Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1913-05-29
The Indians Religion.


ends with the following;
The Indians Religion.
THE Indians idea. therefore, is
briefly this, that there was an orig.
inal First Cause, Creator who
planned and made everything but
that he now takes no part In the
governance OF the universe and
therefore neither rewards nor pun
ishes.
"The Indian appears 90 be a bcliev-
cr in simple and natural laws only.
He believes that man pruspers and
is happy in this life and the next in
SO far as he abides by these natural
laws, and that he suffers ANA is pun
ished when he infrlnEes them. TO Il
certain extent this is very ,rue
heaven and hell are Of mans own
making. The Indian, of course. has
no idea OF fan from primitive pur-
ity or Of an atonement for sin that
Is, an atonement made hy some per
feet being on behalf of the imperfect
and no idea Of the resurrection of
the body.
He regards the soul as immortal
In fact, he cannot conceive the pos
sibility OF mans personality coasing
To exist The after life is to him sim
ply "A continuation Of tho present
only in a disembodiod condition. He
does not regard the future life as q
greater, happier and better existence,
nor has he any knowledge Of fu-
ture on an evil life led I'm thar body.
He regards the body as the only
means by which the soul can really
enjoy itself, and he has little, II any,
idea OF intellectual or spiritual en-
ioyment. He accordingly does not
view the life after death with any
real pleasure, for TO him life In the
disembodied state will bo dun and
void. But, on the other hand as
suffering to the Indian means prar-
tically only physical suffering, so in
the after life. although he viii be de
barred from pleasure, vet he win also
escape from much, II not all, of the
pain, sorrow and trouble which at
tend him In the present
Holding as he does that the Creator
takes no interest In the affairs OF
man, he naturally renders him no
worship. In fact, he worships moth
ing, and his efforts are confined to
avoiding the consequences of evll-do-
ing on earth and 10 warding off the
hlvilthama splrits) who he
holds, are continually seeking to mar
his happiness.
THE Indian, like men OF other
races. possesses the ordinary natural
instincts-love for his friends, par
ents and children, sympathy with
others in distress and in trouble, and
the like. Beyond this his object in
life is to crafty his desires ms far as
possible without getting himself into
trouble"
What pity that such plain,
practical working philosophy OF life
should be marred by the dread of
demons, spirits devils and similar
supcrstitions.
Social System is Harmful.
Another remarkable feature Of In
dian life In the Chac0, which, ac-
cording to Mr.. Grub, has had much
to do with their degeneration, is
their economic ana social system. The
features OF this system as IT has ex-
listed among them for at least four
hundred years are summarized ms
follows:
The land belongs to the people
generally, and no Indian, not even a
chief, has any direct claim to any
part of it over his fellows. No In
dian is encouraged to have more pos
sessions than his neighbor. Their
flocks fed on the common pasture
and they only lay claim to their gar
dens while actually cultivating them
The natural products Of the
country, such as game, honey, wild
fruits. fish and firewOod are the
common property Of all, ana native
law enjoins the widest hospitality.
Every man is supposed to hunt.
There is no such thing as a lelsured