u/ResolveExisting8051

On the 4th of July of all days, I just finished reading God is red by Vine Deloria Jr. and holy crap. It really put into perspective so many issues.
I’ll be the first to say I’m a native American and a Christian, but I don’t follow or accept the western church’s teachings, and after reading this book, I feel it really challenged me in the ways I think about religion, people’s experiences, supernatural explanations, etc.
there so much I could say, but I won’t start because I’ll never stop.
If you’ve read it, tell me how you feel about it

I’m looking for advice in cleaning up something I already kinda have going.

I wear a lot of SW turquoise jewelry, tribal regalia like moccasins, and am looking to upgrade my look from just t shirts and jeans to be presentable but also practical, as I’m outside a lot and can’t be bothered to wear a 3 piece in the woodland heat lol.

I already own some linen shirts, flannels, blue jeans, doc martens, etc. I just don’t know how style myself, period.

With the 250th year of America coming up, I’m not sure why, or maybe I am sure, but don’t know if it’s just me being soft or if there’s real substance to these feelings, but I’m having a hard time with this 4th coming up.

This was a thought I had as a Native American. The Catholic and Protestant church have a very recent history of persecuting native Americans for not adopting the Western European values and cultural practices by using the Bible to their leverage.

But does the Orthodox Church have any history in the Americans of doing the same?

How do you guys wear traditional clothing, removed from Americanized beauty standards, and really represent your nation? I’ve found that a lot of traditional clothing is more practical than modern clothing. Loose Linen/ cotton shirts and moccasins to me breathe way better and look better than polyester shirts and tennis shoes. If I could get away with wearing a breech cloth in summer to go grab some coffee or go on a walk without having the cops called in me for public indecency I would.

I wear my bow guard, moccasins, jewelry, sweatband, I try to wear clothing similar to historical clothing that we’ve worn like loose natural fibers and leather. Although i still wear my jeans, my graphic tee’s, and workout in athletic clothing.

With the passing of the anniversary of the victory over Custer, and with my tribes holiday of the Pueblo revolt coming up soon, it seems like anytime a native speaks out or is proud of a point in history, some body has to add in some racist comment like “if it wasn’t for Europeans you wouldn’t have the wheel/stable homes/ civilized society/ etc”.
People always making remarks about how Europeans supposedly whooped our butts 24/7 and “put us in our place”.

It makes me so angry when people literally feast upon the food we cultivated, wear clothes that we made, build homes similar to us in nature, literally half the world runs off Native American crops, but us natives can’t actually say this openly or we get an avalanche of “we showed you mercy so you better be quiet”

The U.S. couldn’t beat us in open combat, so they had to sign peace treaties and jump us while we weren’t looking. That’s how most of these interactions went, and they say they were courages🙄

I used to be conservative republican, but I stepped out of my family life in order to go to school and saw so many different walks of life, became a missionary and have seen so many countries and mindsets. But God unified all of us. So now I try to explain that you can have a different opinion and still be a Christian to people in the US and they just can’t, physically can’t hear what I’m saying. I talk about how I’ve spoke with Russians, Ukrainians, Africans, Europeans, etc. all with a community of Christ in their lives, but nope. If they weren’t born in the USA and the RED, WHITE, and BLUE and if they don’t support the RIGHT side of the fight, it’s game over.

I recently got into a conversation with some people about different economic/political aspects and how it shapes our walk with God. And there so many people I know currently who are very closed minded and believe you MUST be a conservative republican and that they are the only party who really listens and honors God. If you support communism, socialism, Marxism, liberalism, democracy ideologies, etc. then you must be an agent of the enemy.

I’ve had people tell me “the Democratic Party is so openly evil with their support of LGBTQ and abortion rights and so many other things and they aren’t listening to God, they don’t read their Bible” and I come right back with “the Republican Party is very close minded and racist in a lot of its current ideologies with its war on Islam and calling immigrants/other ethnicities other than white ‘terrorists’” and so conveniently they say “oh that’s not fair to say, you’re just blind and don’t know what you’re supporting, do more research”.

I’m just so tired of so many Christian’s in the west being so hatefully blind that they sit in their glass towers claiming Christ, but the moment anyone from any other perspective of economic or political view says anything negative about their view point and even may go as far as to back it up with scripture, all hell breaks loose and it turns into a “pray the gay away” revival right in the front yard.

I was raised Protestant, evangelical. Turned away from God for a second to fully ask the hard questions of what I really believe. Eventually came back and believe in God hardcore but have fully stripped myself to pretty much relearn every thing now that I’m in a place to comprehend it. I always loved philosophy and have a Native American background where our relationship with the divine is more in line with what I believe to be Christina mysticism. We don’t just follow a certain god, but it influences our entire being.

But I don’t even know where to start with this. I’m super interested but I just have no idea.

