It is important to note that there is no one American Indian religion. Just as there is no one American Indian culture. However, there are many beliefs and ceremonies which are common to many Native American religions. In this cyber-paper, I am going to focus on these common beliefs and also explain symbolism and ceremonies which are common to most Plains Indians and some others. I am going to focus on the Plains Indians for two reasons. First, because when I think of American Indians, I tend to think of Plains Indians. Second, because I was particularly impressed with the beliefs of Black Elk, an Oglala Sioux. Furthermore, I hope to show that the concepts held by Native Americans are valid and that many of these concepts are shared with other philosophies and religions.

As I have mentioned, Native Americans share many common beliefs. The first thing that is noticeable about most Native American religions is that they do not recognize a dichotomy of the sacred and the profane. In one sense, Native Americans have no religion because their religious beliefs cannot be separated from their daily life and their beliefs about the world. To them, all things are sacred. This is true whether the phenomen is natural or supernatural. Their religions tend to be pantheistic. To them, everything that is in the universe, both visible and invisible, is a part of God. However, God is more than just the sum of all the parts of the universe. In the book "The Sacred Pipe", which is Black's Elk's account of the seven rites of the Oglala Sioux as recorded by Joseph Epes Brown, Black Elk puts it this way:

Furthermore, because all things are part of God, they believe that people are related to all things through the Great Spirit. Black Elk has also been quoted as saying:

Native Americans consider Mankind as the guardian of Nature, rather than its master. It seems to me that if all Americans adopted this belief to a greater extent, the environment would be in a much better condition, and the world would have a brighter future.

Another common attribute is the Native American belief about language. Generally, words are thought to have a force which is related to their specific sounds. Basically, words are not considered as symbols for reality, but rather as forces themselves. Since the breath is identified with the principle of Life, and since words are spoken with the breath, words are considered sacred and must be used with care. Also, since words are considered as forces, it is thought that the spoken word can have a direct affect upon the natural world. This idea is similar to the concept of magical incantations and the use of mantras. Native Americans are not the only ones who consider sound or vibration as a creative force. Consider this quote from the Holy Bible. The gospel according to Saint John (Chapter 1 verses 1-4) puts it this way:

The "Word" or Logos is an ancient Greek concept. It is basically the idea that everything manifests through vibration. Furthermore, ancient Greeks believed that everything came into existance by a sacred Word spoken by God. As a matter of fact, at the molecular level, everything is vibrating. Furthermore, if a note is intoned at the proper pitch, a glass or other object will shatter, thus proving that sounds are forces. So the American Indians and the Ancient Greeks may be right.

A third belief is that natural materials used in arts and crafts express sacred powers which are related to their nature. The art form is seen as having its own power. It is not merely a symbol, but an actual power. There is no distinction between the art form and its message or power. All art objects radiate their powers. In some cases, these powers must be activated through a rite, a song, or a prayer. However, the power is alwas latent in the design and materials used. One example of this is the Navaho sand painting which is used for healing purposes. When the sand painting is complete, and the form activated by prayer, it is believed that the god or power animal it represents is actually present and exerting an influence on the people present. Furthermore, when a person making an art form or especially a ceremonial object, the person may fast and pray in preparation. When making the object, the person is aware of the meaning and potency of the art form. It is believed that the proper attitude enhances and strengthens the power of the completed form. It is my opinion that many ancient people of Europe and the Middle East held similar ideas concerning their idols and sacred objects. They did not believe that the stone statue was a god, but rather that the power of the god manifested through the statue which was made with loving care.

Another belief is that time is cyclic, rather than progressive. The seasons come in cycles. The sun, moon, and stars move in cycles. This concept is expressed in rituals and art forms. As Black Elk has said:

The concept of the "Power of the World" working in circles is well known to scientists. Electrons move around the nucleus of an atom in circles, and the planets revolve around the sun in an eliptical orbit.

A fifth belief which was common to most Native American religions of the last century is that animals to be killed for food must first be propitiated in some way. This might involve a ceremony before and after the hunt, or it might involve praying before hunting. During the hunt, the hunter held a respectful and grateful attitude towards his prey. In addition, it was thought that the hunter must follow certain taboos or the animals would not present themselves willingly. Animals were thought of as having immortal souls. So when the animal was killed, his soul was either reborn or it returned to its spiritual home. This idea relates to the concept of Man as being the guardian of natural forms. It would be unthinkable to the American Indians of the past to waist any part of the animals which gave their bodies to the hunters.

A sixth common belief is that the world is filled with spirit beings associated with natural and supernatural phenomenon. Natural forces or forms such as wind, various species of plants and animals are believed to be controlled by a spirit of some kind. These spirits are not ghosts, but rather consious aspects of the Great Spirit which control a specific part of the natural or supernatural world. They might also be considered sacred powers. These powers are thought to be transferable to other beings or even to objects. Animals possess powers and characteristics associated with their spirit owner. However, humans are capable of possessing all the powers in the universe. These might be obtained by propitating the various spirits associated with the power desired, or they might be obtained in a vision quest.

The final common belief I am going to discuss is the concept of Mana. This is a universal force which is in all things. It is similar to Life Force. In a sense, all things including rocks and soil are considered to be alive to varying degrees. This relates to the pantheistic view held by most Native Americans. This force can be used for good or evil. Before using it, the person must make special prepartion or he could be harmed by the force. The concept of Mana and pantheism is shared by the Hindu religion, yogic philosophy, and others. Mana is called pranya by yogic philosophers. It is the force that makes up the universe. Although Hindus worship many gods, these gods are really aspects of the universal consciousness called Brahman. All that exists is said to be part of Brahman. The Bhagavad Gita, one of the most sacred Hindu texts, has this to say: