All around the world there are different religions and belief systems, each slightly different than the other. The Zuñi’s from Zuñi, New Mexico are one of these many religious groups that have their own traditions, including traditions for death. In the short article, An American Indian View of Death, author Dennis Tedlock shows a slight view into the Zuñi’s religious background by describing the impact that the death of one had on them all.
Death, in the Zuni’s perspective, can be seen days before the death takes place. In this story, Otho, the man deceased, had suddenly been seen as “in a hurry” and “learning skills much too fast” by his stepfather Lewis. Otho’s grandfather Daniel has also noticed that Otho had been, “teasing and joking …show more content…
When speaking of Otho’s transistor radio his uncle Tom said, “he took that with him.” suggesting that there was a place Otho went after he died. It is evident that the loved ones of the deceased felt an immense amount of guilt and sadness; however, they only allow themselves four days of grieving. After the four nights of mourning, the family of the deceased left the door open so that “the soul could go out.” as stated by Daniel, also suggesting that there was an afterlife for the dead. The place for the dead in the Zuñi religion is known as Kachina Village, a place very similar to heaven from Christianity. In order for a Zuñi to end up in Kachina Village after they die, the body must be brought directly home where the family may have their time to grieve, and then buried in the cemetery in front of the ruins of the seventeenth century Spanish mission.
Alike many other religions, the Zuñi’s have many beliefs and traditions. The Zuñi’s express guilt and sadness when accidents occur, but in the end are accepting of what has happened. Although in this article they were grieving the loss of a loved one, it illuminated their characteristics as being hardworking, religious, and family oriented. Through the death of Otho, author Dennis Tedlock was able to exemplify the religious background of the Zuni’s and what matters most to
Death, in the Zuni’s perspective, can be seen days before the death takes place. In this story, Otho, the man deceased, had suddenly been seen as “in a hurry” and “learning skills much too fast” by his stepfather Lewis. Otho’s grandfather Daniel has also noticed that Otho had been, “teasing and joking …show more content…
When speaking of Otho’s transistor radio his uncle Tom said, “he took that with him.” suggesting that there was a place Otho went after he died. It is evident that the loved ones of the deceased felt an immense amount of guilt and sadness; however, they only allow themselves four days of grieving. After the four nights of mourning, the family of the deceased left the door open so that “the soul could go out.” as stated by Daniel, also suggesting that there was an afterlife for the dead. The place for the dead in the Zuñi religion is known as Kachina Village, a place very similar to heaven from Christianity. In order for a Zuñi to end up in Kachina Village after they die, the body must be brought directly home where the family may have their time to grieve, and then buried in the cemetery in front of the ruins of the seventeenth century Spanish mission.
Alike many other religions, the Zuñi’s have many beliefs and traditions. The Zuñi’s express guilt and sadness when accidents occur, but in the end are accepting of what has happened. Although in this article they were grieving the loss of a loved one, it illuminated their characteristics as being hardworking, religious, and family oriented. Through the death of Otho, author Dennis Tedlock was able to exemplify the religious background of the Zuni’s and what matters most to