I have 0 plan in debating anything in this thread. I’m simply here to ask what was your straw for walking away.

There was a couple of months where I was fully set to walk away from God. I had many reasons to, but I didn’t. I came back and held onto my faith even harder than I did before. But there were many times i simply kinda gave up as a Christian. One half year I was in, the other half year I was angry and walked away. Now I think im stable, but I wanted to pick your brain about why you fully stepped out?

I’m moving back to my home state in AR soon. I’ve done some form of construction my whole life. I’m tired of being in the heat of the day.

I have a high school diploma, married, no kids yet, wanting to build up a homestead and fend for myself in a lot of areas. My father keeps reaching out to people he knows and they keep offering jobs but the issue is that it’s all dead end construction jobs.
Masonry, road department, mechanic, etc. I don’t have the heart or courage to tell him I’m not interested in literally anything he’s offered me. But I also don’t feel I have a choice.

I’m very interested in nature and conservation and such. I am physically active and have experience as a security officer and ministry. I wanna look into these and see where it may take me, but if you have any advice, feel free to send it.

Short version: imma rant. Christian nationalism is not gospel centered. Christian’s should be involved in politics but shouldn’t be Christian nationalists. Christian nationalism is a form of prosperity gospel through dominance and justification. The U.S. is in this category and was even built on this theology from the beginning (manifest density, justification of slavers, etc). The U.S. is more worried about the survival of their culture rather than Christ’s kingdom culture and use Jesus as an impossible wall to debate against. Some Christian’s tell me that Christian nationalism is good and that a government should be pro Christian, not neutral or anti for the betterment of a nation. These ideas are racist and biased in nature, and are still taught today.

Long version: Imma just put this out there and whoever wants to engage feel free.
I’ve been having so many debates with Christian’s about the current state of the U.S. I’ve heard many Christian speak about Christian nationalism and whether it’s good, bad, or misunderstood, and that we should or shouldn’t be involved in politics. So imma just vomit in my current stance and feel free to responded as you see fit.

I believe Christian nationalism is a false gospel. What i don’t believe is that Christian’s should NEVER be involved in the political realm. I think the fundamental difference between the 2 is that one is bowing to God for the sake of HIS kingdom, the other is bowing before God for the sake of YOUR kingdom.
One says “imma bow before Christ and steer my nation in the direction of God because this will further his kingdom and kingdom culture”
The other says “imma bow before Christ because if I do, my nation will be blessed beyond measure and MY culture/ kingdom will survive (as opposed to kingdom culture)”.
I think what’s happening right now in the U.S. is that we are turning to Christian nationalism for the sake of our kingdom rather than Gods kingdom. We are fighting culture wars, trying to preserve America’s culture/ scripture and calling Gods culture/scripture. We look to expand and preserve the United states dominion rather than Christ’s dominion.

I’ll even take it a step further. This theology is the very foundation of the United States church. From the idea of manifest destiny, justifying slavery, Indian boarding schools, to the present day where although not as loud, there is an “under the skin” distain for things not American (DEI, socialism, etc). They turn these cultural, national, political issues into issues of theology and therefore, impossible to genuinely debate against. The American culture get put in the same if not more importance than the nature of God and the gospel of Jesus.

I’ve spoken to people who have told me that Christian nationalism is a misunderstood idea that needs a view change. They say Christian’s should be Christian nationalists, as in Christian’s should advocate for a Christ centered government, built in the tenets of scripture, and that a government should be PRO Christianity, not neutral or anti, and that this is the best and only way for a nation to thrive. No offense to the people who say these things, but some of it comes through blatant racist ideas, taught by the virtuous victors of history who fought the savage Neanderthals and “civilized” them. And that idea is still taught today, just in less in your face ways.

As the title says, my walk with Christ and my Native American heritage are at a big head butt right now.

I believe in Christianity and the values it holds. But also as a Native American, I married a white girl. I have nothing against white people, I’m not racist in any way. But a small, deep rooted part of me wishes I had married someone from my tribe rather than someone else, because now my bloodline will be out of the tribe and will continue out of the tribe, no longer having that lineage, and it’s scaring me as a person. I hold deep respect and honor for my ancestry and what it means and how it’s shaped my life. And now I’m in the dilemma that I can’t see to get over. I haven’t found a way to truly express this in a healthy way. Do yall have any advice?

I hear it all the time. “Don’t use bare soil” and I don’t understand why you can’t.
I’m a little newer to gardening and won’t say I know everything. But I’ve seen peppers, tomatoes, wildflowers, etc, pop up in the most random and dirty places, but I’ve seen other plants in appended soil and compost die quickly.

I used to live in the Ozarks in AR, and a lot of the soil is very nutrient dense (when you can get around the stone). Now I live up north in northern Missouri, which is similar but different. But as a gardener, what is the harm in using bare soil, the same soil that so many other plants use and thrive in as well?

