Indigenous Spirituality
Surviving persecution and a civil war, Maya spirituality finds new footing
By Emily Neil — August 3, 2023
(RNS) — Practitioners of the ancient Central American faith are hopeful that young Maya Guatemalans will continue to seek out and embrace their spiritual heritage.
Mexico’s native ethnic groups promote their heritage during Oaxaca’s biggest cultural festival
By MarÍa Teresa HernÁndez — July 27, 2023
OAXACA, México (AP) — During the government-sponsored event, 16 Indigenous ethnic groups and the Afro-Mexican community promote their traditions through public dances, parades and craft sales.
Smithsonian Folklife Festival on National Mall explores often-unfamiliar spirituality
By Adelle M. Banks — June 30, 2023
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The lead curator of the 'Creative Encounters' program hopes it will give the public a chance to 'pull back the curtain' on spiritual practices.
Arizona’s Oak Flat is sacred land to some Native Americans, but it’s endangered by a plan for a mine
By Deepa Bharath and Alejandra Molina — June 29, 2023
OAK FLAT, Ariz. (AP/RNS) — A religiously diverse coalition — Christian, Muslim, Sikh and other Native American groups — has backed the Apache Stronghold by filing amicus briefs.
Montana acts to protect Native American priority in adopting Native children
By Matthew Brown — May 24, 2023
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — It's a proactive move to protect such rights as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a case that could undercut them nationally.
For 25th year, State Department reports on threats, triumphs in religious freedom
By Adelle M. Banks — May 16, 2023
(RNS) — The report, which assesses conditions in 199 countries, also looks at policies and laws, including those about blasphemy and apostasy, that ‘criminalize religious expression.’
Undoing the Christian nationalism of the Doctrine of Discovery
By Andrew Whitehead — May 8, 2023
(RNS) — More direct action from the Catholic Church is necessary to uproot the remnants of the
Doctrine.
Raw materials, or sacred beings? Lithium extraction puts two worldviews into tension
By Mario Orospe Hernández — May 1, 2023
(The Conversation) — Lithium extraction in Bolivia poses more than environmental questions: It illustrates how notions about ‘raw materials’ can be at odds with Indigenous relations with the land.
Lutherans launch initiative joining Indigenous-led Truth and Healing Movement
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 13, 2023
(RNS) — ‘It’s pretty tremendous that a bishop has commissioned a movement,’ said Vance Blackfox, the ELCA’s director for Indigenous ministries and tribal relations.
In ‘God on Psychedelics,’ Don Lattin offers a roadmap of congregational tripping
By Yonat Shimron — April 10, 2023
(RNS) — The veteran religion reporter investigates how various religious groups are using psychedelics to inspire chemically induced mystical experiences.
Cubans seek solutions and solace in Santería amid crises
By Associated Press — April 10, 2023
HAVANA (AP) — A fusion of African religions and Catholicism, Santería was one of the few religious practices to quietly endure through decades of prohibitions and stigma by the communist government.
Indigenous activists share mixed feelings on Vatican repudiation of Doctrine of Discovery
By Emily McFarlan Miller — April 5, 2023
(RNS) — ‘They haven’t even begun to come to terms with the true nature of what we’re actually talking about,’ Steven Newcomb said.
Church-state separationist Barry Lynn recounts his legal arguments in new memoirs
By Adelle M. Banks — April 3, 2023
(RNS) — 'It is people who are hurting, people who are outcasts, that appealed to me,' Lynn said.
Responding to Indigenous, Vatican rejects Discovery Doctrine
By Nicole Winfield — March 30, 2023
(AP) — The Vatican said the papal documents had been “manipulated” for political purposes by colonial powers “to justify immoral acts against Indigenous peoples that were carried out, at times, without opposition from ecclesial authorities.”
Court rehears case to protect Oak Flat, an Apache sacred site in Arizona
By Emily McFarlan Miller — March 21, 2023
(RNS) — ‘A win for Apache Stronghold will be a win for people of all faiths,’ said Luke Goodrich.
