The Religions of the American Indians (Hermeneutics: Studies in the History of Religions)

Hermeneutics: Studies in the History of Religions

by Åke Hultkrantz, Monica Setterwall (Translator)

This book presents a comprehensive survey of the complex indigenous religions of the Americas, both North and South, as they were in the past and as they still exist in some societies.

335 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Todd Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have this thing for American Indian culture, history, anthropology, archeology, religion, mythology, everything! So whenever I see an intriguing book about American Indians I've just gotta read it. But of all the books I've read on the subject I think this is my favorite. If you really want to understand a people then understanding what they believe is a good start. One thing I like about this book is that it deals with a wide range of groups. The first half talks about tribal religions and the second half deals with religions of some of the larger civilizations. And the best part (and this is rare) is that it touches on South America too! Not as much research has been done there but South American Indians are my particular interest (especially the Guaranies).

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author investigates the various religious aspects of the American Indians. All had creation myths as part of their beliefs but that was the only common religious thread. This copy was an English translation by Monica Setterwall.

[Hubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely comprehensive overview of religious thought among Native American societies, both North American tribal, and Central American empires (Incas, Mayans, Aztecs).

In the North American half of the book, the author takes significant effort to clarify terms (cult, shaman, medicine-man) to clear up any confusion extant in the literature. The importance of medicine-men and shamans in the North American sphere is not to be ignored. Various symbologies (rain, water, sun) proliferate, and the author gets into details as to how these various celestial bodies are tied to specific characters.

The last half of the book focuses on the larger, hierarchically organized civilizations of the Mayas, Incas, and Aztecs. One point the author makes is that many of the more recent rituals stem from Christianity itself (post European colonization). Much is made of the human sacrifice required of the Aztecs.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend this work to first-timers like myself wanting to learn about religious behaviors among Native Americans. I needed less of the overall theorizing and more of the stories, narratives, data, and examples to have a better picture of the variety of practices considered religious. Nonetheless, I'm glad to have read this.