I’ve recharged the ac with Freon, but air still comes out hot. Not sure what the issue maybe

Short answer: posted recently about my Native American view as a Christian. Feel like the U.S. Christianity is flawed and built of a foundation of manifest destiny rather than Jesus. American Christianity is so cut throat that if you don’t look or act a certain way (I’ve been called demonic for having a different view on life and for what I wear) then you must be a liberal, demon possessed, agent of the enemy. Christian nationalism is the baby of manifest destiny and will hinder the gospel unless we apologize as the church and make right.

Long answer: Recently I posted in this thread about how I’m having a hard time as a Christian Native American. I got some solid counseling from people, some did a virtual eye roll and stern talking down to.

But I’ve really been doing some soul searching, still continuing to seek God for answers. I opened up about how i was tired of being called demonic by my supposed brothers and sisters in Christ because I wear my tribal jewelry or don’t have a desire to cut down every last tree to build a parking lot (yes these are legit situations I’ve been in).
But as I’ve seen what’s been happening in the media with the praise God on Sunday, blow up people on Monday and with my people in the past and present, I’m beginning to realize something. I feel as someone who’s seen the effects of Christianity on tribal peoples around the world and has a different perspective on life than most, I think I’ve come to a conclusion that the Christianity that was brought to the U.S. was built on a faulty foundation other than Christ. That’s not saying there aren’t good and honest people who do genuinely follow Jesus with their heart, soul, mind, strength. But I think that the Christianity that a lot of people follow right now is one of conquest, power, manifest density, etc.

We have such a cut throat approach to the gospel in the U.S. where if you don’t wear a suit and tie, if you don’t throw up Jesus all over your neighbor, if you don’t cut your hair, wear the right clothes, take off your jewelry and engulf your home in Christian crosses or follow the trends of the western idea of worship, then you’re automatically seen as somehow less deserving of the gospel.

I think it all goes back to manifest destiny, where settlers would massacre villages of people because they believed it was their God given right to do so. Residential schools that were funded by the church so that it could come off as Holy. I’ve had a lot of conversations with people about this who would rather Call me a racist, ungodly person than admit that maybe Christian nationalism isn’t the way to go. It will be one of the biggest hinders of the gospel in the U.S. if we don’t make right by our mistakes and truly choose God, Not this whitewashed, 2 piece suit and a tie, racist, scared, burn the witch God that was forced upon my people and then swept under the rug by the church as if it never happened.

I. Don’t. Wanna. Be. Called. Demonic. For. Existing. Anymore. By. Pharisees. Who. Don’t. Know. Better.

Short story: grew up Christian, reconnecting to my native roots, seeing how Christianity has hurt my people (boarding schools, manifest destiny). Began questioning everything Ive known, started adopting some traditional practices like praying with corn pollen, friends have started called me demonic. Makes me believe that maybe Christianity at least in America really is a white mans game.

Long story: As the title says, I’m a Native American, raised as a Christian and mostly removed from my cultural practices but still have family very much so involved in tribal affairs and traditions.

Recently Ive been going through some deep deconstruction. Questioning every thing I’ve known as a Christian. I’m a 2nd or 3rd generation Christian. All I’ve know growing up with church. But recently I’ve been reconnecting with my family on the reservation and I’m beginning to see the damage that Christianity has done to my people and family.

I’ve questioned if I’m a product of manifest destiny, where the Europeans felt a God given right to move out west and murder anyone in their path. What if my family believes in Jesus because my grandparents or great grandparents didn’t have a choice. The last Residential school was closed in the 1990s from what I’ve read, and absolutely horrendous things were done in the name of God.

I’ve started incorporating some cultural practices into my daily life like praying with corn pollen or wearing jewelry as a passive form of prayer, and the moment I stopped being a (pardon my language I don’t mean this disrespectfully) white washed good ol boy, people i thought were my friends around me started to outfight call me demonic. Trying to make me white washed again. It’s really made me believe that Christianity at least in America was set up to help white people succeed and to put others down.

I mean genuinely, why were the colonists so bent on converting people that they took it to violence a lot of the time? I think it was because it was good politically and racially driven. Once natives were “converted” to Christianity, their land was then under the rule of whatever king they were under. Spain in the SW and Central America, France and England out east. The idea of forcing God onto the natives was most of the time a politically driven endeavor and less of “let me actually love this person where they’re at”.

So now I’m faced with a choice. Either continue down the path I’m on, where I continue to serve a God who either

1. Allowed the absolute massacre of 50 million people just in the U.S. alone, who was okay with people using his name to justify genocide.
   Or
2. God isn’t the God I was taught in Sunday school and maybe listen to my tribal elders on what they have to say about forgiveness, peace, self control, etc.