This blog will be a commentary of Chamberlin’s last chapter, “Ceremonies,” from his book, If this is Your Land, Where are your Stories?” I will examine spiritualism while exploring Chamberlin’s ideas of borders, where suddenly two different beliefs seem to unite and make sense together.

When I first read of the Gitksan’s story of the grizzly Mediik who ran down the mountain in protest of the people’s deteriorating respect for their lands, I was reminded of Moses running down the mountain in rage because his  people had begun worshipping idols, rather than the God of the Jews. Mediik and Moses both were spiritual instruments that brought destruction in order to teach their people. Moses, in his fury smashed the tablets he had painstakenly waited for, and the people had dire consequences of continuing to live an uncomfortable life in the desert. The Jewish God is believed to have continually brought destruction to teach lessons and punish people. Just a few examples are the earthquakes, turning people into salt, sacrifices,  famine,  plague, and the flood.

I was brought up to believe these stories from the Bible were true. They were not metaphors, but actually literal stories.  Chamberlin brings up the idea of myths and whether the Greeks believed them.  He explains: “Yes and no.” I have embraced that kind of belief. Are biblical stories true? Yes and no. Similarly, are indigenous stories true? Yes and no. I am convinced there is truth within every belief system, but there is also the limitations of this physical world. We are not fully spiritual, but we do touch upon the spiritual realm. Do all religions and beliefs? I think so. Are they all true? Yes and no. I am happy to rest on the gray side. This resting place has allowed me to be more accepting of diversity, although at the same time it is very difficult to eat a dinner with someone who eats their peas from a knife.

Watching my friends and family still embrace a literal belief of the Bible is like that awkward dinner, as I want them to have an epiphany (as though I know for certain) and realize that  Christianity  is a belief system weaved together by time and culture, and not literal (or so I believe).  The belief I embraced for 36 years (born again Christianity), now is absurd to me. I look at my family and friends and wonder how such educated, intelligent people can believe in a God that demands praise and worship, a God who destroys those who do not follow his commands, and a God who will eternally destroy all those who do not believe the ideals of the New Testament. I am left to simply accept that their beliefs are real to them, and I have no business arguing with them or discrediting them. There are truths in what they believe; I believe there is a spiritual realm they reach in their beliefs, and throughout the world humans connect with this spiritual world through varied religions. Many stories of the bible truly move me, and propagate a message of faith and love that is very beautiful. Am I comfortable with exclusivity of religion? No. Do I like that ultimately they believe I am not saved and will spend eternity in hell. No. But then I just accept that it is their truth and I am thankful for the stories (even from the Bible) which teach us all.  Chamberlain puts it well when he says, “We need to keep this contradiction alive when we think of other people’s stories as well as our own, and be careful not to discredit either the yes or the no”(236).

Why should I be careful not to disregard the beliefs of others, even though they are strange and different? Because, as Chamberlain explains, there are borders which occur and show humans that we and all our stories are united (222). This summer I had a born again friend question me about my lack of belief in the religion I was brought up in. I reluctantly entered the conversation, and warned that it may make her feel less close to me if I were to really share my feelings. She wanted to talk anyways, and I treaded carefully through our discussion, knowing that her belief was as firm as my disbelief. We reached a border moment near the end of our talk, when she implored of me, “Didn’t you ever have an encounter with God?” That was a tricky question. Of course I have, but not from her paradigm. There is something in this universe that is amazing, but I simply cannot define God, nor do I even know what I mean by God. I told her I believe she touches upon a higher power, and I also believe that how people get to this enlightened place is not important, but that we are stay open to love in the universe. These borders occur in nature, when ones heart fills with appreciation and a sense of wonder bordering on worship. The borders are revealed when we look at a honeycomb or a spiders web and see their intricacy. This sense of border moment (or intersection as penned by Paterson) occurs when we rise and sing a national anthem, sensing that the ceremony has helped us reach a magical border place of unity. Chamberlain says, “…Them and Us is inevitable. But choosing between is like choosing between reality and the imagination, or between being marooned on an island and drowning in the sea. Deadly, and ultimately a delusion”(239).

Canada and more specifically BC embraces indigenous teaching in schools. There are videos and books called Raven Tales that my young students watch and enjoy. Last year I had children ask me if the stories in the videos were true. Did Raven create the world, and did the first humans come out of a clam shell? I was a little bit unsure how to answer! Should I say no? Do Aboriginal people think their stories are literally true? A fairy tale has so much truth in it. Is it true? Is Santa true? ( I could never say out loud that he is not). I think indigenous stories are embraced because the First Nations people do not push their beliefs on others. I have known many Aboriginal people, and they have never come across as believing their stories are the only way to truth. Perhaps that is why we are telling them in school. This is why we allow fairy tales. One day I hope the wonderful, captivating stories of the bible are told in public schools, but that may have to wait until minds are broadened and less dogmatic.

Works Cited

Goodsalt.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Sept. 2016. Image.

Raven’s Tale: The Haida Creation Story.  www.yodigo.tv/lesson/view/12. Web. 17 Sept. 2016.