God Is Red A Native View of Religion by Vine Deloria Jr.   Paperback 320 pages (March 1994) North Amer Pr ISBN: 1555911765 Bookshelf Categories Native American Spirituality

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Synopsis:

Deloria, a prominent Native American educator, lawyer, and philosopher, has updated his classic work on native religion. In God is Red Deloria argues convincingly that Christianity has failed today's society, and describes basic tenets that underlie Native religions. His other works include Behind the Trail of Broken Treaties and Custer Died for Your Sins.

A classic, thought-provoking work on Native religion

In this powerful book, Vine Deloria tells us about religious life that is not dependent on Christianity but rather reveres the interconnectedness of all things in nature.

Deloria reminds us to learn that "we are a part of nature, not a transcendent species with no responsibility to the natural world," and asks new questions about our species and our ultimate fate as we move into a new century.

Reviews:

A brilliantly crafted introduction to animistic theology.	12/7/2000
Reviewer: A reader from Bath, ME United States
Dr. Deloria's early years in Lutheran seminary serve him well in this cogent exposition of traditional world views. He makes a good and maturely developed case for the animistic viewpoint inherent in most indigenous religions, and does so in a way that any patient and intellegent reader can grasp. Very coherent, challenging but not impenetrable. Dr. Deloria explores his subject matter deeply without patronizing and leaving the reader behind. He's been a favorite of mine for decades, and this is close to being my favorite work by him. I would love to take one of his classes!

An important, thought-provoking, but flawed book.	6/26/1999
Reviewer: A reader from Nashville, Tennessee
God is Red, by Vine Deloria, Jr., is an important, thought-provoking book that should be required reading in religous studies courses. However, there are several shortcomings that should be pointed out: 1. He tends to lump Jews and Christians together in discussing the problems of the so-called "fall" story in Genesis, and the concept of "original sin." Judaism does not have a doctrine of original sin. The morning prayers in the Jewish prayer book include the following: "My God, the soul you have given me, she is pure." 2. Many Christians also do not subscribe to the doctrine of "original sin/original guilt," especially as propounded by Augustin of Hippo. Nor is the notion of personal salvation from an inherited state of sin the only Christian theological position. Salvation and redemption are more complex concepts about which there is a broad range of theological definition. Mr. Deloria's opinion that the validiity of the Christian religion depends critically on treating the "fall" as a historical event is a narrow view. It may be the most prominent stream of Western theology--and certainly the one that has in confronted native peoples with claims of superiority and demands of conversion, for which it justly deserves condemnation--but it is by no means the universal Christian theology or spirituality. 3. Mr. Deloria has set up one theological position as a counterpoint to his argument. He should read more broadly in theology--e.g., the Eastern Orthodox churches, whose theology is substantially different from that of most Potestants and Roman Catholics. 4. There are many "dispersed" peoples in the world, who long ago lost any connection to a specific sacred place. That does not necessarily mean that they are spiritually adrift. I have a varied ancestry covering different countries, cultures and religions. I have no spiritual connection to one sacred place. If I can't know the place under my feet as sacred, and realize the holiness of the earth, trees, grasses, rocks, waters, birds, animals, etc. around me, then I would have little connection to creation indeed. And I agree with Mr. Deloria that a religion whose "connection" is solely with history and the time-dimension is one bereft of real spiritual rootedness. Despite the criticisms mentioned above, this book presents a powerful challenge to some deep flaws in inherited Christian doctrine, and any religion that attempts to base itself on abstract, "universal" concepts divorced from the reality of creation. The "Native view of religion" is perhaps the most viable antidote, and Mr. Deloria presents the rich truths embodied in American Indian tribal religions with clarity and forcefulness.

Biting Critique of Modern Popular Christianity	10/16/1998
Reviewer: A reader from New York, NY
This is a fascinating book. The critique of many of modern Christianity's shortcomings is accurate and relevant, though I think Mr. Deloria has a little too much fun ridiculing Christianity's efforts to make itself more relevant to modern life. Any religious thought system should be allowed to advance, and some of the things he brings up are not things to be ridiculed, but advancements to be commended. His case for the Native American point of view, however, is very compelling. It is a philosophy that I find myself being drawn to very strongly. I have recently discovered that I have Native American blood in my veins, and have become very interested in finding out more about this part of my heritage. The biggest two problems with this book, at least for me, are thus: 1) Mr. Delaria fails to provide those of us living in the city with any way to honor the ways of Native religion, tying it so strongly to place that those of us that can't get there are left pretty much on our own. Perhaps this is missing the point, and what he is saying is that a Native viewpoint is not compatable at all with modern city life. But if this is the point, then what hope is there of a more compassionate, earth-centered point of view taking hold? And 2), amid all of the statements that ring with truth, there are wild stories about "space astronauts" creating humans to be their slaves, and other such seeming nonsense. Delaria has many fine, valid points to make in this book, and these diversions into wild, unprobable speculation only serve to weaken his otherwise unassailable thesis.