The Great Spirit Research Paper

Native American beliefs could be viewed as having general doctrine and slightly variations within many tribes, each has a unique detail and incorporations they focused in. Differences noted could be the celebrations made where as some used the incorporation of drums or healers. The Iroquois was one of largest tribes having some specific qualities in beliefs. Generally speaking, their religion is characterized by a monotheistic belief in an all-powerful creator known as the "Great Spirit". The Iroquois believed in the constant care of the Great Spirit. He ruled and administered the world, and the affairs of the red race. The Iroquois did not think it practical to developing a detailed conception of their creator. This knowledge was thought to be greater and beyond their capabilities to understand. His power was administered to the material world through inferior spiritual existences, by whom he was surrounded with. The were known as the Invisible Agents. The power possessed by these spirits was endowed by the Great Spirit. Some of these spirits were given names, however, they were often identified with the object that they presided over. For example, He-no, one of the more popular spirits, was given the thunderbolt and controlled the …show more content…
Evil is represented by the brother of the Great Spirit. These different inferior agents of evil also exist in the material world and are placed there in an attempt to cause havoc. The red race was left to choose either obedience to the Great Spirit or submission to the Evil-minded. It is also important to note that the Iroquois developed the idea of an immortal soul. This leads to the belief of people's souls being judged by the Great Spirit upon the death of the body. The threat of punishment in the after life positively influenced moral decisions made within Iroquois