The Four Vision Quests of Jesus

In this book Steven Charleston interprets the story of Jesus from the vantage point of Native American spirituality. Whether he does so successfully depends upon the reader's understanding of Christ. I have no trouble with it, or only I only have trouble with it to the extent that I have trouble with Christian mythology, and essentially all religion, in general. However, those Christians for whom the Bible is “inerrant” historical truth, apparently 24% of Americans, will not reject Charleston's ideas. Charleston's people suffered near genocide committed by purported “Christians,” so he had a crisis of faith in accepting the religion of the whites. The Native American vision quest entails a vigorous ordeal. It involves not eating or drinking for several days, and forcing oneself to stay awake. Anyone who does this is going to have visions, or hallucinations. The question then is whether these visions have any meaning. In my opinion, they do. Such visions are obviously a product of one's mind, and a conscious quest will activate the subliminal mind. Whether or not such visions will foretell the future I'm skeptical about, to say the least, but they very likely enlighten the seeker to aspects of himself, and of the human condition. Charleston says, “I believe there are more out there who have had spiritual visions than who have not.” But we are taught to ignore them. In THE FOUR-GATED CITY, for instance, Rhodesian author Doris Lessing described her character, Martha Quest fasting and staying awake for several days. During this quest she encountered an aspect of herself whom she referred to as “the self-hater.” She said now she understood what went on in the mind of someone who would rape and murder a child. I encountered this thing myself in my own vision quest, before I read her book. Charleston points out that Native Americans interpretation of evil is that it is within all of us, so “Satan” is a projection of “Self.” Yes, an aspect of one's personality that is almost autonomous, as “the temptation to rugged individualism. . . the unmitigated sense of self as a pathway to deep spiritual error.” Human beings are responsible for everything they see. They must take care of nature; not rape it for personal benefit. Which, of course, is a diametric contradiction of American Christianity. Anyone reading BLACK ELK SPEAKS can see the similarity between his visions and those of Hebrew visionaries described in the Bible. It is simply historical fact, as Stevenson says, “Great deeds come from great visions, and history records how this process has happened in global cultures throughout the world.” Of course, it is also true that many of these great vision and “great” deeds have been quite evil. Hitler claimed to have had visions, and personally, I've always found Moses quite horrifying. Hardly had the dust settled from chiseling the Ten Commandment when he was “coveting the ass” of the the Canaanites and committing genocide to get it. It is nowhere as rare as we should hope for a father to have a vision in which God commands him to kill his child; unfortunately God does not stop it at the last second. In Charleston's understanding of Christ's self-sacrifice, he does not believe that Christ died man's sins, but for their blessing. “Things die so that things may live. In this cosmic reciprocity of life, the holy bargain is that God will die so that all creation may live.” I'm not at all sure that I understand what Christ dying on the cross is supposed to have accomplished, but I find this notion preferable to the traditional Christian interpretation. Charleston say, “Sacrifice presumes the existence of the divine in a conscious form.” Though in my “Vision,” I experienced God as the core of my being, I also don't think God can be self-aware except through mankind (or other self-w-aware beings). So God can't be more self-aware than people are. This is why people who experience “God” can be capable of great cruelty and evil: “Satan is God's Self-ignorance.” The Christians settlers of America justified the butcher of “Indians” by quoting Psalms 2:8, in which God gives them the land of the heathens, whom they should shatter like pottery. Paul Johnson, in his right-wing propaganda tome MODERN TIMES, chooses the quotation as his frontispiece, apparently justifying the notion of the so-called White Man's Burden. The Christians who like Paul Johnson are not going to care for Charleston.

Great book for EFM

An interesting read for anyone to contemplate.

Christian theology through a native lens - discussed by using four parts of the ministry of Jesus: Baptism, out to the wilderness, the transfiguration and crucifixion - all envisioned as native vision quests. Worth while reading. Found the intro a bit slow but it picks up speed in chapter 2. Footnotes have some good links to additional cultural And historical info.

This is a great book club book. There was so much to discuss in each chapter. The way native spirituality enhances Christianity is very beautifully written.

I had this on my Kindle for a good while. When I finally read it I knew why. The right time had come. Had I read it several years ago, it would have been just as good, but now, especially in the time of pandemic and political upheaval, the gift of Native American spiritual insight is precisely what I need to renew my own faith. Stephen Charleston is a clear thinker, a good writer, an original theologian, and a kind man. This book is excellent if you are looking for a fresh, strong, creative way to view the life and ministry of Jesus.

A must read for all people of faith. Charleston shows us the kinship we share with each other in the body of Christ. He shows us that we are closer in spirit than we ever imagined. A small book of wonder and eye opening theology!

This is an amazing perspective on what Jesus’ life was really about - to bring all human beings back from exile into one human family. A vital perspective to reflect deeply upon!

My item arrived in perfect condition and on time.

This author puts aright notions of spirituality that Christian leaders have scued for thousands of years. I am so impressed with his deconstruction of what Christianity had become and its link to the colonization of the First Nations people. His reflections offer me a way to divest myself of unhelpful theology as at the same time I come to understand more deeply the theology of Native traditions and their linkage to the path Jesus as a contemplative/healer/child of God/Christ took.