Sa-Go-Ye-Wat-Ha (1752-1830) pg 158

"You say that you are right and that we are lost. How do you know that this is true?" Sa-G0-Ye-Wat-Ha said this in his speech to a Christian missionary that came to his people. When dealing with religion and people trying to convert other people, this is a common question people ask. Most are turned off to certain religions or religion all together when someone confidently tells that they are wrong and need to believe "this" or "that." Many times a person's religion is more than just what they believe. It can also be a deeply rich part of their culture and everyday lives that makes them who they are. For them to change religion would in a sense be them losing their whole identity.

A great example comes to mind from the book 'Brukcho.' It is a true story that talks about Christian missionaries that were working in a tribal community in South America. Some tribes had been (according to the missionaries) "fully converted." These tribes also displayed many American customs. They dressed like the missionaries, went to church in square buildings, and sang the usual songs you would hear in many of the Christian churches in America. They acted just like the missionaries. The other natives saw this and wanted nothing to do with the religion the missionaries were bringing to them because they would lose their own customs and identity. They did not want to dress like the missionaries. In the story there was one missionary that was separate from the others. He did not try to change the natives culture and identities. Rather he just spoke what he believed to be absolute truth and did his best to apply it in a way that would fit into their culture and already spiritual beliefs. Some of the natives had said that they had become closer to God through his teachings and were glad that they did not have to change their customs. Their "worship services" were entirely different than that of any American church.

Now there is always the question as to whether there is absolute truth or not. If there is absolute truth (for example say one God), then this truth is for every person on earth and they can therefore receive this truth in a way that fits their own culture. Sa-Go-Ye-Wat-Ha said, "Since he [the Great Spirit] has made so great a difference between us in other things, why shouldn't we conclude that he has given us a different religion, according to our understanding? The Great Spirit does right. He knows what is best for his children." Both the missionary and Sa-Go-Ye-Wat-Ha could of actually believed the same truth when you look past the cultural customs that people have associated with their religion. The missionary felt that if they did not worship God like he did, then they were not saved. It is one thing to try to convert someone to Christianity. It is great when people share what they believe when they feel they have discovered the truth that is for everyone. The missionary went about it in a wrong way by trying to convert them to "American Christianity."