Navajo Religions

Three predominant religions most influence the modern Navajo: their native cultural religion*, the Native American Church (the Peyote Way), and the effects of Christian and Catholic evangelization of the Navajo Tribe [ * NOTE:  Navajos are sometimes said not to have a traditional religion because their "religious" practices are so integral to all of life).

Navajo Traditional Religion

The Navajo traditional religion claims that the Dine' were created in a sequential fashion over a short period of time, perhaps 1-2 months.  Five Worlds, or levels, of the Navajo world were created, each serving to build upon the weaknesses of the previous one.

After light and darkness, water and sky, and then the world of the Sparrow Chief were created, First Man and First Woman were created from ears of corn.

Their descendants became the early Pueblo people who were sent to the lower world (earth) to multiply.

The rest of the Navajo creation story involves characters such as Coyote, Hawk, and Locust; all creatures who individually contributed to the discovery of the "island in a lake" where First Man and First Woman followed to bear children and multiply the pure line of the Navajo race.

The Navajo traditional religion today is carried forth by medicine men, or "singers" who perform elaborate rituals that may last between a few hours to a week. They relate to particular portions of the Navajo creation stories.

A person who is "out of harmony" or has some kind of sickness goes to a diagnostician who uses hand-trembling, crystal-gazing or other methods to determine the taboo that has been broken and prescribes a particular "sing." The family will enlist the services of a medicine man (at considerable expense) who is trained in that particular ceremony. The medicine man communes with the spirit world to help bring the person back into harmony (hozho) with nature. Tools used by the medicine man include sandpaintings depicting scenes from Navajo creation stories, feathers, herbs, canes, and medicine bundles.

Native American Church ( or The Peyote Way)

The Native American Church was founded in the late 1880's in Oklahoma by the Otoe Tribe as part of the last great Ghost Dance movement of the Plains Indians.  The Ghost Dance of the 1880's was to be the last in a line of several great revitalization movements of the Native American people.

The collective tribes hoped to band together as one in order to drive the white man off his land forever.  After this final effort failed, only the Native American Church was left to carry on this cause of all Indians.

The Church gained their nickname of "The Peyote Way" due to their use of the peyote button, a drug which cause the user to have hallucinations and visions.  The Indians feel it is by this method that they can gain access to their ancestors for guidance and understanding of their grief.

After almost 110 years, the Native American Church is still growing on the reservation lands of America and Canada.  They are marked by the presence of the Peyote tepee, which is used by this mobile church for all-night ceremonies and worship services.

It is estimated that over 60 percent of all Navajo people have participated in the Peyote ceremony at least once in their life.

Christianity

The history of Christian mission work on the reservation is one of great joy and frustration.  The Catholic Church first attempted to convert the tribe starting in the late 1600's, as mission churches and schools were established to "Christianize the heathen" Navajo.

Eventually Protestant denominations entered and established their own mission agencies to the Navajo.

One group became so frustrated with the lack of response by the Navajo, that in the 1890's they totally removed all of their missionaries from the Reservation.  This group stated that the Navajo were "doomed to the same fate as Sodom and Gomorrah" and that the Indians would never come to Christ.  To this day, this denomination has had little success in their many attempts to re-establish mission work among the Tribe.

After decades upon decades of little fruit among the Navajo, God opened the doors of evangelization in great and mighty ways.

Veteran missionaries still recall the tremendous revival among the People in what is now known as the "forty incredible years."  Prior to 1930, only a small handful of Navajo pastors had been trained or continuing churches established.

From 1935 to 1975, over 400 Navajo pastors were trained and more than 200 churches started.  The Word of God spread like fire among people who lived in a spiritual desert land.

Approximately  70 percent of all Navajos are under the age of 27, and 49 percent  are under the age of 21.  Now, as never before, a great opportunity exists to share Christ with the children and families of the Navajo Reservation.