When the Europeans first made contact with the natives of the Americas, religion played a large part in the encounter. The two groups underwent many stages such as native destruction, native conversion, and the suppression of native voices. In this way Europeans and Native Americans conflicted and exchanged ideas.
It is difficult to pinpoint the ideas behind Native American religious practices because there are so many widespread tribes, from the Caribbean to what is now Canada, each with different beliefs and rituals. In general, Native Americans often had a belief system based on nature and ancestor worship. Animism played an important part in their religious experience since they relied on game for survival. Tribes usually had a shaman or medicine man that would perform healing rituals. For most Native
[...] As it turned out, Native Americans were able to easily adapt Christ into their polytheistic view of the world. The downside to this fashion of missionary work is that fighting broke out between the Iroquois and Huron tribes. The Iroquois, who resented the Jesuits' presence, tortured and killed the missionaries. This tension between the Europeans and the Native Americans didn't disappear anytime soon. When the Puritans arrived on the New World scene, they also feared the Native Americans. Some Puritans did believe that the Indians should be taught Christianity as part of the Puritans' own holy quest, as was discussed in Stout and Butler's first chapter. [...]
[...] Consequences of the Encounter When the Europeans first made contact with the natives of the Americas, religion played a large part in the encounter. The two groups underwent many stages such as native destruction, native conversion, and the suppression of native voices. In this way Europeans and Native Americans conflicted and exchanged ideas. It is difficult to pinpoint the ideas behind Native American religious practices because there are so many widespread tribes, from the Caribbean to what is now Canada, each with different beliefs and rituals. [...]
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