Synopses & Reviews
First published in 1972, God Is Red remains the seminal work on Native religious views, asking new questions about our species and our ultimate fate. Celebrating three decades in publication with a special 30th anniversary edition, this classic work reminds us to learn "that we are a part of nature, not a transcendent species with no repsponsibilities to the natural world." It is time again to listen to Vine Deloria Jr.'s powerful voice, telling us about religious life that is independent from Christianity and that reveres the interconnectedness of all living things.
Vine's books influenced our generation and are as important to United States culural history as are books by Norman Mailer and Tom Wolfe. This will be appreciated by future generations when U.S. history ceases to be fabricated for the glory of the white man. In God is Red Vine explains how Christianity is the root cause of this great weakness of the United States—the inablity to respect to respect or tolerate those who are different. Clearly, this weakness of the United States has only worsened in recent years, with wars against former allies Manuel Noriega, Saddam Hussein, and Osama Bin Laden...God is Red should be read and re-read by Americans who want to understand why the United States keeps losing the peace, war after war. — from the forward by Leslie Marmon Silko, author of Ceremony.
Review
"Deloria's thinking on the subject of religion has lost none of its rage or relevance...since God is Red was first published. This book is broader than its subtitle suggests. It is a trenchant and often witty critique on non-Native religion through Native eyes." — Awkekon Journal
"Deloria's handling of the contrast between Christianity and the naturalistic religion of the American Indians is rich in perceptiveness." — Choice
"Vine Deloria, Jr. could be one of the most important living Native American writers, and insofar as there can be any hope of human survival in the face of civilization's insane onslaught, one of the most important writers ever to exist." -- The Bloomsbury Review
"The flagship book on Native American spirituality remains Vine Deloria's God is Red. He does an outstanding job of translating complex spiritual issues into very simple truths." — Wilma P. Mankiller, Former Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation
Synopsis
First published in 1972, God Is Redremains the seminal work on Native religious views, asking new questions about our species and our ultimate fate. This best-selling classic reminds us to learn "that we are a part of nature, not a transcendent species with no responsibilities to the natural world."
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 307-311) and index.
Synopsis
The seminal work on Native religious views, asking questions about our species and our ultimate fate.
About the Author
Named by
Time magazine one of the greatest religious thinkers of the twentieth century, Vine Deloria Jr. was a leading Native American scholar, whose research, writings, and teaching have encompassed history, law, religious studies, and political science. He is the author of many acclaimed books, including
Evolution, Creationism, and Other Modern Myths;
Red Earth, White Lies;
Spirit and Reason; and
Custer Died for Your Sins.Table of Contents
The Indian movement -- The Indians of the American imagination -- The religious challenge -- Thinking in time and space -- The problem of creation -- The concept of history -- The spatial problem of history -- Origin of religion -- Natural and hybrid peoples -- Death and religion -- Human personality -- The group -- Christianity and contemporary American culture -- Tribal religions and contemporary American culture -- The aboriginal world and Christian history -- Sacred places and moral responsibility -- Religion today.