Warning: Use of undefined constant referer - assumed 'referer' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 102

Warning: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 105

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 106

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 109
Significance Of Ritual In North American Indian Religion - Papers Online

Significance Of Ritual In North American Indian Religion



Submitted to: Dr. John X. Xxxxxxx
RELST 110.6.01

When scholars study religion, the tendency exists to focus on the
mythological aspects of the religion in an attempt to understand the major
underlying concepts present. However, an equally rewarding study often can be
accomplished through the careful analysis of the religion's ritual aspects.
This is especially true when studying North American Indian religions where
there is an abundance of elaborate rituals that play a significant role in their
culture. By closely examining the details and symbolism of ritual movements, we
can gather some basic understanding of what is seen to be of value in a certain
theology. While most Native ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

draw some
parallels to the more common sweat lodge ceremony. If a recurring spiritual
theme appears in separate rituals, it can be considered evidence of a consistent,
structured belief system.

The use of smoking pipes in Native American cultures is a popular and
very ancient practice. Direct predecessors of the modern pipe appear 1,500
years ago, and other less relevant pipes can be found as far back as 2,500 years
ago. The distinguishing characteristic of the sacred pipe is that the bowl is
separable from the long stem, and the two parts are kept apart except during
ritual use. The pipe is seen as a holy object and is treated with much respect.
This type of ceremonial pipe was used by tribes ranging from the Rocky Mountain
range to the Atlantic, and from the Gulf of Mexico to James Bay. It did not
penetrate into Pacific coast or Southwest cultures, where tubular pipes were
preferred. Inter-tribal trading helped the practice of this particular ritual
spread rapidly, ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.


Already a member? Login

the course of the ceremony, the pipe is seen as the center of the
cosmos, and all directions radiating out from this center each have their own
symbolic significance. East traditionally represents birth or beginning,
originally taking this meaning from the rising of the sun. The significance of
the direction west also is derived from the sun, this time the path the sun
follows represents the path of life. The interpretation of these two directions
seldom varies from tribe to tribe, since the sun is always of great spiritual
importance to primitive cultures. Most commonly the direction south is seen as
representing growth and nurturing, which implies a female gender. The ...

Succeed in your coursework without stepping into a library.
Get access to a growing library of notes, book reports,
and research papers in 2 minutes or less.


CITE THIS PAGE:

Significance Of Ritual In North American Indian Religion. (2005, March 27). Retrieved December 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Significance-Ritual-North-American-Indian-Religion/24378
"Significance Of Ritual In North American Indian Religion." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 27 Mar. 2005. Web. 23 Dec. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Significance-Ritual-North-American-Indian-Religion/24378>
"Significance Of Ritual In North American Indian Religion." Essayworld.com. March 27, 2005. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Significance-Ritual-North-American-Indian-Religion/24378.
"Significance Of Ritual In North American Indian Religion." Essayworld.com. March 27, 2005. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Significance-Ritual-North-American-Indian-Religion/24378.
JOIN NOW
Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays


PAPER DETAILS
Added: 3/27/2005 02:31:07 PM
Category: Religion
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 1770
Pages: 7

Save | Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS
Save and find your favorite essays easier

SIMILAR ESSAYS
» Exodus Settlement
Copyright | Cancel | Contact Us

Copyright © 2024 Essayworld. All rights reserved