Sacred
Earth: The Spiritual Landscape of Native America
By Versluis, Arthur
Pub Date: 06/92
Publisher: Inner Traditions International
Binding: Trade Paper, 342pp.
ISBN: 0892813520
Our Price $12.95
Publisher
This eye-opening
journey through the terrain of Native American spirituality contrasts
contemporary society's rejection of the sacred - and its arrogant belief
in its own power to control the cosmos - with native traditions of
reverence for the earth. The author reconstructs the archetypal and
symbolic significance of indigenous rituals and sacred sites, placing
Native American spirituality in the context of the world's great
religions. The comparison illustrates the richness and universality of
the native approach to the earth as a cherished being and reveals the
poverty of our present-day attitudes toward the natural environment and
its living creatures.
Library
Journal
Versluis, editor of
Avaloka: A Journal of Traditional Religion and Culture , offers a
much-needed understanding of Native American religion. Through
discussion of how the religions of Native Americans compare with
traditional religions, he finds ground for a common spirituality. While
contemporary society emphasizes ecology, Versluis points out that Native
Americans always had a love and respect for the environment and a
recognition of the spiritual qualities of nature. This book may prove a
bit difficult for lay readers, yet it is necessary reading for those
seeking a greater understanding of Native American spirituality. For
Native American and religion collections.-- James F. Wood Sr.,
Hillsborough Community Coll. Lib., Tampa, Fla.
Sacred
Earth: The Spiritual Landscape of Native America