Non-Human Agency and Experiential Faith among Diné Oodlání, "Navajo Believers"

Authors

  • Kimberley Jenkins Marshall University of Oklahoma

Keywords:

Pentecostalism, Navajo, experientiality, non-human actors, rupture, resonance

Abstract

The neo-Pentecostal Oodlâni movement is on the rise among Diné (Navajo) of the US South-West, characterized by independent Navajo-led churches and charismatic worship. In this article, I focus on the experiential nature of neo-Pente costalism to argue that its growth, over and above other forms of Navajo Christianity, capitalizes on a type of resonant rupture with traditional Navajo spirituality. Specifically, I focus on the Oodlâni relationship with non-human (supernatural) actors. While experientiality provides an avenue for deeply felt continuity, a close look at Oodlâni non-human actors (and the options for interacting with them) demonstrates that neoPentecostalism fundamentally forges cultural rupture.

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Published

2015-11-30

How to Cite

Jenkins Marshall, K. (2015). Non-Human Agency and Experiential Faith among Diné Oodlání, "Navajo Believers". Anthropologica, 57(2), 397–409. Retrieved from https://cas-sca.journals.uvic.ca/index.php/anthropologica/article/view/409