And Native Americans

NATIVE AMERICAN SPIRITUALITY

Robert Staffanson
Executive Director, American Indian Institute

While Native American spirituality is not easily defined, it has
several defining characteristics:

    a) Recognition of the interconnectedness of all Creation, and the
responsibility of human beings to use their intelligence in protecting
that inter- connectedness. That applies particularly to the lifegiving
elements: water, air and soil.

    b) A belief that all life is equal, and that the presence of the life
spark implies a degree of spirituality whether in humans, animals or
plants. In their view the species of animals and birds, as well as forests
and other plant life, have as much "right" to existence as human beings,
and should not be damaged or destroyed. That does not mean that they
cannot be used but that use has limitations.

    c) Their primary concern is with the long-term welfare of life rather
than with short-term expediency or comfort. They consider all issues and
actions in relationship to their long-term effect on all life, not just
human life.

    d) Their spirituality is undergirded by thankfulness to the Creator.
Prayer, ceremonies, meditation and fasting are an important part of their
lives. But they ask for nothing. They give thanks: for all forms of life
and for all the elements that make life possible, and they are concerned
with the continuation of that life and the ingredients upon which it
depends.

~~ excerpted from http://www.silcom.com/~origin/sbcr/sbcr072