(The Metaphysics of Modern Existence) [By: Deloria Jr., Vine] [Sep, 2012]

by Vine Deloria Jr.

Vine Deloria Jr., named one of the most influential religious thinkers in the world by Time, shares a framework for a new vision of reality. Bridging science and religion to form an integrated idea of the world, while recognizing the importance of tribal wisdom, The Metaphysics of Modern Existence delivers a revolutionary view of our future and our world.David E. Wilkins holds the McKnight Presidential Professorship in American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota.Daniel R. Wildcat is the director of the American Indian studies program and the Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center at Haskell Indian Nations University.

Genres: Philosophy, Ecology, Indigenous, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion, History

Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Vine Victor Deloria, Jr. was an American Indian author, theologian, historian, and activist. He was widely known for his book Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto (1969), which helped generate national attention to Native American issues in the same year as the Alcatraz-Red Power Movement. From 1964–1967, he had served as executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, increasing tribal membership from 19 to 156. Beginning in 1977, he was a board member of the National Museum of the American Indian, which now has buildings in both New York City and Washington, DC.

Deloria began his academic career in 1970 at Western Washington State College at Bellingham, Washington. He became Professor of Political Science at the University of Arizona (1978–1990), where he established the first master's degree program in American Indian Studies in the United States. After ten years at the University of Colorado, Boulder, he returned to Arizona and taught at the School of Law.

Reviews

[Zach Irvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read. On one hand, it was kind of like a topography of various academic fields during the 1970s. On the other hand Deloria makes an argument for the consolidation of those various fields of knowledge into a unified understanding of reality. Obviously, Deloria is incredibly knowledgeable and well read. He makes salient points about the tendency of western academics to have a narrow and exclusionary view that tends to discredit anything that doesn’t fit into their systems. He also argues that those same academics should give more credence and thought to ancient belief systems and how they might correlate to aspects of reality that modern science is only now beginning to understand. There were times when it seemed as though he was approaching complex scientific matters from the perspective of someone who does not participate regularly in that field, but I admire his reach in the book.

Ultimately, my favorite chapter dealt with the legal standing of nature and trees. That is probably what I will look into next, since I have decided to try and do more reading on nature this year. I might also look into Deloria’s other books because I’m interested in Native American religious beliefs and he seems to be the expert on that subject.

[thebookishqueer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Pretty dense, but an important read for any person/scholar interested in Indigenous knowledge. It makes you realise how much you don't know, especially if you're a settler scholar like myself.

[Michael]

check out my blog (homersmuse.com) where I am putting thoughts from this book each day this week...