American Indian Liberation

How Eurocentric understandings of Jesus and God clash with American Indian worldviews-and how Christian Indians define themselves and their faith today.

A leading Christian Indian theologian describes the oppression suffered by American Indians since the arrival of European colonists, whose worldview and attempts to convert the native population brought both literal and spiritual decimation. Not surprisingly, the methodology, language, and understandings of Christian beliefs of the colonists-and the majority society since the colonial period-largely failed to “Christianize” the native population, and indeed make Christianity incomprehensible to them.

“‘What can the death of a man 2000 years ago possibly have to do with people who live today?’ Covered in black grease, my brother looked up from the engine of an old truck long enough to ask a serious theological question. He had been raised a Christian Indian, but had begun incorporating traditional spiritual practices, including the Sun Dance, back into his life for several years. . . . ‘Why do you dance?’ was the question I asked in return. . . His only reply as he dove back into the engine compartment was, ‘Oh!… Yeah.'”