church or powwows

[WhoMe]

My home church is the best of both worlds!

It is a Methodist church. We always sing traditional christian songs each Sunday.

Many tribal leaders and Indian community leaders are members of the congregation.

This church recognizes veterans on veterans day with a veterans song and lets a veteran deliver the message.

In the spring, the church sponsors a gourd dance on church property.

In December, the church sponsors a Native American Church meeting for the area students, again on church property.

I have even seen the former pastor in a Native sweat. In this sweat he said, "the Creator has given native people many ways to worship Him. And they are all good!"

[**First Lady**]

i don't think we should be sitting here judging anyone on this matter....where you choose to pray is your business...if you choose not to pray...that's your choice also...but i still say that attending a powwow and attending church are two seperate matters.....that's my two cents worth!

have a blessed day! :)

[WocusWoman]

In this sweat he said, "the Creator has given native people many ways to worship Him. And they are all good!"

Kuddos on this, WhoME!

[alan schuster]

I can not say. I go to church, however I have never been to a powwow. Out of ignorance I must ask this question, "Isn't a powwow part of Native American spiritual pratices to cummincate with the creator?" Is not spirituality a indivdual relationship with the creator? Is not the greatest place to meet the creator in nature? If so is not church in nature instead of a structure made by man?
Like I have said, I am ignorant to alot of things, so please do not take offense. Teach me.
Love and Respect,
Alan S.

[Josiah]

There we go again arguing about religion
Sheesh

[WhoMe]

...Is not spirituality a indivdual relationship with the creator? .....

alan,

I would rather enlighten, than "teach you."

Spirituality IS individual. Ask 10 people what spirituality means to them and you will get 10 answers.

Religion is communal and involves groups of individuals. I was once told that Indian languages don't have a specific word that is analogous to the word "Religion." If this is not true somebody please correct me.


Some individuals actually find spiritual fulfillment at powwows! Go figure?

[Josiah]

"Isn't a powwow part of Native American spiritual pratices to cummincate with the creator?"



Alan S.

SHORT ANSWER: NOOOOOOO

Long Answer: It has nothing to do with that at all!!!!!!!
Powwows sprang from wild west shows so basically it began as entertainment.
Having said that there are TRADITIONAL POWWOWS that are for various Societies and Clans to Gather
Powwows are organized for various celebrations and now days there are Contest Powwows and Benefit Powwows so I would say they are for NDN's and Non NDN's to meet and talk and visit.
So to sum it up the are a SOCIAL GATHERING
Nothing Religious or Mysterious about them

[streamhawk]

Some individuals actually find spiritual fulfillment at powwows! Go figure?

WhoMe, I've found spiritual fulfillment while out fishing, wading a stream in the beautiful mountains. The creator is where you find him/her, and that can be anywhere, or everywhere. Besides, the author of this thread is obviously just stirring the pot, with no apparent rhyme or reason.

[alan schuster]

Thank You!

Josiah thank you for bringing clarity to this question for me. As I have said I am ignorant yet teachable. I have a strong desire to learn the ways and customs of the medicine path and the wheel. In truth it is a part of my heritage I grew up not knowing about and the other part is the spiritual enlightment.

[alan schuster]

WhoMe thank you for your enlightment!!!!

[Josiah]

WhoMe, I've found spiritual fulfillment while out fishing, wading a stream in the beautiful mountains. The creator is where you find him/her, and that can be anywhere, or everywhere. Besides, the author of this thread is obviously just stirring the pot, with no apparent rhyme or reason.

Ahh yes Pot stirring
But it worked eh?
I read through these posts and still shake my head at how violent and with great passion they get about religion
And when they get that shiny look in there eyes, brother look out!!!

Enough

Peace out

[AngelFeather]

alan,

I would rather enlighten, than "teach you."

Spirituality IS individual. Ask 10 people what spirituality means to them and you will get 10 answers.

Religion is communal and involves groups of individuals. I was once told that Indian languages don't have a specific word that is analogous to the word "Religion." If this is not true somebody please correct me.


Some individuals actually find spiritual fulfillment at powwows! Go figure?

Yes WhoME youre right.. I have been taught the same...concerning the word religion..

[RedShield]

Pow Wows all the way!

Paselo~

[Nezbah]

**sits down with some popcorn..........anybody???**

I still say spirituality lies within the heart. Whether its in a church, teepee, lodge, or a rock, it don't matter. People can preach all the jabba babba they want..... No one can change what I feel in my heart.....

**ding** round 3!!! .............

[little bird]

Everyone is different on how they go about worshiping/honoring God/Our Creator. No one has a right to say ONE way is THE ONLY way to go about it. I really enjoyed the Powwow I went to and met some Christian dancer's. I never saw anything like it and admired them for it. When I joined the dance, a woman commented on the way I was dancing and told me she couldn't believe it was my first time because I was really in touch with everything around me. Made me know that many of the folks in a "church building" needed to see this and learn from different ways of worship...