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<div id="content" >
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<h1>Inuit Religion</h1>
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<h3>Modern Inuit Religion</h3>
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<p>
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There are two main religions practiced in the modern Inuit
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culture: Shamanism and Christianity. Since the arrival of
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missionaries, the majority of Inuits have converted to Christianity.
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I will be focusing on traditional Inuit religion, and how it is
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likely to affect interactions with modern Inuit people.
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</p>
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<h3>Worship of Nature</h3>
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<p>
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The Inuit religion has a very complex system of nature worship.
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Both men and animals have souls, and all are spiritually connected.
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In the religion, the universe is at harmony with it's elements, and
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the powers of nature possess a neutral position towards man. The Inuit
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believe that that if evil, such as bad hunting, bad weather, or illness
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happens, that the source is likely to be found in people's bad behavior.
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The Inuit do not have sacred buildings, nature is sacred, and the Inuit
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are children of nature. However, to the Inuit, life is not a paradise,
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man's capability to do evil represents a constant threat to harmony.
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</p>
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<h3>Life After Death</h3>
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<p>
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The Inuit believe that life is eternal. To the Inuit, death is a
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transformation, from one world to another. The transformation did
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not happen instantly, but was believed to take a year or more to
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happen. In the Inuit religion, there is no "hell," there is only
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a world where seal meat and berries are plentiful.
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</p>
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<h3>Souls</h3>
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<p>
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In the Inuit religion, it was believed that a human had not one,
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but several souls. When a person became ill, it was a sign that
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one or more of the souls had left the body. To be cured, the souls
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had to be found and brought back to the body. Illness was
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considered a "small death."
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</p>
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<h3>Amulets</h3>
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<p>
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As protection against illness and death, Inuits possessed several
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amulets. These amulets were worn hidden in amulet harnesses, hair
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ribbons, or hidden in houses and boats. A persons would be likely
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to have 10 or more amulets. The amulets only have their power while
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they remain hidden from other people. The amulets were made from
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almost anything, including small pieces of bone, teeth, wooden
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figures, stones, bird wings, and dried intestines. Loosing an amulet
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was very serious, and something to be avoided at all costs.
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</p>
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<p class="centeredImg">
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<img src="images/general/iws_inart500.jpg" alt="Inuit Amulets" />
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<br />
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<br />
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Inuit Amulets (source:
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<a href="http://www.civilization.ca/tresors/art_inuit/images/inart500.jpg">
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http://www.civilization.ca/
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</a>)
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</p>
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<h3>The Shaman</h3>
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<p>
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A shaman in the Inuit religion was known as an Angakok. Spirits ruled
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nature, and the Inuit had to behave correctly and interpret the spirits'
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mysterious ways in order to survive. A person who had these skills was
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called the Angakok. Very few people had the gift of becoming the Angakok,
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and it took years of training to become one.
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</p>
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<p>
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The Inuit believed that the Angakok had the power to influence events
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such as the weather, food supplies, and illnesses. The Angakok was
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seen as possessing the abilities of curing the sick, controlling nature,
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and predicting future events.
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</p>
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<p>
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To get in touch with the spiritual world, the Angakok had to go into a
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trance. Laying on a plank bed in the house with his hands and feet tied,
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he would be able to free his spirit from his body. He would then be
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able to fly through the air, and search for the sick person's missing soul.
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</p>
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<h3>Beliefs</h3>
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<p>
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Beliefs ensure that values are practiced, followed, honored, and passed
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on. There are beliefs that are told to children to ensure that they
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follow a strict code of conduct. For example, children are told that
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throwing sand near water will create rain. This story is told to teach the
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belief that you do not harm another, and that you show respect. The logic
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goes like this: Most children enjoy playing near water, and there is
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usually sand near water. If a child threw sand in the air, it was very
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likely that another child would get sand in their eyes, their hair,
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and on their body. This story helps to build up the belief that you do
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not harm another and show respect.
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</p>
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<h3>Effects of Religion on Modern Inuit Culture</h3>
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<p>
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Because of their heritage, modern Inuit are more likely to show a high
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reverance for nature, so, when communicating in their culture, it would
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be wise to show a strong respect for nature.
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</p>
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<p>
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Another effect of their religion is that stories are used to teach
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lessons to children, which shows that the Inuit have some elements
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of a high-context culture, which will not approach an issue head-on,
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but will make their point indirectly.
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</p>
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<p>
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The use of stories in teaching children beliefs also implies that it
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would be acceptable to use religion as proof when persuading someone.
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This is also shown by their very strong ties to religion, such as the
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people becoming ill because one or more of their souls have been lost.
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</p>
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<h4>Resources Used</h4>
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<ul class="resources">
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<li>
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<a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/inu/eft/index.htm">
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http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/inu/eft/index.htm
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</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href="http://www.eastgreenland.com/database.asp?lang=eng&num=604">
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http://www.eastgreenland.com/database.asp?lang=eng&num=604
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</a>
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</li>
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<li>
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<a href="http://nnlm.gov/pnr/ethnomed/inupiaq.html">
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http://nnlm.gov/pnr/ethnomed/inupiaq.html
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</a>
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</li>
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