Messiah Craze and Ghost Dance Essay Example

Ghost dance religion becomes famous in the late 1880's it was practiced across the plains of Northern Americans. Indians tribes in the area exercise this religion. This religion seems to take many forms as it transformed and passed from one tribe to another. The main core message of this religions was the promise of a peaceful and happy future while eradicating the old ways. It was a religion that advocate and champion for peaceful coexistence. They believe that they would live forever in another world without hunger and disease. In order to make this happen, Indians indulges in sacred dance. This essay seeks to emphasize the significance of the Messiah Craze and the Ghost Dance.

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The Ghost Dance tribal religion spread among the Indians in Western America, this religion sparks confusion and fear among the Native Europeans Americans. Their overreaction of being scared, confused and Angry of the new religion infiltration to America result to the death of Sitting Bull who was their religious leader and "Wounded Knee" massacre that claim about 150 of the native community practicing the "Ghost Dance religion" and 25 soldier who many were a result of friendly firing during their perpetration at Wounded Knee in 1890. The American feared the religion would lead to a resistance movement to the Native Americans as well as erosion of Christianity which was the core religion at the moment in America.

The Ghost Dance movement was inspired by the leader Wovoka who believed to have had a vision that the spirits guide and showed him that deceased would resurrect to unite with them in quest of removing the evils from the earth. This meant the removal of the whites from their lands. The practice had moral codes that were strict, any practitioner did not afford to go against it. It encodes would give them hope and belief of a better future and coming of a messiah who will be their savior. Wovoka had gotten the visions from the early prophet Wodziwob who they share common ideas in the late 1860's. Lakota tribe was influenced the most. The religion added an idea of Ghost Shirt which was believed to be bulletproof. The idea is believed to be inspired by garments of Mormon temple, believed to shun off all evils. Basically, it was used to raise courage to warriors to be fearless when it comes to war.

The Indians especially the Lakota community who majorly practices Ghost Dance were isolated to west America. This community was feared to cause an Indian uprising as their chants insinuate the new earth and removal of the white who they referred to be evil on the earth. The native Indians were then forced to involved in farming, schooling and attend Christian teaching which was the dominant religion to American during that time.it was an important cause of action to the Americans because it could mean they were under their control and assimilated to their way of administration and religious practices. Another thing was that the American would not have to fear for any uprising and opposition from Ghost Dance Religion movement.

Conclusion

The Ghost Dance Religion movement was essential since it was able to unite western America Nations and ethnic tribes to act together. Though it had a first scared the White Americans and their government, it is unfortunate that the Ghost Shirts did not work as expected since it could not turn bullets away.

Work cited

Urban, Hugh B. New age, neopagan, and new religious movements: alternative spirituality in contemporary America. Univ of California Press, 2015.

Sutton, Mark Q. An introduction to native North America. Routledge, 2016.