Of 神 and Wakȟáŋ Tȟáŋka

Religion.
It seems an ever present force in your culture. It attaches social constructs to otherwise "blank slates." It can introduce rational behavior in a panicked community or disavow rational, logical thought and discussion. It is often (incorrectly) believed that that reason and faith can not coexist. When I say "faith" I mean the complete confidence in person, plan, morality... insert noun. Reason does not deny skepticism nor does it sanctify it either. In turbidatude, one might say that faith in reason is a religion just as faith in Christ is also a religion.

I've never been surprised how a simple statement  can cause such animosity. It's like saying Israelis and Palestinians could be the same peoples.

I've always saved a place in my heart for the ancient religions. The common ones these days, seem to bent on maintaining social status, moral surpremacy, political influence and epistemological prowess.

In an effort to better explore and understand my culture - the human culture- I am enbarking on a search for knowledge. I want to explore older, more traditional style belief systems. Systems like the Lakota Way and Shinto. Both are commonly thought of as Religion but lack many formal aspects that plague so many other Faiths. Namely, they are reminents of Faiths of peoples almost forgot but remained doggedly.

For Shinto, it's core elements are entwined in Japanese culture. It provided (and still might) a basis for Buddhism and Confucianism. The Lakota Way is made of the traditions and history one Native American tribe, the Lakota, who manged to preserve a part of their people. Both utilize dance, song and word-of-mouth story telling in ceremony and practice. More interestingly, both are known for a distinct lack of unified doctrine, and have a abundant absence of scripture.

Not to say neither Shinto nor Lakota  don't use "holy books," rather they are not bond by tome. Of course, modern and contemporary works, thoughts and [mis]understandings are freely available.

-yours in learning, Marcus