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A Comparison Of Durkheim and F (Click to select text)
A Comparison of Durkheim and Freud on Native American Culture Emile Durkheim and Sigmund Freud have radically different views on Native American culture. Freud, a psychologist, believes "that our task to civilization is to defend us against nature." He thinks that there are superior powers in nature like fate that inflict undetermined influences upon society (Freud). On the other hand, Durkheim a sociologist believes "religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to scared things." He initiates community wholeness and individuality intermingled into social structures. As a result, Durkheim and Freud have opposing views on individual social interaction among Native Americans. An important source in understanding Native American religion is Emile Durkheim. As shown in this religion, Durkheim analyzed initiation rites that consisted of long ceremonies that would take a person from the profane world into the world of the scared (Durkheim). Since the idea of entering the sacred world was such a special occasion, proper rituals were enacted. The Native Americans focused extensively on rituals in joining a specific culture or tribe, involving the whole community and bringing everyone together throughout the area. These bonding rituals reiterated Durkheim's belief that everyone belonged to a specific social structure rather than being an individual. Thus, after the Native Americans performed the ritual, one became a new person on a higher level. A perfect example in Native American tradition is the act of worshipping a girl, contained within a circle and bringing healing powers to those who believe (Hanges). To succeed in life, one must access this power so he can become a part of the desired social structure. Of course, Durkheim believed there was a fine line between the sacred and the profane. The sacred was something revered and could be anything from a tree, to a rock, to a building (Durkheim). Durkheim's philosophy is exemplified by the worship of the natives, since trees, rocks, and other objects are considered sacred. This shows that Native American sacred ways are ways of fulfilling life. Besides explaining initiation rites and sacredness, Durkheim helps one understand Native American Religion through his explanations of the corrobbori and effervescent rituals. He explains that when a gathering (corrobbori), took place, a feeling of spiritual exuberance was released (Durkheim). The Native Americans experienced these feelings of effervescence after community gatherings of different rituals. After performing such dances as the Sun Dance, one is over taken by the spirit of the Great (Hanges). In the Sun Dance, one prays with a pipe around a tree and sometimes has visions of what he needs in life (Hanges). Durkheim concurs with the Sun Dance ritual, because of the effervescence one gets from the demonstration. Another reason that Durkheim aids in the study of Native American Religions is his belief that there is an affiliation with the earth. He would agree that the relationship with the earth is crucial to the Native Americans. The earth and everything that exists upon the earth is alive and filled with spiritual activity (Hunter). Natives do not kill animals on the earth unless the animal consents to be prey. If one kills the animal without its permission, the balance of unity is thrown off course (Hunter). Durkheim views this animism as being a good relationship to the earth. The Natives think of things such as rocks and trees as animate objects even though they lack animate qualities. Native Americans believe that animals are our brothers. They even imitate the animals with articles of clothing, such as feathers representing people who become birds. It gives them the ability of flight in their dreams (Hunter). According to Durkheim, this links the earth and animals and brings a faith community like Native Americans closer. Clearly, Durkheim agrees with Native American traditions, because of their initiation rites, their view on the sacred, the effervescence they receive, and their deep-rooted connection with the earth. In direct contrast to Durkheim's philosophy, Sigmund Freud disagrees with the tenants of Native American Religion. Instead, Freud believes in wish fulfillment and religious ideas are illusions (Freud). This contradicts the traditions of the Bole Maru. The people of the Bole Maru worshipped the coyote, which they believed was the creator (Hunter). Also, since Freud did not support of the beliefs of organized religion, he would not approve of the syncretism of the Bole Maru. The Bole Maru combined the Pomo and Pentecostal beliefs into one structuralized religion (Hunter). They believed in the source of the Holy Spirit, which Freud believed to be an illusion. Then too, Freud would also not agree with the Peyote Religion, which was a religion that was a millennial movement. Started with Christian religions and became a part of the Native American Church in 1918, this faith emphasized responsibilities to the family and love of fellow humans. Freud did not believe in this traditional family happiness. Instead, he believed in the Oedipus Complex, that every boy wants to kill his father and take his mother (Freud). The Peyote Religion emphasizes family closeness and does not condone for family happiness. They also have a doctrine and ethics in their community (Hunter). To this, Freud answers that everyone must fend for one's self and not follow any rules, because nature is working against them. Therefore, Freud would not approve of the Peyote Religion because of the differences in family values, and Christian beliefs. Another direct contrast to the beliefs of Native American Religions is Freud's philosophy in escaping from nature and dying (Freud). Nature is home to the Native Americans. They would never want to escape, because nature is a prominent in all their activities. The Natives worship in nature and pray for nature Gods to come and renew them with the Holy Spirit and give them wisdom. Freud would not accept this, because he believes that nature is destruction. It brings disaster like earthquakes, tornadoes, and other such weather related activities. Freud also believes that impersonal destinies cannot be approached and that they should remain untouched for reasons of taboo. During the Ghost Dance, shaman, teachers of various skills and practices made predictions for the future (Hunter). The shamans were prophets that looked at the past and present situations and then made forecasts for the future (Hunter). Freud would disagree with Natives making these predictions, because they might be struck with an omen or something unwanted. Freud states that a god addresses three tasks, one of them including "that they must compensate them for the suffering and deprivations which a civilized life in common has imposed on them." Native Americans usually live simple traditional lives that do not involve many complex duties. Freud is saying that Native Americans should endure a personal hell for pay back of living a natural social structure. Natives never endured such things, because they had protections from the spirits. Their lives were ritualistic and they did simple things that made their lives easier. When viewing Native American religion, Emile Durkheim clearly gives a better and more holistic understanding of the religious practices of Native Americans. As a psychologist, Sigmund Freud did not base his perceptions of human nature on any social or economical classes that lay outside of the ones for which he was accustomed. As a result, his philosophies oppose those of the Native American society. Therefore, any study of Native American religion needs to include the philosophy of Emile Durkheim to present the full picture of these religious practices in America. Works Cited Durkheim, Emile. "The Elementary Forms of the Religious Life." Religion 101 A, B. Ed. Liz Wilson, Jim Hanges, and Hugh Halman. Oxford: Oxford Copy Shop and Typing Pool, Inc. 1999. Freud, Sigmund. "The Future of an Illusion." Religion 101 A, B. Ed. Liz Wilson, Jim Hanges, and Hugh Halman. Oxford: Oxford Copy Shop and Typing Pool, Inc. 1999. Hanges, Jim. "Native American Religions." Religion 101. Miami University. 8 Sept. 1999. Hunter, Susan. "Native Traditions = Methods of Seeking Life." Religion 101. Miami University. 13 Sept. 1999.
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