factor in Puritan life. There are many differences, which separate the Native American religion from the Puritan religion. Their God, their way of life and their belief system take two different paths. One group has a set of ideas which they feel are correct and appropriate to live by, while the other group has world-view s which they expect are the right ways to follow the religion in which they believe. The Puritan religion and the Native American religion may have very little, if nothing, in common, however they both served their people well.