God Is Red

Overview

A 50th anniversary revised edition of the beloved classic, God is Red.

First published in 1973, Vine Deloria, Jr.’s God Is Red remains the seminal work on Native American religious views, asking the reader to think about our species and our ultimate fate in novel ways. Celebrating five decades of publication with this new edition, Deloria’s classic work reminds us to understand “that we are a part of nature, not a transcendent species with no responsibilities to the natural world.” It is time again to listen to Vine Deloria, Jr.’s powerful voice, informing us about a spiritual life that is independent of Western religion and that reveres the interconnectedness of all living things.
 
This new edition includes critical essays engaging with the original material by well-known Indigenous thinkers - Philip Deloria, Suzan Shown Harjo, Daniel Wildcat, and David E. Wilkins. Inside, the book covers a wide variety of topics including: the problem of creation, the origin of religion, Death, and Human personality.

“God is Red should be read and re-read by Americans who want to understand why the United States keeps losing the peace, war after war.” – Leslie Marmon Silko

Reviews

"God is Red should be read and re-read by Americans who want to understand why the United States keeps losing the peace, war after war." —From the forward by Leslie Marmon Silko, author of Ceremony
 

"The flagship book on Native American spirituality remains Vine Deloria's God is Red. He does an outstanding job of translating complex spiritual issues into very simple truths." —Wilma P Mankiller, Former Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation

 

“Deloria’s thinking on the subject of religion has lost none of its rage or relevance . . . since God Is Red was first published. This book is broader than its subtitle suggests. It is a trenchant and often witty critique on non-Native religion through Native eyes.”  
—Akwe:kon Journal
 

"...Deloria's handling of the contrast between Christianity and the naturalistic religion of the American Indians is rich in perceptiveness." —Choice

"Brilliant and discerning, God Is Red is as thought-provoking and pertinent today as it was when it was first released fifty years ago." —Foreword Reviews.

"God is Red should be read and re-read by Americans who want to understand why the United States keeps losing the peace, war after war." —Leslie Marmon Silko, author of Ceremony "The flagship book on Native American spirituality remains Vine Deloria's God is Red. He does an outstanding job of translating complex spiritual issues into very simple truths." —Wilma P Mankiller, Former Principal Chief, Cherokee Nation "Deloria's thinking on the subject of religion has lost none of its rage or relevance...since God is Red was first published. This book is broader than its subtitle suggests. It is a trenchant and often witty critique on non-Native religion through Native eyes." —Awe:kon Journal "...Deloria's handling of the contrast between Christianity and the naturalistic religion of the American Indians is rich in perceptiveness." —Choice

“The [spiritual place] argument also suggests that Native spiritualities, as practiced in their home landscapes, have continuing power, even after centuries of hard history in which settlers tried to suppress those practices. That provocative viewpoint sits at the core of the book: it is a critique of Christianity and an assertion of the importance of Indigenous spirituality.”—Foreword Reviews
 

God is Red is an American Book Fest, Best Book Awards Finalist

Author Biography

Vine Deloria Jr. was named by TIME magazine as one of the greatest religious thinkers of the twentieth century. He was a leading Native American scholar whose research, writings, and teachings on history, law, religion, and political science have not only changed the face of Indian country, but stand to influence future generations of Native and non-Native Americans alike. He has authored many acclaimed books, including Evolution, Creationism, and Other Modern Myths; Red Earth, White Lies; God is Red; Spirit and Reason; and Custer Died for Your Sins. Vine Deloria Jr. passed away on November 13, 2005.