Skip to main content

Red Man’s Religion

Beliefs and Practices of the Indians North of Mexico

Among the topics considered in this classic study are world origins and supernatural powers, attitudes toward the dead, the medicine man and shaman, hunting and gathering rituals, war and planting ceremonies, and newer religions, such as the Ghost Dance and the Peyote Religion.

"The distinctive contribution of [Red Man’s Religion] is the treatment of topics, the insight and the perspective of the author, and her ability to transmit these to the reader. . . . Trais and aspects of religion are not treated as abstract entitites, to be enumerated and summated, assigned a geographic distribution, and then abandoned. No page is a dry recital; each is an illumination. Insight and wisdom are framed in poetic prose. An offering of information in such a medium merits gratitude."—American Anthropologist

312 pages | 34 illustrations, 4 maps | 6 x 9 | © 1972

Anthropology: Cultural and Social Anthropology

Native American Studies

Table of Contents

1. Indians and the Supernatural
2. Religion: Its Geography and History
3. Impersonal Power
4. World Origins
5. The Spirits
6. Woman Power
7. Attitude Toward the Dead: Fear and Avoidance
8. Attitude Toward the Dead: Adoption of a Substitute or "Delayed Burial"
9. Medicine Man, Shaman, and Priest
10. The Vision
11. Indian Ceremonialism
12. Hunting and Gathering Rituals
13. War Ceremonies
14. For the General Welfare: The Sun Dance
15. Planting Begins
16. Planting Ceremonies: The Southern Woodland
17. Planting Ceremonies: The Iroquois
18. Planting Ceremonies: Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi
19. Planting Ceremonies: The Prairie
20. Planting Ceremonies: The Pueblos
21. "Stranger" Into Navaho
22. The Western Southwest
23. Modern Religions
Bibliography
Index

Be the first to know

Get the latest updates on new releases, special offers, and media highlights when you subscribe to our email lists!

Sign up here for updates about the Press