The American Indian
...original settlers in North America lived mainly as hunters and gatherers. During the earliest times, i.e. the Stone Age, the North American settlers had the same culture as did other people living in the north. However, after some time, ecological changes led to cultural changes as well, when around 20,000 years ago, groups of people moved to lower areas of North America and settled there. These groups started sharing distinct cultures which were in line with their environment and surroundings. As culture evolved and ways of life changed, the traditional religious practices were still followed. The different Native American communities all had their own separate worldview, distinct myths, conducted its own rituals, and acted according to its basic values.
When the religious beliefs of North American settlers were being documented, a number of key observations were made: these natives were very interested in the cycles of nature; they believed that all beings were alive; they thought they could control cosmic powers, they relied a lot on shamans who were religious specialists and they believed that religion and economics could be looked at in the same light. ("The Pages of Shades Native Americans")
Religion:
Native American religion is very unlike conventional religions such as Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam in the sense that it has no single founder. It is not a story of people with a strong religious background. It is not ancient and adaptable to today's contemporary times. Precisely speaking, there is not even a single religious expression which is the same for all the 250 prominent Native American communities present today. These people have no idea how their ancestors practiced religion in historic times. War ravage and destruction broke the chain, and today, Native Americans who want to know their religious background...
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