Question 1 While the Native Americans and the Africans inhabited two different continents, their belief system has a plethora of similarities pertaining to their core values. The basis of their religion also, in some ways, epitomizes modern day religion such as rites of passage. Their differences are shallow in context when it comes to what they view as sacred and holy and including religious rituals that are performed for a specific reason or transformation. Both Native American and African mythologies center around the ideology of harmony, balance, and cyclical nature of all beings through animistic symbolization. To a certain degree, all outsiders or nonnatives who study the belief systems of indigenous religions have found that indigenous religion is more than just a religion or belief system but rather an inherent way of living. To name or label indigenous beliefs as "religion  or any other is to have a bias based on our own views of transformation and ultimacy. Animism is common among African and Native American religions. It is the belief that all of earth is alive even in the form of spirits or animals. This idea embraces harmony among all living things and that humans are essentially no better than say a fish. If the harmony becomes out of balance, sacrifice or ritual is often performed in order to resore the balance that has been lost. The Native Americans believe that the highest spirit lives in all creation and The Africans believed spirits were in the form of other beings. Therefore, the attitude of the Africans and the Native Americans toward nature is respectful, in order to create harmonization. For example, hunting buffalo was done only when needed and typically all parts of it were used in some way as to not dishonor a fellow being. Everything that is inhabited on earth is scared from the stars in the sky to the dirt beneath their feet and so tribute and praise was given to all things by way of ritual or sacrifice. "They would do every-thing in their power, logic would seem to dictate, to protect the deities; likewise, that they would strive not to harm plant and animal persons who, in many respects, possess a right to life equal to that of humans  [Equ08]. Both believe that the earth, the sky, and the waters have a life force similar to that of humans which could be beneficial or malicious. Native Africans believe these forces have a direct influence on human life, and therefore try to understand the spirits and seek their favors by prayer and ritual. "Most native religions have evolved a measure of private teaching shared only with initiates and not presented to outsiders, no matter how well meaning they may seem ¦because of adherents fear of repression or misinterpretation by those studying the culture from the outside [www14].The indigenous religions use words and arts from their ancestor's rather than a sacred text by which the entire people follow. The lack of text makes it difficult to analyze the indigenous religion because as a nonnative or outsider we bring our own bias or prejudices to something that we can't discern. Indigenous religion is expressed or represented orally and to them is felt just by acknowledging the presence of every being and every molecule that makes up the universe. In perspective their belief is selflessness and balance. Question 2 The Yoruba of West Africa seem to share the general African-based systems of worship: relationship of the individual to the spirit world. The world of their ancestors do not go to a heaven but manifest themselves as beings around them and control the powers of earth. Some are even known to have control over disease and illness. Through song and dance, and even sacrifice, balance and harmony is crucial among the spirits and the humans. In some rituals, the spirits manifest themselves by possessing their worshippers, which sometimes gives power and healing. While the Yoruba people maintain a high god, Olodumare, that is not their ultimate and primary focus in worship, "the day to day life of the Yoruba are the spirits known collectively as orisha [Wil13]. There are a plethora of spirits in which the Yoruba people worship such that of Orunmila, or the Mouthpiece of the Supreme Lord, or Eshu who allows for communications between the spirit world and the human world. The spirits are worshiped or called upon through ceremonial rituals and sacrifice in a way to keep peace between the two realms. A major tradition in the Yoruba culture is rites of passage; naming ceremonies, birth, weddings, and funeral ceremonies. A peculiar idea the Yoruba have is the notion of reincarnation of the dead. According to the Yoruba humans have a body which houses their spirit. The body by death then becomes the earth by way of decomposition and returns to a mother while the spirit becomes an animated ancestor; part of nature. Dr. Timothy Tennet asserts, "Many Yoruba believe they [ancestors] have the power to dramatical