The Invention of Prophecy: Continuity and Meaning in Hopi Indian Religion

Rating:
Summary: New Age Practitioners: Hang on a minute, read this book
Review: A very interesting hypothesis and probably right on track. It is easy to believe that the grandeur of the "Hopi Prophecies" is merely a product of charlatan spoof that has precipitated ridiculous misconceptions and notions of a very important aspect of Hopi culture. Perhaps some elements of these prophecies are based in truth but what Armin Geertz has shown is that because of polital factionalism and intracultural bias many of these myths of Hopi religion were created merely to make certain non-Hopi individuals a great deal of money and to substantiate the political (and thus prestigious) ambitions of particular Hopi leaders. Before you jump onto the "New Age" bandwagan and start beating the drum to the dance of your commercial kachina, you should probably purchase this book and study it closely. In the end, just try thinking!