Deck 2: Indigenous Sacred Ways

Question 1

Descendants of original inhabitants of lands now controlled by larger political systems are called __________.

Answer 1

indigenous peoples

Question 2

The religious term that means a model of the origins of the universe is __________.

Answer 2

cosmogonies

Question 3

Approximately how old are shamanic methods estimated to be?

Answer 3

20,000-30,000 years old

Question 4

Shamans should not be confused with people who use black magic to hurt others, which are known as __________.

Question 5

The Indigenous American practice of cleansing sites and "possessions" with smoke from special herbs is called __________.

Question 6

When after a ritual purification, an individual is sent alone to a sacred spot in order to experience a personal connection with the spirits, they are said to undergo a __________.

Question 7

__________ for all life is the attitude held by Indigenous elders.

Question 8

When indigenous ways were threatened with repression, many of the traditions were practiced __________.

A) in temples
B) throughout the agricultural year
C) in secret
D) by colonists

Question 9

Indigenous spirituality may be described as __________.

A) essentially closed
B) sharply distinguishing between the sacred and the secular
C) indescribable
D) a lifeway that ideally pervades all moments

Question 10

The Dahomey tradition from West Africa was carried to Haiti by African slaves and called __________.

A) Diaspora
B) Vodou
C) Tsalagi
D) Ainu

Question 11

A symbol for the unity of all things that many indigenous cultures use is that of the __________.

A) Arrow
B) Dove
C) Dream
D) Circle

Question 12

Dreamtime refers to the Australian aboriginal understanding of the __________.

A) time before time began
B) sleep practices of indigenous people
C) ordinary dreams people have
D) life after death

Question 13

The Yup'ik of southwestern Alaska know animals as __________.

A) an excellent source of protein
B) more in touch with nature
C) incarnations of the gods
D) thinking, feeling fellow beings

Question 14

Drumming is spiritually important to the Yoruba because it __________.

A) makes great music
B) draws people close to unseen powers
C) interrupts the tedium of daily chores
D) keeps animals away from people as they pray

Question 15

Among shamans, medicine power is considered spiritually __________.

A) neutral
B) evil
C) good
D) ineffectual

Question 16

Despite their geographical diversity, indigenous religions all operate within the same social context.

Question 17

Indigenous peoples comprise at least 17% of the world's population.

Question 18

In most native cultures, spiritual lifeways are shared through written documents.

Question 19

Among many indigenous religious, the cosmos is thought to contain and be affected by numerous divinities, spirits, and also ancestors.

Question 20

Among peoples who perceive kinship with all creation, a striking feature of the natural environment - such as a great mountain - may be perceived as the center from which the whole world was created.

Question 21

Native peoples consider themselves caretakers of their mother, the earth.

Question 22

A common theme in indigenous lifeways is developing an appropriate relationship with spiritual energy.

Question 23

Shamans focus only on healing physical illness.

Question 24

Globalization has helped indigenous sacred ways to grow and thrive.

Question 25

Indigenous religious practices are often interwoven with the practices of a global religion.

Question 26

Indigenous sensitivities are playing an important role in environmental preservation.

Question 27

Indigenous sacred ways are not static but change with time.

Question 28

In many indigenous cultures, women are treated differently during their menstrual periods. Why is this the case? Please give examples of how women's menstrual blood is variously regarded and what this indicates about the cultures' perceptions of women's spiritual power or lack thereof.

Question 29

Compare any two indigenous cultures discussed in this chapter. What do they share in common? How are they different? Is it possible, based on these two examples, to develop a general description of indigenous lifeways?

Question 30

Illustrate the effects of globalization on indigenous people, citing concrete examples drawn from the chapter. How might these effects be mitigated today by more sensitive and self-critical approaches of western scholars, business people, etc. on native populations?

Question 31

As indigenous peoples mingle with industrialized nations in an increasingly globalized world, indigenous elders seek to convert others to a respect for life rather than to convert to their religious traditions. What strategies might they use to maintain and share their values with people from very different contexts?