How Sleazy Christian Con Artists Took Over the GOP

[Hubert Flottz]

17. Today's prophets for profit and power, remind me of Tenskwatawa the Shawnee Prophet

Tenskwatawa (also known as The Prophet), a member of the Shawnee natives, was born in 1775. Named Lalawethika (the Rattle), his mother abandoned him in 1779. By all accounts, Lalawethika lacked the physical abilities that his other siblings, including his elder brother Tecumseh, enjoyed. His older siblings refused to train him in hunting and fighting. He was so unskilled with a bow and arrow that he blinded himself in his right eye with a wayward arrow. As an adult, he became reliant on the kindness of his fellow tribesmen to feed himself and his family. He also turned to alcohol to forget his problems, quickly becoming dependent upon liquor. Not having the physical abilities to become a warrior, Lalawethika attempted to learn the ways of his village's medicine man. When the man died in 1804, Lalawethika quickly proved unable to meet his people's needs. They remembered the drunken Lalawethika and did not respect his medicinal abilities. He quickly turned back to alcohol to provide himself with solace.

In April 1805 while lighting his pipe Lalawethika fell into a deep trance. His family believed that he had died and prepared his body for a funeral. Lalawethika regained consciousness and claimed that the Master of Life, a Shawnee deity, had visited him. According to Lalawethika, the Master of Life told him that the Native Americans must give up all white customs and products. The Master of Life reportedly viewed the natives' dependence on guns, iron cookware, glass beads, and alcohol as the worst possible sins. If they rejected these items and returned to traditional ways, the Master of Life would reward them by driving the white settlers from the Native American's land. The Native Americans must also stop fighting with each other over land and respect their tribal elders. If they followed the Master of Life's message, the natives would return to a life filled with happiness. Lalawethika also changed his name to Tenskwatawa. Tenskwatawa means "open door" in Shawnee. If the Native Americans followed the Master of Life's message as delivered by Tenskwatawa, they would have an open door. Whites called Tenskwatawa "the Prophet."
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http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Tenskwatawa?rec=312