r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/MelanieWalmartinez • Sep 01 '26

Video Students get smudged by indigenous elders for peace and blessings throughout the year

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40

u/Popular-Row4333 Sep 01 '26

I don't get this thread, Reddit is super anti religion, yet indigenous religion gets a pass for some reason?

32

u/According_Register55 Sep 01 '26 edited Sep 01 '26

For one thing, someone told exactly one anecdote and then the immediate response (OF WHICH YOURE A PART) was people criticizing the consent aspect of the ritual.

For another, most people haven’t been subjected to individual, group, and societal pressure to conform to indigenous religions the way they have with Christianity.

2

u/Empty-Presentation68 Sep 03 '26

Seems to me we are now forced to. If we don't accept it we are shamed and guilty of being racist anti indigenous colonizers.

11

u/no-thanks-thot Sep 01 '26

It's the underdog bias. Anything connected to norms, power, or the majority is verboten.

How else would one know a safe topic for use in virtue signaling?

5

u/kitkat2024 Sep 01 '26 edited Sep 01 '26

I am too baffled. What if it was Holy Water? What if they had them try on a hijab? Because they are learning indigenous practices, it’s okay?

2

u/[deleted] Sep 01 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/pooppoopdoot Sep 01 '26

If the people asked for consent and only did it to those consenting, then it’s fine, like in this video.

I swear yall will find anything to get mad about lmao

2

u/kitkat2024 Sep 01 '26

If anyone tried to blow smoke on my kid. Make them walk around a rock, or throw holy water on them there would be hell to pay!

0

u/According_Register55 Sep 02 '26

Do your kids go to an Indian community school on a reservation?

0

u/kitkat2024 Sep 02 '26

No, I grew up in Arizona, land of kachina dolls, sweat lodges and powwow’s. No one blew sage on me. If the had I would have punched them.

1

u/pizzaranch Sep 02 '26

Yikes dude get a life.

1

u/SunshineAlways Sep 01 '26

It’s an indigenous school in the post.

3

u/CanadianWazowski Sep 01 '26

Yeah. I treat all religions the same. No difference between this one and any other.

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u/Ivoted4K Sep 01 '26

It’s almost like it’s not the religion that’s caused harm in our society.

-1

u/RonShreds Sep 01 '26

This is a practice, not a religion.

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u/kitkat2024 Sep 01 '26

Blowing smoke to avoid bad juju? Not religious?

-3

u/Grawlix_TNN Sep 01 '26

I was brought up Catholic in Australia and over the years the amount of shame and judgement me and my mum got (she got divorced oh no clutch pearls) was insane. It put me off organised religion forever.

Aboriginal 'religion' in Australia is more about story telling, balance and caretaking of our world, and deep connection to the land. Lots of fables metaphors that are 100% relevant today, not hard line "you'll burn in hell if you don't show up to this building once a week and put money in a tin".

Indigenous culture across the world all seem to idealistically converge in this connection to nature, life, connection and harmony.

So yeah the 'some reason' is fuck organised religion that's been around for a few thousand years and exists to control behaviour. Give me a smoke ceremony anyway.

-2

u/The_Real_Chippa Sep 01 '26

What? The comment you’re replying to is getting tons of criticism