(This article on the Acoma religion got me thinking)

Acoma

“In the beginning two female human beings were born. These two children were born underground at a place called Shipapu. As they grew up, they began to be aware of each other. There was no light and they could only feel each other. Being in the dark they grew slowly.

After they had grown considerably, a Spirit whom they afterward called Tsichtinako (Thought Woman) spoke to them, and they found that it would give them nourishment. After they had grown large enough to think for themselves, they spoke to the Spirit when it had come to them one day and asked it to make itself known to them and to say whether it was male or female, but it replied only that it was not allowed to meet with them. They then asked why they were living in the dark without knowing each other by name, but the Spirit answered that they were nuk’timi (under the earth); but they were to be patient in waiting until everything was ready for them to go up into the light. So they waited a long time, and as they grew they learned their language from Tsichtinako.

They now prayed to the Sun as they had been taught by Tsichtinako, and sang the creation song. Their eyes hurt for they were not accustomed to the strong light. For the first time they asked Tsichtinako why they were on earth and why they were created. Tsichtinako replied, “I did not make you. Your father, Uchtsiti made you, and it is he who has made the world, the sun which you have seen, the sky, and many other things which you will see. But Uchtsiti says the world is not yet completed, not yet satisfactory, as he wants it. This is the reason he has made you. You will rule and bring to life the rest of the things he has given you in the baskets.” The sisters then asked how they themselves had come into being. Tsichtinako answered saying, “Uchtsiti first made the world. He threw a clot of his own blood into space and by his power it grew and grew until it became the earth. Then Uchtsiti planted you in this and by it you were nourished as you developed. Now that you have emerged from within the earth, you will have to provide nourishment for yourselves. I will instruct you in this.” They then asked where their father lived and Tsichtinako replied, “You will never see your father, he lives four skies above, and has made you to live in this world. He has made you in the image of himself.”

— Collected by Matthew Stirling

Source: Scepticwiki

“Iatiku, the mother of the Corn Clan, married her nephew Tiamuni. They gave their daughters names: Sky, Water, Fire and Corn, symbolizing the four elements that formed the basis of the Acomas’ religious cosmology. “

Source: Through Woman’s Eyes: An American History with documents. by Ellen Carol DuBois and Lynn Dumenil.

My 2 cent thoughts:

I find it interesting to learn the origins of other cultural religions. It in no way negates my own, as I have one solid enough to bear the learning of someone else’s. I am intrigued more by the beginnings of faith, more than the belief system itself. Man looks at his world and sees it as a large and formidable place. He creates his own belief system and creates rules and social mores as a result. What I find most interesting is the interweaving of moral lessons into religious text.  The most telling thing about religion is how by and large most of them focus on what I call the “inner core of truth”.

The thread of that runs through most religions, and is to me the most significant part of religion. It is what allows me to see human beings as different but the same, thus, allowing me to reach out and connect them, bridge their significant differences and find a common duality. I am not suggesting that religions should accept each others doctrine or even attempt to get the other side to agree any kind of religious sameness, for that would be impossible, they are different for a reason. What I am suggesting is that at the heart of all men there is the same man, longing for love, light, protection, and comforting spirituality to lead them through adversity in all it’s various forms.

 I find comfort in this thread of need. It is a tie that we can build on. It’s a tie we can use to heal and transform without giving up that which we hold most dear, our own religious convictions. I may not agree with the religious beliefs of another, but I can and will provide them shelter, food, and the loving hand of friendship. This is at the core of my belief in common man. After there is religion, there is mortal man.

Religion defines and completes us, it is the higher blessing that makes us more than just mortals, but we are also men, and with that comes a need to connect to other men, even if they are not of the same belief or religious code. I give my all to God, he is all that I am and all that I am not. He made me mortal, and so too my fellow man. With this comes connection in time and space. When I need guidance I look to God, when I need to connect to my humanity, I look to my fellow humans. God is in both of these I am most certain, just as I am certain of all light that touches the earth.

When I post about religion I am never certain how my fellow bloggers are going to feel about it. I like to examine my world and see what others are doing. I am one of those that can see truth in even the strangest of lands and belief systems. Perhaps this is for a reason. Someone who believes in their religion more than anything in the world might not be as willing to take a peek at anothers religious doctrine and see something there to agree on, I, on the other hand, am a child of multiple religious influences.

I have been around many in my own family, this does not happen without learning how to bridge connections together. In fact, having a Jewish step-family and a Presbyterian father made for extremely interesting table-talk. My grandmother is Catholic, my soon-to-be-ex; Penecoastal, I grew up near the Amish, and my own beliefs are in Transcendentalistic thoughts. You can imagine how this was confusing and liberating at the same time. I became a Christian honestly, I chose it, just as it chose me. My point is (and yes I have one) is that when it comes to religion people tend to agree to disagree for the most part, intellectually however, they tend to challenge each other fiercely, my thought is why they even feel the need to do so? They have the belief they are meant to, in my humble opinion, I have mine, he has his..we all are going to die.

 What I think is important, so very, very vital, is that we agree on core truths. Once we do that everything else falls away. We realize that we do not need to defend what does not need defended. We believe in our religion, we believe in our faith. What if we just loved each other as God means us to? No, I am not saying we should not seek to convert, all religions should do so, there are many lost people in need of guidance, any guidance is better than none, even if the guidance is intellectual in manifestation. What I AM saying is, why all the need to prove each other wrong? Seems to me, if I am wrong I will find that out when I get to the other side, and not a moment sooner.

 Seek to change my mind and I close up like a clam. I hold my thoughts closer than ever, let me be what I am, let me learn of your beliefs in my own way and maybe I am more willing to listen, all people listen better when they are not feeling like they are under attack. To get someone to see what you have to say you have to be willing to let them disagree and see. If I am not defending my beliefs all the time I am more open to learning something about yours. Since I am pretty sure I am going to get lots of comments from this I will only ask one thing…remember your manners!

I will be posting similar lessons I find as I study the history of American women. I will be calling it: Looking beyond the textbook. Each time I find a subject that interests me I will post something about it here. I will also give my own humble thoughts (If I don’t get freaked out by someone responding to this one in a negative way)

Bekki