Do Native American beliefs offend Christians?

Whether we call him God, Elohim, Jehovah, Allah, The Creator, The Great Spirit, etc etc. We are all talking about the same God. There is only one God and despite what "white" people with their stereotypical views of us say. Most "Native Americans" only believed in one "god". And we only pray to one God. We may hold other "spirits" in high regard but we don't pray to them.

People have forgotten that everything around us is a part of The Creator and that every tree, animal, rock, stream, etc. has a spirit because when The Creator made them he gave them a part of himself. People have forgotten to stop and listen to a rock tell its story of how the water and wind eat away at the stone to make it a part of the sand that it is resting on. They no longer hear the water talking to them as they sit next to a stream and the stream is trying to tell them of the many places it has flowed over. I was asked one time if I go to church and my answer was yes. They asked me where and I said I am in church this minute because The Creator made everything around me and I was standing in the greatest church that was ever created. That person never did understand what I was saying and told me that I would go to hell for thinking like that and that the only way was to go to the church and asked to be saved!! I truly believe that person is blind and lost and can't see the joy and love that The Creator put into his greatest work.

So if our beliefs offend "Christians" then it's their problem not ours, after all did not Jesus teach to be tolerant of others. Didn't the parable of the Samaritan teach them anything....

I won't even go into the many travesties that we suffered at the hands of Christians in the name of religion. We don't have that long or that much space....

Only you can decide but as a christian myself i also believe in things that are not motioned in the bible like for example i dont remember any ufos but i believe in them . IM not sure if im answering you question so think about this dose this person have a tree at christmas because Christmas trees are nothing to do with Christ nor are easter eggs why do these things not offended him think about that

Insert the word "some" in front of Christians and the answer is yes.

Of course, I could also substitute a whole pile of terms for "Native American" AND "Christian"...most of them NOT related to religious beliefs...and the answer would still be, "yes". In addition, offense isn't the only thing that could motivate this type of response...fear comes to mind as a likely possibility as well. I don't know specifically why your brother-in-law was offended enough to use God as a weapon to beat on your uncle. Were his children present?...some people try to protect their children from hearing anything that isn't consistent with their religion...he may have been motivated to make sure his children understood why what they heard was wrong. Was he initially moved by the prayer until he realized it wasn't consistent with his beliefs...that could cause an angry response too. ...or perhaps he's just one of those people that thinks it is his job to protect the entire world from hearing or doing anything that isn't consistent with what he thinks is the will of God ("sin police").

Thing is, we all have things that offend or anger or scare us...I know I've been accused of "making a mountain out of a molehill", but in my experience, we all do a little hill-building...we all have our hot-buttons that prompt a response others find unreasonable, tacky, or just plain nuts.

I suspect that your uncle was far less offended by your bro-in-law's behavior than you were...also makes sense because, in a way, your bro-in-law was representing YOUR beliefs...he was speaking for the "Christian" position. Personally, I'd have had a hard time not flinging my glass at his head when his prayer ended (if not earlier) because I have a very hard time standing silently by while a Christian demands respect for his or her beliefs while simultaneously disrespecting the beliefs of someone else. Besides being incredibly and undeservedly arrogant, it isn't a very "Christian" way to behave.

I applaud you for keeping with your ancestors who were Cherokee and acknowledging that is part of who you are. Even if you believe differently, we have no control over who we come from. I think your brother in law was way out of line, after all it was your day and not an arena for religious gladiators. If he didn't agree he should of just shut up and realized he was not asked to preach. Back when the Europeans came to this country, and every other country they went to, tried to save the souls of all Native peoples by taking away their religion,language, and culture. Today I think mostly they co-exist with the Native Americans who are both Christian but Honor their ancestors with the cultural beliefs. Would the same thing have happened if you were protestant and the bro-in-law was Catholic? Would he have wanted everybody to kiss the Pope's ring? There really is no difference and I hope this memory doesn't ruin what was your special day.

Canada recently apologized to our native people. The Christans literally took the school aged children from their parents and stuck them in boarding schools where Jesus was shoved down their throats. This was government funded and has resulted in the current generations not having ANY parenting skills. Which historically Native people had in abundance. Along with strong spirituality and a whole lot of resourceful common sense.

My point is people fear what they don't understand and some try to eradicate it. Then once all is said and done the innocent pay the price. Much as you did at your own wedding.

Congratulations I wish you both the best.

I certainly agree that your brother-in-law was very rude to be argumentative at your wedding which is certainly not a time for handing our tracts. I am a Christian (of the born again type), and I would probably disagree with some Native American beliefs, but I would not be offended. I am more offended by your brother in law's behavior.

I have the same problem as you but I am an Australian Aborigine and I am also a Catholic, I believe in one God, the Christian God but I still believe in a lot of my ancestory, especially dreamtime.

I know where you are coming from, it is hard having 2 cultures, what your brother in law did was wrong, he had no respect for you or his brother and he should be ashamed of himself

At my wedding we also had prayers said in both cultures, the Aboriginal part was for respect for our Grandparents and we had prayers at the Church for the Catholic part

My prayers and thoughts go out to you, but do not blame yourself or your hubby

Hearing this stuff makes me angry. I am a Christian but also believe that people are able to make their own choices and no one has the right to question those choices. I think your brother-in-law's choice of retaliation was in poor choice. Sure, he may not agree with your uncle's prayer but to stand up and a wedding and be openly hostile and to purposely cause a scene... Not cool. I think stuff like this gives Christian's a bad name. I can understand why your brother-in-law was concerned for your uncle, him having beliefs contrary to Christianity and maybe your brother-in-law thought he was doing the right thing. But I still think it was in poor taste. Sounds to me like your brother-in-law isn't comfortable enough with himself to accept other people's beliefs.

In wholly general terms, there is no conflict. Most of the Native Americans today are Christian anyways, so If someone believes slightly different, Peter has some advice:

Honor all men -1 Peter 2:17.

I think the only thing offensive was your brother-in-law, to be honest. Your uncle was sincere, and adding to the moment of your wedding -- your brother-in-law seems like a jerk (sorry to be harsh, but he does) There is nothing wrong with people having strong beliefs, but he was WAY out of line in creating such a scene and not respecting your uncle, or YOU.

People like your brother-in-law, who are so over the top, and pushy, I think are just doing that because they are trying so hard to convince others they are so religious, so 'good' when underneath they are the opposite. Those who yell the loudest are usually just doing so to divert attention from themselves and whatever skeletons they're trying so hard to deflect attention from in their own lives