Pagan religions have more similarities than differences due to their indigenous character and philosophy. Their distinctions are determined by the geographical location and cultural peculiarities of the nation where they developed, but in most cases, the differences are in detail, not in general aspects. Native American and African religions are not the exception to this rule. They feature similar views on cosmology, ceremonies, mythology, and relations with animals and nature due to the common indigenous perspective. They have similar aspects that pagan worldviews share, including the faith in spirits in general and the idea that the divine presence is in the things surrounding people. It assumes that indigenous religions, in general, and Native American and African faiths have similar perceptions of the universe.
Cosmology in indigenous religions is based on the idea that all processes and things in the universe are interconnected. The circle symbolizes unity in Native American and African religions because there is neither beginning nor an end in it. This image is centered on indigenous cosmology and represents the cyclic nature of the universe and life (Fisher, 2017). The peculiar detail is that the ceremonies also use the circle’s image to emphasize the universe’s balance. The cyclical movements of the planets and the change of day and night are reflected in the ceremonial actions that follow this cyclic pattern. All people in indigenous cultures are instructed to live in peace with the surrounding reality, including nature and animals. In other words, people, animals, and everything found in nature are equal, and they deserve a respectful attitude because otherwise, the balance will be destroyed (Fisher, 2017). The mythology of African and Native American religions pays equal attention to spirits that influence human lives (Fisher, 2017). The idea that humans consist of various souls and that their ancestors influence their actions can be found in both mythologies.
Native American and African religious views share one common thing due to their indigenous character. As Fisher (2017) writes, the indigenous religion is the synonym for the lifeway, which determines the philosophy of people who follow it. In addition, pagan indigenous religions are transmitted orally, emphasizing the connection between generations following this lifeway. The discussed religious traditions feature these characteristics, showing that their essence is similar.
The main difference between African and Native American indigenous religions is connected with dominant views. For instance, African religions emphasize the importance of communicating with spirits, which supposes using magic like voodoo rituals (Fisher, 2017). Native American religions, in their turn, developed a more detailed view of balanced interaction with the surrounding nature and animals and living in peace with the universe (Fisher, 2017). These examples show that indigenous religions have unique details that make them different regardless of the common essence.
Therefore, Native American and African religious views reflect the unique ways of development of the nations. The differences in mythology, ceremonies, and cosmology show that paganism can develop in various ways, depending on the geographical location where indigenous people live, the structure of their community, and other related facts. Even though the pagan religion has common aspects, including animism and faith in spirits, that affect human lives, there are more differences than similarities between distinct faiths. These distinctions are usually the details that make indigenous religious views unique and diverse, even though the view on the surrounding reality might be similar. Native American and African examples illustrate this hypothesis about differences and similarities in the religious worldviews.
Reference
Fisher, M. P. (2017). Living religions (10th ed.). Boston Pearson.