Shamanism and Christianity

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Exploring the interactions between 19th-century Russian missionaries and three indigenous groups, this work reveals varied responses to Christianity. The Chukchi rejected the missionaries, the Dena'ina adopted Christianity, and the Altaians selectively integrated Orthodox beliefs. Znamenski presents a groundbreaking analysis that frames these interactions as a dialogue on spiritual and ideological power, challenging the notion that missionaries solely oppressed indigenous cultures and suggesting that native societies were not untouched by Western influence.