Register for Indigenous Perspectives on the Sacred

Faculty: Ceylan Isgor-Locke, Kevin Locke

In Indigenous Perspectives on the Sacred (formerly named Native American Religion and Spirituality), we will examine the common threads found in indigenous spiritual beliefs and practices and the universal message of Bahá’u’lláh. We will explore how Native American teachings and values reflect some of the more salient teachings and principles of the Bahá’í revelation and in so doing will also inquire into how culture shapes our perceptions of reality and seek to gain insights into our inherent cultural biases. We will cover a range of topics: the historic culture clash between indigenous peoples and settlers; the use of language and symbolism in intercultural communication; the impacts of colonization and Christianity in the colonization process; and the effect both have had on native religion and spirituality and the implications for the spread of Bahá’u’lláh’s message in indigenous communities. In our readings, discussions, and consultations, we will strive for expansive thinking and will also revisit ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s statement about the importance of the original inhabitants of North America and the Lakota prophecy about the rise of the Seventh Generation, reframing these statements in the context of the current Five Year Plan (2016-21).