Indigenous Religions - Essay Example

The Apache dwelled in a desert environment and led a nomadic life. This environment and way of living is difficult and consumes most of the individual’s time in the search for food and water and moving (Hunt). The tribe could not picture an afterlife in an environment similar to their current one; hence they may have chosen to ignore the thought that there could be an afterlife altogether. Living in such an environment, it is easier for a victim to have the view that their survival solely depends on their hard work rather than by the grace of some god or supernatural being.

The tough situations that this tribe went through may have driven their lack of acknowledgment of the existence of both a god and an afterlife.Olorun is a higher being, with more powers who assigns tasks or duties to other beings, the Orishas to accomplish. Olorun is thus like the leader whose role is to manage, direct and oversee the progress of any desired work.The messenger tool along a calabash, a chicken and his helper, Oduduwa. All came to the world by descending on a rope. However, Obatala got drunk when they stopped over at a party, and Oduduwa had to carry on with the task at hand.

Oduduwa created the earth by sprinkling soil from the calabash over the water. He then released the chicken which ran spreading the earth over until the whole place was filled with land. When Obatala recovered from this drunk state, he was assigned the task of creating the people who would live on the land. That was how the world and the people therein came to be.