The Circle of Life Essay Example
Nelda S. Scott
INT-244
05/09/14
Mr. Dan Henke
The Circle of Life Black Elk introduces us to the “Circle of Life” perspective on time, space, and being, which is common to many primal religions. In this essay I will discuss this religious worldview and describe its understanding and perceptions of reality. Contrast it to the more linear time, space, and being concepts of modern cultural religions. Lastly, I will compare Black Elk’s ideas with the Christian view of nature and purpose of Creation. This is the quote from Black Elk, Ogala Sioux Holy Man, “You have noticed that everything and Indian does is in a circle and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round…Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round like the nests of birds, and these were always set in a circle. The nation’s hoop, a nest of many nests, where the Great Spirit meant for us to hatch our children.” The Circle of Life has many different meanings for everyone. The circle of life begins when we are born into the world. When we are born there is a connection to family. Our life continues in circles and our children are taught in circles. I know that we all are familiar with the saying, what goes around, will come back around. Whatever we do to a person will sooner or later come back in a circle. In the Word of God it states, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth, that he shall also reap.” (Galatians 6:7 NIV) So we must remember whatever we do in life whether good or bad will come back in a circle. According to our lecture notes, “the world is biocentric and all living flora and fauna is
INT-244
05/09/14
Mr. Dan Henke
The Circle of Life Black Elk introduces us to the “Circle of Life” perspective on time, space, and being, which is common to many primal religions. In this essay I will discuss this religious worldview and describe its understanding and perceptions of reality. Contrast it to the more linear time, space, and being concepts of modern cultural religions. Lastly, I will compare Black Elk’s ideas with the Christian view of nature and purpose of Creation. This is the quote from Black Elk, Ogala Sioux Holy Man, “You have noticed that everything and Indian does is in a circle and that is because the Power of the World always works in circles, and everything tries to be round…Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round like the nests of birds, and these were always set in a circle. The nation’s hoop, a nest of many nests, where the Great Spirit meant for us to hatch our children.” The Circle of Life has many different meanings for everyone. The circle of life begins when we are born into the world. When we are born there is a connection to family. Our life continues in circles and our children are taught in circles. I know that we all are familiar with the saying, what goes around, will come back around. Whatever we do to a person will sooner or later come back in a circle. In the Word of God it states, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth, that he shall also reap.” (Galatians 6:7 NIV) So we must remember whatever we do in life whether good or bad will come back in a circle. According to our lecture notes, “the world is biocentric and all living flora and fauna is