Native American Christians

[tuscarorarain]

In case anyone wonders tuscarorarain means Tuscarora Rain. My tribe is Tuscarora of the Ipock clan and Rain stands for Biblical reference to Jesus Christ having the living water. Its a screen name I came up with in college. Someone mentioned Native American opression in regards to religion, but I couldn't post back because I had exceeded my comments for the day. Back in the old days natives lost their clan names and languages and where forced into religious slavery. They where basically handed a peice of paper telling them what their new religion was in an effort to force them to fit in to Caucasian man's society. These type of cases are devestatingly wrong. People might say, "they gave them the gospel." However, I do not beleive that. You can't force someone into following God because in those cases its just not real. Someone needs to get saved because of personal conviction and a desire for salvation. Some of my best native freinds are not Christians but I love them. I try to win them to the Lord Jesus Christ. Its important to share the gospel and always be there for people to the best of your ability. I beleive the Bible talks about doing double of what people ask us. We need to show them God through us. Its not always easy to be the odd one out, but always be sweet and have a servant's heart to help people. This, "I am better than you attitude," and zingers needs to end. Try to help people even the rude ones. Jesus ayor anosh' ni. In Navajo, "Jesus loves you."

[falcon9]

Although it isn't clear why you've mentioned both the imposition of a non-native religion on native americans and doing your utmost to convert native americans, (and presumably non-native americans), to xtianity, I commend those NAs who want to return to their native beliefs.  I oppose those, (including ones of NA descent), who try to convert anyone to the reprehensible blind faith-based xtian religion. Why evangelize if the choice of 'religion' is a personal one, or don't xtians trust others to make their own choices?  It's my choice not to sacrifice my ability to reason for an irrational religious belief however, I respect those NAs who have the courage to eschew the xtian missionary-imposed shackles of xtianity.  What that means on the FC forums is that I will oppose such proselytization posted with reasoning, as I have been doing for some time now.

Although it was interesting to note that Tuscarora, ("Skurū'rěn'"), means "hemp gatherers", I'd have to wonder if someone among your clan's ancestors smoked too much of the tribe's namesake after reading your contradictory posts.

In case anyone wonders tuscarorarain means Tuscarora Rain. My tribe is Tuscarora of the Ipock clan and Rain stands for Biblical reference to Jesus Christ having the living water. Its a screen name I came up with in college. Someone mentioned Native American opression in regards to religion, but I couldn't post back because I had exceeded my comments for the day. Back in the old days natives lost their clan names and languages and where forced into religious slavery. They where basically handed a peice of paper telling them what their new religion was in an effort to force them to fit in to Caucasian man's society. These type of cases are devestatingly wrong. People might say, "they gave them the gospel." However, I do not beleive that. You can't force someone into following God because in those cases its just not real. Someone needs to get saved because of personal conviction and a desire for salvation. Some of my best native freinds are not Christians but I love them. I try to win them to the Lord Jesus Christ. Its important to share the gospel and always be there for people to the best of your ability. I beleive the Bible talks about doing double of what people ask us. We need to show them God through us. Its not always easy to be the odd one out, but always be sweet and have a servant's heart to help people. This, "I am better than you attitude," and zingers needs to end. Try to help people even the rude ones. Jesus ayor anosh' ni. In Navajo, "Jesus loves you."