Reincarnation Beliefs of North American Indians: Soul Journey, Metamorphosis, and Near Death Experience

REINCARNATION BELIEFS OF NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS: SOUL JOURNEYS, METAMORPHOSES, AND NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES by Warren Jefferson introduces after-life beliefs and after-life experiences from a variety of Indian tribes in the United States and Canada. In his well-written collection of anecdotes, folktales, and first-hand accounts, Jefferson finds a recurring belief in reincarnation. Like Hinduism and Buddhism, these reincarnation accounts describe an intermediate state that exists between death and re-birth. Interestingly, Jefferson also includes an important contrast between the North American and Eastern views: Where the ultimate goal of Eastern religions is to escape the cycle of death and re-birth, the American Indian stories illustrate their eagerness to be reincarnated, especially within one's own tribe or family.Jefferson draws parallels with the religions of the world, including accounts of paradise and punishment, as well as reunions with dead loved-ones and stories which resemble the Orpheus myth.In gathering this material from a diverse collection of tribes, Jefferson has made a rare and valuable contribution to the fields of comparative religion, afterlife research, and religious experience.

Very interesting and well written, just don't expect much 'Nation specific' information. I am dying of a terminal illness at the age of 46, small cell lung cancer. In my youth I had a falling out with the Irish Catholic Church and began a 30+ year soul search for the truth. Being adopted I didn't know my ethnicity, but I found my birth parents and discovered the Native American blood in my lineage (Mi'kmaq) and have since followed the path and learned many truths. Along with my innate knowledge and research, I came to embrace The Path and The Circle of Life, transforming through many theories, religions and beliefs. I was just hoping for some more Nation specific information. Would make a good read for Buddhists.

The title should more appropriately be North American Indian religious and afterlife beliefs. Reincarnation was a very minor part of what the book covered. Also, page 53 incorrectly assumes that all Christians believe in a traditional Heaven and Hell - however, there is a large minority that see the Bible and Jesus as teaching a Reincarnation with Grace and forgiveness instead of absolute Karma. Overall the book was an interesting read but I did by if more for the Reincarnation aspect - which was a very minor, minor, part of the book.

this book was pleasantly written in every-day English, and easy to read...it is wonderfully informative without being overly dense or too scholarly to relax with...even though it's not fiction, I was able to read it for long periods of time, which I usually cannot do with books like this, because they bore me too quickly, whereas this one did not...it is a wonderful study of the inner spiritual life of American Indians, which I found fascinating...glad I bought it...will pass it around my family,,,thanks,maryannrody

It is not so easy to find good books on Native American beliefs about anything. Native peoples live in the moment, in intuitive awareness. Books are abstractions, to them. Natives mostly don't write. This book does pretty well, and I was glad to have it. Reincarnation was stamped out, for the West, at the Council of Nicaea, in 325 AD, and just in case the lesson wasn't learned the Cathars were wiped out, as well. Native American beliefs are not what Westerners expect, they have their own identity.

Great book. Eye opener. Enjoyed it and will read again

Excellent Book - easy read and full of great information and stories.

great condition

Excelent book, although not overly much on NDE. Plenty of reincarnation and spiritual / afterlife research and information. A good purchase.