Sacred Earth: The Spiritual Landscape of Native America

by Arthur Versluis

This eye-opening journey through the terrain of Native American spirituality contrasts contemporary society's rejection of the sacred--and its arrogant belief in its own power to control the cosmos--with native traditions of reverence for the earth. The author reconstructs the archetypal and symbolic significance of indigenous rituals and sacred sites, placing Native American spirituality in the context of the world's great religions. The comparison illustrates the richness and universality of the native approach to the earth as a cherished being and reveals the poverty of our present-day attitudes toward the natural environment and its living creatures. This book is an urgent call to rediscover and become firmly grounded on the sacred earth again.

Genres: Spirituality, Native American, Nonfiction, History

162 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Arthur Versluis, Professor of Religious Studies at Michigan State University, holds a doctorate from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and has published numerous books and articles.

Among his many books are Platonic Mysticism (SUNY Press 2017), American Gurus (Oxford UP, 2014), Magic and Mysticism: An Introduction to Western Esotericism (Rowman Littlefield, 2007), The New Inquisitions: Heretic-hunting and the Intellectual Origins of Modern Totalitarianism (Oxford UP, 2006), Restoring Paradise: Esoteric Transmission through Literature and Art (SUNY: 2004); The Esoteric Origins of the American Renaissance (Oxford UP: 2001); Wisdom’s Book: The Sophia Anthology, (Paragon House, 2000); Island Farm (MSU Press, 2000); Wisdom’s Children: A Christian Esoteric Tradition (SUNY: 1999); and American Transcendentalism and Asian Religions (Oxford UP, 1993).

His family has owned a commercial farm in West Michigan for several generations, and so he also published a book called Island Farm about the family farm, and about family farming in the modern era.

Versluis was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to Germany, and is the editor of JSR: Journal for the Study of Radicalism. He is the founding president of Hieros, a 501c3 nonprofit focused on spirituality and cultural renewal.

Reviews

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overview of the spirituality of Native Americans. Emphasis of Great Plains Indians. Not too bad, some interesting stores I intend to look into more.

[Sylvia Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

So worth reading - a fascinating and heartbreaking account of what we have lost or are losing at the same time- and even more timely than ever as you witness the results of our western capitalist approach to nature an the planet, as well as to indigenous and aboriginal peoples, the ecosystems of the world and each other.

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reads like a supplement to a textbook, which I believe while factually correct, it doesn't have any life.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enlightening book and well worth reading. Having an appreciation for Native American Spirituality and being a practicing Buddhist I have experienced the sublime similarities between the two. Versluis has confirmed this connection for me and given me more desire to pursue it further. The spiritual is not limited, humanity is.

[Barbara Samuelson]

Arthur Versluis is Professor of American Thought and Language at Michigan State University. Editor of Avaloka: A Journal of Traditional Religion and Culture.

[Zach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Passionate but very academic book about Native American spirituality. Author uses a lot of 10 cent words which detracts from the nature of the subject and makes the reading experience more tedious.