The original attitude of the American Indian toward the Eternal, the “Great Mystery” that surrounds and embraces us, was as simple as it was exalted. To him it was the supreme conception, bringing with it the fullest measure of joy and satisfaction possible in this life.  The worship of the “Great Mystery” was silent, solitary, free from all self-seeking. It was silent, because all speech is of necessity feeble and imperfect; therefore the souls of my ancestors ascended to God in wordless adoration. It was solitary, because they believed that He is nearer to us in solitude, and there were no priests authorized to come between a man and his Maker. None might exhort or confess or in any way meddle with the religious experience of another. Among us all men were created sons of God and stood erect, as conscious of their divinity. Our faith might not be formulated in creeds, nor forced upon any who were unwilling to receive it; hence there was no preaching, proselyting, nor persecution, neither were there any scoffers or atheists.

Soul Of The Indian

Charles A. Eastman

Brenda J. Child

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Holding Our World Together: Ojibwe Women and the Survival of Community

Recorded Books, Inc. and Blackstone Publishing

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Books by Brenda J. Child

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Brenda J. Child. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Soul Of The Indian

Holding Our World Together: Ojibwe Women and the Survival of Community