What Are The Four Characteristics Of Indigenous Religions

Four characteristics of “Indigenous” religions are that they must maintain and restore harmony, are members of a larger spiritual family, pattern all life, and sense a place within the rhythms of life. An important fundamental in most traditional indigenous worldview focuses heavily on maintaining equilibrium with spiritual beings and forces and restoring that balance when it is lost. Although indigenous religions speak of an existence after the present life, it is not often thought of as the ultimate goal to be sought. Since the spirit is everywhere, potentially present at all times, balance must be sought with everything and everyone at all times. When spiritual balance is present, blessings will follow.
Indigenous religions continue to express their strong relationships with nature. The Lakota view of humanity is best expressed in a Lakota phrase repeated in songs and prayers: Mitakuye oysasin. It means “all my relations” or “we are all related” and reflects the biocentric perspective that humans and all living beings are members of one spiritual family. Human
An Oglala Lakota leader stated, “We have no word ‘religion’ in our language. It is not a word appropriate to our traditional way of life (27)”. Oral traditions form the foundation of indigenous societies, connecting speaker and listener in a communal experience. Oral societies record and document their histories through sophisticated rituals. There are also many prescribed group rituals that is crucial in order to preserve or restore harmony. While most oral societies have now adopted the written word as a tool for documentation, expression and communication, many still depend on oral traditions and greatly value the oral transmission of knowledge as an important aspect of their