Status
Available
Call number
Call number
RS
Publication
Golden, Colo. : Fulcrum Pub., c2003.
Original publication date
1973
Physical description
xvii, 325 p.; 23 cm
Local notes
First published in 1972, God Is Red remains the seminal work on Native religious views, asking new questions about our species and our ultimate fate. Celebrating three decades in publication with a special 30th anniversary edition, this classic work reminds us to learn "that we are a part of nature, not a transcendent species with no repsponsibilities to the natural world." It is time again to listen to Vine Deloria Jr.'s powerful voice, telling us about religious life that is independent from Christianity and that reveres the interconnectedness of all living things.
User reviews
LibraryThing member BradKautz
I serve as the pastor of a Christian church within the Reformed tradition that has been on a Native American reservation for a bit over 100 years. I've served here three years and in that time I have continually tried to learn and understand Native American spirituality in general terms, and more
Deloria was legendary as a voice for Native Americans, particularly as he was an academic and had both access to and credibility with the powers that be politically and culturally. Son and grandson of Episcopal priest and possessing a graduate degree from a Lutheran seminary he had at one time intended on entering vocational Christian ministry himself. With these credentials perhaps my expectations were too high, for ultimately God is Red was unable to answer those questions that I find to be fundamental for understanding Native American spirituality.
What I did learn is that Deloria appears to have an axe to grind with Christianity. He purports to present both sides of a number of spiritual issues, i.e. a Native side and a Christian side. Time and again the Native side is held out as superior, although with little actual substance as to why. And the Christian side, seen from my particular vantage point, is misrepresented. For a man of Deloria's background in Christianity, i.e. growing up in a Christian home and obtaining a graduate theological degree, he demonstrates a poor and circumscribed understanding of Christian theology and doctrine.
While he doesn't explicitly say so it would appear from his writing that he rejected Christianity as his own spiritual position. As a pastor I would love to know why that happened and to understand what he replaced it with. If he had written a spiritual memoir perhaps I would have gained the understanding I am still looking for: How do people following tradition Native practices understand and relate to God? In the end God is Red is not so much "A Native view of religion" as it is Deloria's conclusions about Christianity.
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specifically to answer this question: how does Native American spirituality understand and relate to God? As I have sought an answer one thing I have learned is that there does not appear to be a uniform and/or coherent understanding of Native American spirituality, either within my particular setting or more broadly through the larger Native American community. So I was excited and encouraged when I stumbled across God is Red, by Vine Deloria, who intended to present a Native view of religion.Deloria was legendary as a voice for Native Americans, particularly as he was an academic and had both access to and credibility with the powers that be politically and culturally. Son and grandson of Episcopal priest and possessing a graduate degree from a Lutheran seminary he had at one time intended on entering vocational Christian ministry himself. With these credentials perhaps my expectations were too high, for ultimately God is Red was unable to answer those questions that I find to be fundamental for understanding Native American spirituality.
What I did learn is that Deloria appears to have an axe to grind with Christianity. He purports to present both sides of a number of spiritual issues, i.e. a Native side and a Christian side. Time and again the Native side is held out as superior, although with little actual substance as to why. And the Christian side, seen from my particular vantage point, is misrepresented. For a man of Deloria's background in Christianity, i.e. growing up in a Christian home and obtaining a graduate theological degree, he demonstrates a poor and circumscribed understanding of Christian theology and doctrine.
While he doesn't explicitly say so it would appear from his writing that he rejected Christianity as his own spiritual position. As a pastor I would love to know why that happened and to understand what he replaced it with. If he had written a spiritual memoir perhaps I would have gained the understanding I am still looking for: How do people following tradition Native practices understand and relate to God? In the end God is Red is not so much "A Native view of religion" as it is Deloria's conclusions about Christianity.
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LibraryThing member PuddinTame
This is a great book when Deloria is actually talking about Native American religion. Unfortunately, he chooses to spend a fair amount of time on other hobby horses, like the controversy about Velikovsky. One might want to read the first part and skip the rest.
LibraryThing member KendraRenee
A thought-provoking book that provides some good insight into Native Indian perspectives and opinions. However, I don't like his double-standard of Christianity and native religions--that Native religions CAN=culture, while it's a failure of Christianity if IT doesn't reflect culture? He also
Not that I'm Christian. In fact, I liked his critique of American Christian society, I truly did. He was right on target, obviously knows what he's talking about. I wish more people would read this book who needed to--I didn't.
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accuses many non-Indians of idealizing about historical Indian society, but then he does the very same thing!! In talking about Native American religion, he waxes romantic about how things used to be, even though, now, their religious communities have deteriorated too. Thirdly, he maintains that whites, or non-Indians, can't understand what it's like to feel tied to the land ... but many families in the U.S. DO stay in one place, DO feel very connected to, responsible for, and connected with the land they've lived on for generations. To keep this short, he's guilty of the same ego-centrism and nostalgia that he criticizes Christians for.Not that I'm Christian. In fact, I liked his critique of American Christian society, I truly did. He was right on target, obviously knows what he's talking about. I wish more people would read this book who needed to--I didn't.
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LibraryThing member Czrbr
Book Description: Golden CO Fulcrum Publishing c. 1994. Very Good; Very minor wear on the clean, sound binding.
LibraryThing member LivelyLady
It helped that I read this while visiting the west and native American cultural centers! Great explanation of native American spirituality, how they believe you cannot have a religion without a shared culture. Gives understanding and credibility to the Mormons and the Jewish cultures. Also
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describes their religion as circular as opposed to vertical as Christianity is. I would love to have read this for discussion. Show Less
LibraryThing member yellerreads
This updated version asks questions about our species and our ultimate fate.
LibraryThing member ritaer
Deloria tries to convey the basic differences in religious outlook between native beliefs and practices and those of Christianity.