What would be your definition of the word "culture"? ?

Question

Compare the cultures of Native Americans and Europeans.

Answer 1

I'd love to!

Native American tribes of course vary, but the tribes Europeans first encountered in the New World had several things in common.  Whereas Europeans in the New England and Chesapeake Bay regions worshipped the Christian God, Native Americans worshipped an incarnation of the natural world called Wimitanyae.  Ironically, it was this religious difference that first led to the Native Americans assisting the Europeans to survive, as Wimitanyae was depicted as a pale spirit and the settlers were white.

As time passed, cultural differences created friction between the two groups, but the friction was always caused at least indirectly by religious reasons.  In Native American mythology, Wimitanyae could not pass through wood, so when European settlers began erecting wooden houses, the NAs grew disillusioned with them as they were blocking Wimitanyae from their homes.  NA homes of course were constructed of teepees, and even in the case of wooden buildings used for formal purposes, a door was always left open.  So they couldn't help but feel betrayed when they realized that not only were these not the people of their god but that their culture went against his edicts.