Last updated 21 years ago, this article, authored by Corey Wicks, delves into a complex and often uncomfortable examination of the relationship between Christianity, indigenous cultures, and the concept of "authenticity." Using the film Powwow Highway as a starting point, the piece explores the historical context of cultural destruction, raising questions about the West’s role in dismantling indigenous belief systems around the globe. It challenges readers to consider whether the suppression of indigenous practices was a consequence of a prior, internal dismantling of European pagan traditions.
The article identifies several keywords including native american religion and spirituality editorial sun dance sweat lodge ancient medicine culture indigenous cultures native american religion pagan religion shamanistic Nerkabah mysticism and We Destroyed Our Own Religion First.
The article opens with a scene from the 1988 film Powwow Highway, where the character Red Bow expresses cynicism towards a powwow, questioning whether the regalia and dances truly represent authentic Native American culture. This observation serves as a springboard for exploring the broader debate surrounding cultural authenticity in the modern world, particularly in the context of Native American traditions.
The passage of the Native American Religious Freedom Act in the late 1970s is acknowledged as a significant step towards the revitalization of practices like the Sundance and Sweat Lodge, integral components of ancient Native American medicine culture. However, the article argues that this recovery often overshadows a critical parallel question: what constitutes "authentic" Christian culture, and how did Christianity contribute to the destruction of indigenous cultures worldwide?
The author acknowledges the risk of being labeled "anti-Christian" for posing such questions. However, the piece asserts that it is crucial to examine the historical role of Christian missionaries and Western influence in suppressing not only Native American religions but also African tribal religions, the Kahuna religion of Hawaii, Maori customs of New Zealand, the Aboriginal "Dreamworld" culture of Australia, and countless other indigenous belief systems.
The central argument posits that the process of cultural destruction initiated by the West began internally, within Christianity itself. Before targeting external cultures, Christianity underwent a transformation that involved suppressing its own indigenous roots and traditions.
The article suggests that the current fascination some Westerners have with Native American culture, manifested in practices like wearing medicine bags and Native American jewelry, stems from a deeper longing for a connection to lost indigenous European traditions. It notes that, much like indigenous cultures who possess specialized knowledge of their environments (e.g., the Inuit with their numerous words for snow), ancient European cultures had rich and nuanced understandings of the spiritual realm. The Teutonic tribes, for instance, possessed a vast vocabulary for describing the Spirit and Soul, indicating a sophisticated understanding of the human psyche and its connection to the divine.
The author contrasts the architectural achievements of pre-Christian societies, such as the Romans who built durable and lasting structures of marble and stone, with the comparatively inferior construction techniques employed during the Christian era. This comparison serves to illustrate a decline in cultural and artistic prowess following the rise of Christianity.
The article challenges the traditional perception of "Pagans" as uncivilized savages. It argues that, in many respects, pre-Christian cultures and religions were more advanced than what followed, despite the potential for this assertion to be considered offensive by some.
The article further contends that the Hebrews were not isolated from pagan influences. The Essene Brotherhood, a Jewish sect, practiced forms of mysticism that could be broadly categorized as "shamanistic." These practices included "Merkabah" mysticism, a technique used to achieve altered states of consciousness and visions of the divine. The term "Merkabah," meaning "chariot," serves as a metaphor for a vehicle transporting one to the Spirit World, resulting in experiences similar to out-of-body experiences described by indigenous cultures.
However, fundamentalist elements within Judaism eventually suppressed these shamanistic teachings. Similarly, efforts were made to conceal the similarities between Christian beliefs and those of the "Pagan" Mystery Schools. This led to the suppression and destruction of various pagan traditions, including the Eleusinian Mysteries, the Mithraic Mysteries, and the Hermetic Mysteries, despite the fact that many Christian mysteries originated from pagan sources. The article, We Destroyed Our Own Religion First, stresses the painful truth is that the worldwide campaign of destruction against indigenous cultures was a consequence of the religion first being destroyed from within. The article, We Destroyed Our Own Religion First, concludes that Christianity "did it to ourselves first."
In essence, the article "We Destroyed Our Own Religion First" proposes a critical re-evaluation of the historical relationship between Christianity, indigenous cultures, and the suppression of ancient traditions. It argues that the West’s destruction of indigenous cultures was not an isolated phenomenon but rather a consequence of an internal dismantling of its own indigenous roots, ultimately leading to a loss of connection with nature, spirituality, and cultural authenticity.
This article seeks to provoke thought and encourage a more nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between religion, culture, and power throughout history. The article, We Destroyed Our Own Religion First, is an insightful read.