Questions about Smudging and Christianity
Many people wonder if smudging, a common practice of some Indigenous cultures, is compatible with Christianity. In the past, there have been some who argued that smudging was “pagan” and had ties to devil worship and other pre-Christian religions. However, there is growing evidence today that shows that smudging and Christianity can indeed co-exist, contradicting the idea that one must reject Christianity in order to smudge.
The practice of smudging involves the burning of sacred herbs and plants, such as white sage and sweetgrass, and the wafting of the smoke towards the Four Directions, accompanied by prayerful intentions. The practice is used by many Indigenous cultures as a way to cleanse, purify and honor ceremonies, spiritual events and the environment. Smudging has become increasingly popular in non-Indigenous circles for spiritual healing, personal protection, and inner peace.
Christianity has typically been perceived as conflicting with Indigenous spiritual practices due to the predominance of European-Christian colonization during the 19th century. Unfortunately, Christian missionaries during this time worked to eradicate Indigenous spiritual traditions, as they viewed them as a barrier to religious conversion. This clash of ideologies has continued to this day, and has been occasionally framed as a battle between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ religious beliefs.
However, there is growing evidence in today’s society that Christian communities are adopting practices of smudging into their religious beliefs. Many individuals have begun to adapt smudging as their own personal practice, while others have included smudging into church ceremonies and rituals. As such, it is becoming increasingly accepted as a practice that is not ‘anti-Christian’, but rather merely uncomfortable and unfamiliar to its congregants.
Reverend Lowell Greathouse, a United Methodist pastor and a spiritual adviser at the Center for American Indian Studies, is one such proponent of smudging in Christianity. Greathouse believes that smudging and Christianity can co-exist, and points to the fact that using smoke in ceremonies is found in many other religions, such as Judaism and Hinduism, and that this is evidence of its compatibility. In a 2013 article from the Christian Century, Greathouse suggests that “even in Christian beliefs, a mist or “cloud of God’s presence” is something to be embraced”. He is therefore an advocate for smudging as a way to bring Christian and Indigenous traditions together for some meld of worship.
Smudging and the Physical Environment
The practice of smudging has also been cited as a form of protest that expresses a spiritual connection to the physical environment. For example, the Indigenous-led 2012 No More Silence protest on Parliament Hill in Canada consisted of a ceremonial smudging ritual performed as a way of raising awareness surrounding the targeting of Indigenous women by the government. The ritual of smudging and prayer was performed in order to spiritually connect with nature and express a voice of protest.
In addition to marking protests and sacred ceremonies, smudging has also been found to have public health benefits. Studies have found that the smoke from smudging herbs contains antimicrobial and antiseptic properties, and can be used as an air-cleaning mechanism. Being exposed to the smoke can help reduce airborne germs, and can be a natural way to remove odor and purify the air. As such, smudging is a way for Indigenous cultures, and those interested in this practice, to express their spiritual connection to the physical environment and benefit from a public health standpoint.
Smudging and Acceptance in Christianity
While some devout Christians argue that smudging contradicts the teachings of the Bible and is thus incompatible with Christianity, others argue that this type of spiritual practice can accommodate greater acceptance. For example, the Christian Church in New Mexico, U.S.A., holds intertwined ceremonies of smudging, singing and prayer during special occasions, such as funerals, baptisms and weddings. This highlights the fact that Christianity and Indigenous spiritual practices can co-exist, and that faith-minded prayer, rather than allegiance to a belief systems, can be found in both.
Smudging, however, is not without criticism from both sides. Some Indigenous people have argued that Christianity cannot understand the spiritual significance of smudging, and thus to expose it to this religion would represent an abuse of such a deeply spiritual practice. However, with the right education and respect, many have found that Christianity and smudging can exist side by side, as an example of how Christianity can take “respectful inspiration” from other religious practices.
Smudging, Healing, and Christian Rituals
The practice of smudging is strongly linked to healing, both on an individual and collective level. For those practicing Christianity and Indigenous spiritual practices, smudging and prayer can help move through difficult emotions and encourage self-reflection. Smudging is often seen as a way to emotionally and spiritually release anything that is no longer needed, such as stress, anger and negative feelings. It is a way for one to connect with faith, love, and inner peace.
It is a practice that can be included in Christian rituals, as Christian meditational practices are often combined with more sensory aspects –such as music, chanting, and rituals involving significant actions, like smudging. Here, Christian and Indigenous traditions intertwine, enabling faith-minded prayer, as one can “smudge” to cleanse their mind, heart and spirit as part of a meditational practice.
Interfaith Communities and Smudging
The combination of smudging and Christianity can also be found at the institutional level. Many spiritual centers and interfaith organizations today are blending Indigenous spiritual practices and Christianity within the same institution. For example, the Red Willow Spiritual Center in Pecos, New Mexico, is home to a supportive interfaith Christian and Indigenous community, where smudging ceremonies are held side by side. This is just one example of many Christian organizations that are now embracing smudging as a significant practice, in turn promoting a greater understanding between cultures.
Smudging has become increasingly recognized by these Christian organizations as an appropriate practice for Christianity, leading to a broader acceptance. Today, more and more Christian organizations are learning how to properly include smudging in their teachings and ceremonies, doing so in a respectful and dignified manner. As such, smudging and Christianity can co-exist, and in fact, be quite benefited from each other.
Tangible Connections Between Christianity and Smudging
In addition to spiritual and religious points of connection, those practicing smudging have also found tangible evidence of Christianity’s intersection with the spiritual practice. In an interview with Rev. Lowell Greathouse, he points out that the triangular shape of smudge pots is “an ancient Christian symbol before it was adapted by Indigenous peoples”. This example is just one of many that suggest that Christianity’s influence on Indigenous spiritual practices is much more complicated than it is often thought to be.
The teachings of Christianity, as well as Indigenous spiritual practices, can both be found through smudging. Religion and spirituality often intersect, inspiring one another and pointing to a more holistic way of being. Through embracing the many similarities between Christianity and Indigenous spiritual practices, we can now find faith-minded prayer through both Christianity and smudging.
Developing Awareness for Smudging and Christianity
It is evident that smudging and Christianity can exist side by side without one being more dominant than the other. It is a way for us to recognize and understand the connection between the two, one that is respectful of both cultures and traditions. With the growing recognition of this, hopefully more Christian organizations will make steps to properly include smudging into their teachings and ceremonies in a manner that is respectful and dignified.
With this, more education is needed surrounding smudging and Christianity, in order to create greater awareness of their intertwined relationship and make clear the compatibility of the two. Only by doing so can we arrive at a place where smudging and Christianity can co-exist, one that is informed by both cultures and recognizes the complex relationship between them.
