Question by msjodyemma: Can Native American Shamans “alternative medicines” & the influence of their culture be valid from Christian?
Best answer:
Answer by Sirius
a christian is not even 1% as wise than a native American shaman. the Christians murdered those people because they thought the practices native Americans did were satanic. No it didn’t influence Christianity. Christianity murdered the native Americans stole their lands and their ideas and never gave them credit.
Give your answer to this question below!
thier alternative medicines are valid…however if the culture is contrary to Christs way…its not valid…
I am not sure what you are asking, but medicine is not religious based. Their alternative medicine was plant-based remedies. It is proven that some plants have medicinal properties.
Their religious practices, however, are not christian.
First, in order to fully understand the native American religions, the U.S. Government would have to allow its full practice, which it does not, despite the first amendment.
Secondly, many of the practices involved herbal remedies, not that far removed from pagan practices, including the craft of making such remedies, also known as “witch”craft.
Third, such herbal remedies are as valid as any of the old remedies and may, in actuality, be better than modern medicine in the long run, as many supplement the body’s immune system (like vitamin C).
Fourth, any influence on any culture is valid. It doesn’t matter if it is Christianity, Hindu, Taoist, Buddhist, Islam, Judaism, or native American Shamanism, or even a non-religious influence..
Finally, it is interesting to see how many people didn’t bother reading the question from their responses. They automatically assumed that you were comparing Christianity against the native American religions.
First of all, let me correct the word you used. The word “shaman” is a Siberian word, and is not in ANY of the Native American languages, any of the 500 +. Each nation has and still has its own word for a medicine person or spiritual leader. Recently, many of the different nations have started to use the word, not because it is theirs, but because non-native people use it and understand what it means.
I don’t mean to be rude, but to inform, so please don’t be upset by what I said.
If you are talking about the herbal aspects of alternative medicines, then I would agree with others here and say that it could help. Europe has done many studies on the effects of herbal properties and what effects they have. However, not all herbs work for all people. What works for me, may not work for you. I can take coltsfoot for colds, while a friend gets very sick from it.
As far as the rest of it, I would say that you have to believe in what you are doing beyond a shadow of a doubt, in order for it to work. Belief works wonders, as in many cases of people who pray and are healed. This would work the same way.
The basic belief systems are pretty different. Natives are caretakers of the earth, and most Christian faiths believe that they have dominion over the earth and can do whatever they wish to it. Native Americans “do for the People” as a Whole, or at least they were taught to do that.
One of the others said correctly that many of the Native Americans were killed because they didn’t want to convert to Christianity. These days, MANY on the reservations ARE Christian.
If you are looking for help for a problem, and you BELIEVE that it can help you, then by all means, go with a good heart and find someone to help you. Sometimes we all need to leave no stone unturned to find the help we need.
I wish you good luck!
Be well,
Water Spirit
NEWSFLASH:
Native Americans don’t have Shamans. We have never had shamans and we never will, and if anyone is claiming to a Native American shaman, they are lying.