Check your Spiritual Bias
I was struck by the title of a book a friend posted on Facebook the other day. It purported to tell the “secrets” of the spirituality of an indigenous group in southern Africa. What was interesting was that the title used what is considered a derogatory term, and the term actually covers several distinct cultural groups, each with their own cosmology, theology, and cultural traditions.
This lumping together of indigenous traditions, or in fact, any non-European traditions is common. This lumping constitutes both conflation and erasure. It also highlights the assumption that all “others” from the perspective of European-descended Christianity are a homogenous group. Additionally, there is a romanticizing of these traditions, a pick and choose mentality when describing religious and cultural traditions, and an implied sense of superiority.
For example, people involved in new age and new thought spiritual traditions including, Unity and Centers for Spiritual Living often talk about the “Eastern Traditions.” However, what constitutes “eastern?” Generally, when questioned people have some vague notion that eastern includes Buddhism and Hinduism. However, if you look at the part of the world that is considered “the East” in the United States, it includes the largest Muslim population in the world along with Christian groups, many different indigenous religions along with several sects of Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, etc. Just looking at Buddhism alone there are many different sects each with their own traditions and beliefs. If you talk about eastern religion or eastern traditions, be clear that you are lumping together many disparate and sometimes contradictory beliefs.
Closer to home, in the United States, many people who call themselves new thought or new age rhapsodize about “Native American culture” as if there is one homogenous Native American tradition. In the United States alone there are 574 federally recognized tribes. In Canada there are 630 First Nation Communities representing more than 50 nations and 50 indigenous languages. In Latin America and the Caribbean there are roughly 826 Indigenous groups representing 58 million people. To assume there is one unified “Native American tradition” is ludicrous. Yet, white, European descended, mostly Christian origin people lump together all Indigenous peoples, and this lumping includes the notion that all people who are “native” are peaceful, earth loving, and wise. All the men have long hair, all the women are soulful. This elides the depth, and breadth of indigenous religious and cultural traditions.
What can you do? Educate yourself. Be aware of the terms you use. Be aware of people who purport to be “shamans” or who are “Native American” teachers. Question them. What cultural and religious tradition do they claim to represent? Stop assuming you know anything and instead become curious.
Americans in particular seem to be susceptible to this kind of thing. I have a doctorate in Anthropology from UCLA. In 1959, Carlos Castaneda began graduate studies in the same department I attended in the 1990s. He was given money by the department in 1962 to do research with the Yaqui Indians. Castaneda claimed he worked under the tutelage of a man named Don Juan. He published four books detailing his experiences, he was lauded by the academic world, and his works were immensely popular. The problem? It was all made up. All of it. Every word. Yet, I still hear people wax eloquent about his work and how he really understood the “native” mind. This is only one example of frauds, fakes, and charlatans who trade in indigenous religion. This includes self-described shamans who take white people on Ayahuasca trips, teachers who claim to have been inducted into some mysteries by an authentic “native” person.
Be aware, be curious, don’t assume. Check your perceptions. Question your knowledge. Rinse, repeat.
