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What is meant by 'spirits' is personified supernatural agencies not believed to directly perceived by human senses. Thus there are unnamed spirits residing in trees, water, air, etc. The term "high god" is often used to refer to a superior spirit, universal, with or without an organized cult. High gods are often considered to be too remote for direct worship. There may also be malevolent spirits, such as the spirit of smallpox and other diseases. Dusun They have two types of malevolent spirits - "souls of the dead" are bent on capture and destruction of human souls. Disease givers are bent on making men appear as fools to the creator. They have three beneficient spirits. One is the spirit of rice and the other two assist man in crisis rising from the two malevolent types. Then there are 25 spirits known to the male and female ritual experts. They also believe there are five powers or forces in the universe that affect man. Three are harmful and two are good. There are two creator beings who are said to reside beyond the limits of the universe - a duplicate of the human world but infinitely better. The creators are all powerful, all pervasive and the focal point of all known beings. Creators do not intercede in human affairs unless requested by male ritual experts in time of community crisis. Iroquoi They believed not only in spirits and the supernatural power of 'orenda', but also in five main gods: of creation, of destruction, of rain and thunder, of the sun and warfare, and finally of death.Yuroks They had a god - Wopakumu who walks among his people but they can't see him. He hears and sees them, gives hunters luck, warns of evil, answers prayers for money. If sin covers the world he cannot help them, they must hold a World Renewal Dance. Ayore In their belief "Dupade" (god) is the sun. Apparently he is not the creator of either man or the universe. He does not love man or judge man and his acts. He has no concern over the moral and ethical behavior of man. He may be contacted by a man climbing a tree at sunrise and calling to him and asking for things. However this must be done by a chief, not just any man and one must be very careful to pronounce the words correctly lest he misunderstand and kill a person by a snake bite or other means. The bird god is the most feared thing the Ayore know. The only stipulation she makes is that they keep her one day festival each year. At this time they make petitions to her. If they don't keep it she can make them sick. There is no interest shown by her or punishment meted out for not being moral or ethical in behavior. |