Crazy

This book presents a rare opportunity to hear a Yanomamo's story in his own words. This is cross-cultural reporting at its finest, and it's VERY hard to read. I'm not a big fan of trigger warnings, but you need to know that alongside the beautiful moments that will move you to tears, this account includes rape, murder (including murder of children), torture, child molestation, and a variety of other abuses and atrocities. It's not easy reading. It tells the warts-and-all truth about jungle life, the Yanomamo spirit world, anthropologists, missionaries, traders, and more -- it's a very unsparing look at our culture from a true outsider's perspective, and that's hard, too.

This is a deeply controversial book. You can find some highly critical reviews of it (some of which are reprinted in the back of the 2nd edition for your reading pleasure.) I don't have a lot of respect for the haters, honestly. It's one thing to disagree with someone's opinion; there's always room for disagreement in human dealings. But it's only too obvious that most of the haters here can't see the Yanomamo as *people* with their own aspirations, opinions, and hopes. I can't really get on board with that.

This is a classic example of the adage "Don't judge a book by it's cover". A friend really wanted me to read it, so I did. This book is one of the more entertaining/horrific/tragic/hopeful/eye-opening books that I've read in a while. Read it.

Brutal but so fascinating

a brilliantly written documentary of members of the yanomamo tribe in south america. both an intensely sad look at the depths to which the human soul sinks w/o Christ and gloriously encouraging testimony to the redemptive work of Christ. anyone entering any missionfield... it will fire you up or turn you off. either way you'll know where you stand.

"to truly know the horrors of war, you have to be there, to experience it... but this graphic book comes incredibly close" - a friend in the service

The best book ever

As an aspiring author, I have been told that I should never write about a place that I have never been. And that is how I would explain this book to its critics. The stories of Jungleman, Shoefoot, and their people, are not best told by those who sit in their studies and research anthropological concepts. Nor are they best told by the missionaries, who despite their love for the Yanomamï people, did not always understand the language. The stories are best told by people such as Jungleman and Shoefoot. The men who lived for years as Shamans and warriors. The men who watched foreigners come and mock their lifestyle. Now, if it were not for the diligence of missionaries and anthropologists, we would not have this book today. Let alone the testimonies of Jungleman and Shoefoot. However, stories can be dangerous things if told by the wrong person.

I could write a whole paper here, but to save time I will leave it at this:

This is a book that everyone should read at least once. A beautiful, yet chilling story of change brought to a culture of warfare and shamanism. I could not put this book down. Even after I got to the second part, which takes more concentration due to the author's formal writing. I may never get to talk to a Yanomamï person in my lifetime, but my thought process has definitely grown after having read this story.

I will also say that my copy had some interesting typos. But not so bad that I couldn't understand what was being said.

Spirit of the Rainforest: A Yanomamo Shaman’s Story. 2nd Edition. By Mark Andrew Ritchie. Chicago: Island Lake Press, 2000, 268pp.

This book is both a petition for secular anthropologists in their fields of study and informant to Christians looking to complete missions work in remote parts of the world.

As an amateur anthropologist himself, Ritchie revealed a new field of possibilities which Dr. Neil Whitehead described as “those who are studied might offer their own self-understanding in place of our ethnographies.” (257) Jungleman’s story is a lesson for anthropologists in both a unique way to study culture through the eyes of those studied and a critique of the current methods that have elicited animosity towards “anthros” (anthropologists). At one point, one of the primary characters, Shoefoot, bluntly says “I’m not an animal to be studied…we want people who will help us improve our way of life, not just write books about us.” (243)

Ritchie encourages his Christian reader to think in two different ways. He first implores Christians to gain a new understanding of how to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that will be both understood and accepted as the true Gospel. The second understanding is a spur in Christian ministry towards further mission’s work in unreached people groups. Noting the depraved and at times repulsive nature of humanity left to its own devices, this work encourages the Christian reader to empower movements of the Gospel to unreached people groups.

As a result of the investment of the Dawson family and other Christian missionaries in Venezuela, some of the Yanomamo began to accept the things of Yai Pada (God). They came to understand that Omawa (Satan) had tricked them to seek revenge, steal, and rape women. Shoefoot, the leader of Honey Village, explained that Yai Pada brought a new way of life even though Yai Pada would later experience death. This death was for the Yanomamo (159). Yai Pada’s power meant He could come back from the dead and cut the trail to live with him (160).

When asked why he could not get rid of his spirits without converting to Christianity, Shoefoot simply responded that there was no other way to remove your spirits without being killed unless being protected by the power of Yai Pada (251). Though at times the Gospel seemed to be too simplistic, Christian faith is detailed in simplistic terms in Romans 10:9 in that “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Shoefoot and Jungleman believed this doctrine and expressed that faith through the ways they shared with others and repented and turned from their old ways of spirit worship, rape, and murder.

