Description
Before his death, Deloria was re-examining Native spirituality. His years of collecting Native stories of the medicine men, and exploring spirituality from different perspectives are brought together in this book. Although Deloria was annoyed and disapproving of the commercialization of Native spirituality, he did not wish to chastise those finding solace in these pseudo rituals. Instead, he wanted to open people’s eyes to the rituals and ceremonies as they were originally intended. To stop the empty recitation of songs and blessings and bring meaning and spirit back to the sacred Native rites. To do so, he explored the medicine men, their powers, and the Earth’s relation to the cosmos. In this compelling work he brings us a fascinating collection of anecdotes from tribes all across the country exploring everything from healing miracles to sacred rituals. A priceless spiritual gift from one of the greatest religious thinkers of the 20th century.
About the Author: Vine Deloria Jr. was born in 1933 in Martin, South Dakota and passed away in 2005. He was a well-respected American Indian author, theologian, historian, and activist. He obtained a Master of Theology degree from the Lutheran School of Theology in Rock Island, Illinois in 1963 and a J.D. from the University of Colorado in 1970. He was one of the most outspoken figures in Indian affairs. He wrote over 20 books about the Native American experience and his works promoted Native American cultural nationalism and a greater understanding of Native American history and philosophy. Mr. Deloria often said he was writing for Indian audiences most of all, hoping, he said, to instill belief in a culture had been shattered by history, and by deliberate government policy. Vine Deloria was named by Time magazine as one of the greatest religious thinkers of the twentieth century.