Two Symbols of the Image of God: Christ and White Buffalo Calf Woman

I had a thought the other day about two dominant religious/cultural symbols and how they represent the current state of their respective cultures in this country. In America’s Christianity the dominant symbol, is Jesus the Christ, obviously. This cultural religion is largely devoid of information regarding the other half of the image of God (the divine woman). We have the image of Christ, who came down in the name of the Father and performed His Father’s works. The image of this Son of God and knowledge of His works and instructions are largely missing in the surviving Native American traditions; however, a remembrance of the divine woman (in various forms depending on each tribe) and the tradition of listening to wisdom exists here where it does not in Christianity.

These two symbols [Christ as a symbol of His Father, a divine man, and White Buffalo Calf Woman (or Corn Mother, or Sky Woman, etc), a divine woman] metaphorically represent two parts of the image of God in two specific characteristics as well: knowledge (masculine) and wisdom (feminine). But these two things that are meant to operate in conjunction with one another, creating a cohesive whole, are instead operating separately, with less than ideal results. The knowledge of America is great right now, leading to an abundance of technology and progress, but it is not tempered by wisdom, which leads us to our present state, the haphazard destruction of our environment, and destruction of the groups and individuals who stand in the way of the haphazard progress. Likewise, having wisdom without necessary principles of knowledge is like a rudderless boat, the boat stays afloat, but it drifts along according to the whims outside forces, and is not capable of directing itself. The people on such a boat are powerless to reach a desired destination. A culture missing this knowledge is headed for decline until that is remedied. The native culture is filled with the wisdom of this earth, the times, and the seasons, among other things.

Separately, these two cultures are at odds, and one can only succeed at the expense of the other. However, if these two could ever be knitted together, in harmony, the way they were intended to, they would create a powerful self preserving system that could survive indefinitely (even if it was only possible in a small community at first).

This idea exists in the Seven Fires, and the popular interpretation of what it means: both sides have something of value to the other. Both have a part to play in the positive fulfillment given in the seventh fire. The fourth fire acknowledges that the light-skinned race has necessary knowledge (I would say our most important knowledge is found in the teachings of Christ most completely preserved in the Book of Mormon, in addition to the New Testament, and the covenants found in the Old Testament. The information of the Book of Mormon has preserved the exact instruction Christ gave for “entering the gate” to the good path. He referred to it as the “Doctrine of Christ” which is mentioned in the New Testament, but never explained. Walking the good path is a principle that exists in nearly--if not every--form of religion, but our Creator’s specific instruction given on how to begin doing that and what is required, currently exists in purity, publicly, only in this source). The popular interpretation of the Seven Fires says that the path the white race must not choose is that of progress and technology, while the other path is spirituality, but I am partial to the idea behind this question shared by Edward Benton-Banai in The Mishomis Book, “Could we make the two roads that today represent two clashing world views come together to form that mighty nation?” If the white race were to embrace the most essential knowledge gifted to them and to also learn to listen to the wisdom preserved in other cultures. And if likewise, those of the First Nations were able to incorporate this essential knowledge, while conveying the wisdom and knowledge of their culture, then we could have technology and progress that does not consume and destroy, and we could have spirituality that grows in light and knowledge and wisdom.

We come to this with our own pride and vanity, our own prejudices, our own learned and earned anger and distrust that serve to continue this separation to the detriment of both sides. By letting these things guide our hearts and actions, we are postponing the thing that has been prophesied to occur. It will take change and humility in our own hearts, and the determination to set aside prejudices and blame, if we are to do anything about our present situations.

“Yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the Evil One and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world, yea, how quick to be lifted up in pride, yea, how quick to boast and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember the Lord their God and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom’s paths!” Helaman 4:9

 

“This would be a powerful thing indeed. When wisdom enters into your heart and knowledge is pleasant unto your soul, discretion shall preserve you, understanding shall keep you, to deliver you from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaks froward things, who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, who rejoice to do evil and delight in the frowardness of the wicked, whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths; to deliver you from the strange woman, even from the stranger who flatters with her words, who forsakes the guide of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God — for her house inclines unto death and her paths unto the dead, none that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life — that you may walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.” Proverbs 1:6

 

“My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of your mother. Bind them continually upon your heart, and tie them about your neck. When you go, it shall lead you; when you sleep, it shall keep you; and when you awake, it shall talk with you. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” Proverbs 1:27

(This last verse may possibly be understood in this way: "your father" = Divine Father; "father's commandment" = divine knowledge; "your mother" = Divine Mother; "law of your mother" = divine wisdom)

I pray for a day where this divine balance will again exist among mankind, when these two parts of the image of God can be reunited in our understanding, in symbol and truth.