Cherokee Beliefs - The belief system of Cherokee Indians
or what is known as the Cherokee Indian Religion.
The Cherokees had a strong belief that there were certain
beings who came down from the skies formed the world, the
moon and the stars. It was believed that the world was created
at the time of the new moon of autumn, when the fruits of
the earth were ripe.
In the Cherokee religion the sun appears to have been the
pricipal object of worship. The Cherokee's would pray to the
sun to bring abundant crops and good health. The Cherokee
Indians held a festival called the new Moon Festival in which
they paid hnor to the moon.
The following is an excerpt about the Cherokee Indian Religion:
The moon was also considered to be important in religion
and at every New Moon Festival special honor was paid to the
moon. Fire was supposed to have been appointed by the sun
and the moon to take care of mankind. It was considered as
being intermediate to the sun and the smoke is symbolized
as the messenger of the fire that would make known the petitions
of the people to the sun. The Cherokees believed the morning
star was once a wicked priest who killed people by witchcraft.
When the Indians planned to kill him, he took all his shining
crystals and flew away to the sky where he appeared as the
morning star ever after.
(excerpt
source)
The Cherokees believed in an after life and those who had
behaved in a "good" manner went toa place that was
light and pleasant. Those who had behaved poorly would be
sent to a bad place and face torture. It was believed there
were seven heavens, with the Supreme Being residing in the
first heaven.
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