In critique of Spirit of the Rainforest, this book straddled these two audiences of secular anthropologists and Christian laypersons resulting in too narrow of a satisfied reader. For the secular anthropologist, there was too great of a focus on the narrative arc of the story rather than this being a purely scholarly resource. Rather than focusing strictly on the culture, the anthropologist was forced to siphon through a litany of short stories and literary jargon to uncover the truths of the Yanomamo. Anthropologists were also shown to be ignorant and heartless in their study of the Yanomamo. Though some anthropologists may see this as the proverbial “call to arms” and change their ways of approaching anthropological study, many might respond with a list of rationales and frustrations of a false characterization of their purpose of study.

Though both an enhancement and a rebuttal to current anthropological practices, Ritchie’s reliance upon unverifiable spiritual warfare may also be too abstract to be overcome for the common anthropologist. However, as an anthropological work this study develops an understanding of the psyche and spiritual religion of the Yanomamo people in a way that few other anthropological works dare enter.

The Christian layperson may find this work too graphic for common study and too simplistic in its Gospel presentation. There were times that the reader is horrified at the depravity of a culture devoid of a Godly purpose. Occasionally, missionaries were even to blame for the depravity of the culture. Though modern missionaries and missions’ pastors would argue that their congregation must be aware of the horrors of a culture left to its own devices, many Christians may have difficulty stomaching such work. At times Ritchie includes material pointing to Yai Pada, but it may be appraised as overly simplistic and leave the Christian layperson unsatisfied with an understanding of how to share the Gospel with a culture that has such a unique cultural context.

This book is written as a critique for anthropological study and as a warning, yet encouragement for Christians who are looking to do ministry in places filled with spiritual warfare and extreme human depravity. This book is a resource that might not fit on the bookshelf of a secular anthropologist or a Christian layperson, but must be understood and taught in Christian missionary circles and seminaries. The Christian missionary is left in awe of Yai Pada. This story highlights the depraved nature and fear of humanity without God, the deceitfulness of sin and demons, and the power of God to protect His people from evil. Non-Christian readers and Christians who are cheerful in their own ignorance regarding the depravity of man will find the arduous road to these conclusions fruitless and cumbersome.

Amazing story of God reaching into the darkness of a sequestered uncivilized jungle culture and rescuing a shaman leader from the iron grip of evil and murder. Takes a strong heart to read.

Very interesting read about a shaman in Venezuela and his insight into the spirital realm. Also interesting the comparison between the Christian missionaries and the anthropologists.

If I could give this book more than five stars I would! It is among my Top Ten favorite books ever! Mark Ritchie did what he set out to do, to portray the Yanomamo Indians from their perspective, to tell their story.

Intellectuals and scholars, as well as religious philosophers can debate to their hearts content. This book shines a light on the spiritual world that we in the West are too blind to acknowledge. There is a spiritual warfare between demons fighting for the souls of man, desiring to see corruption, hatred, and war and the tremendously indescribable Grace, Light, Goodness, and Love of the Lord God Almighty and His Son, Jesus Christ, who provided the way for us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

I was moved reading of the spiritual battles faced by the missionary, Keleewa, with the certain discouragement he faced daily in attempting to minister to these people... his friends. I wept openly when reading of the Power of God saving those in the most destitute situations. I wept over the rape of young girls sanctioned by their own family members. I was sick over the brutality, but I am thankful the author included it. This is real stuff. This is the spiritual battle. Sin is ugly and devastating. In the West, we don't like to mention the harsh, raw, ugly brutality of sin, but this is the very thing that makes us realize we NEED a Savior! Shoefoot, a Yanomamo shaman, clearly understood the need to get rid of ALL his spirits to follow Yai Pada, The Great Spirit. He was able to see how some Western Christians followed Yai Pada, but did not get rid of ALL their spirits. He saw that some Christians kept some of their spirits. He had the "all-or-nothing" attitude to follow Yai Pada only. I admire Shoefoot and cannot wait to meet him in Heaven!

Be forewarned!!!!!! This book contains brutal violence and overt sexual talk. If these make you too squeamish or if you are convicted as a Christian that there is a better way to tell of these truths, then please do not read this book. Nothing is held back, as it is told through the eyes and perspective of the Yanomamo shamans that tell their story. However, if you are able to accept looking at the gorey details of sin and then being moved in soul and spirit when you see the Triumph of God Almighty, then read this book!

Awesome book! I had to read it for class at Liberty University- I believe every word of it. It's awesome to see the ways God works :)