book chapter
Navaho religion: a study of symbolism
Bollinger Foundation • New York • Published In 1950 • Pages:
By: Reichard, Gladys Amanda.
Abstract
This is an exhaustive study of the significance of symbolism in Navajo daily and ceremonial life. The author, a well-known ethnologist with many publications on Navajo religion to her credit, spent years in gathering the material for this book. Believing that it is the Navajo religious system which has enabled the people to maintain their identity in a rapidly changing world, Miss Reichard shows how and why they are preoccupied with ritual. Secular and religious behavior are analyzed in the light of the mythology of the cosmos, and the spirits and gods. This analysis relates ideas about man and nature to the symbolism of space, time, direction, texture, form, color, sound, and taste. Consequently, the author materially contributes to an understanding of the fundamental concepts behind the Navajo way of life. Navajo RELIGION has the advantage of following upon the earlier work done on the subject by Father Berard Haile, and Kluckhohn and Wyman. Although the author disagrees with many of their observations and conclusions, she is quick to acknowledge her indebtedness to their pioneering efforts.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2004
- Region
- North America
- Sub Region
- Southwest and Basin
- Document Type
- book chapter
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Katchen S. Coley ; 1951-1952
- Field Date
- 1930-ca. 1948
- Coverage Date
- not specified
- Coverage Place
- Navajo Reservation, Arizona, New Mexico, United States
- Notes
- Gladys A. Reichard
- This document consists of excerpts
- Includes bibliographical references
- LCSH
- Navajo Indians