Title: Cosmos, self, and history in Baniwa religion
First published: 1998
Description: The Baniwa Indians of the Northwest Amazon (a frontier region on the borders of Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia) have engaged in millenarian movements since at least the middle of the nineteenth century. The defining characteristic of these movements is usually a prophecy of the end of this present world and the restoration of the primordial, utopian world of creation. This prophetic message, delivered by powerful shamans, has its roots in Baniwa myths of origin and creation.

In this ethnography of Baniwa religion, Robin M. Wright explores the myths of creation and how they have been embodied in religious movements and social action - particularly in a widespread conversion to evangelical Christianity.

This research sheds new light on millenarian, messianic, and prophetic movements in native South America. The book contributes to current theoretical discussions in anthropology on the links between myth, social action, and history. And it adds important new material to studies of the relations among native religions and Christianity.
Subjects: Social life and customs, Baniwa Indians, Religion, Christianity and culture, Nativistic movements, Baniwa philosophy, Shamanism, Indians of south america, religion, Indians of south america, social life and customs, Amazon river and valley
Places: Amazon River Valley
LC classification: F2520.1.B35 W75 1998