God Is Red: A Native View of Religion

Philip J. Deloria, the son of the author, writes the Introduction to the 50th anniversary edition of God is Red. Philip describes the February 1969 meeting of the Episcopal Church’s Executive Committee, during which the committee ignored a proposal from a delegation of four American Indigenous leaders (led by Vine Deloria Jr.) asking for more Indigenous participation in the church. The Indigenous people considered the Episcopal Church to be “an Indian religion” (VII), but this feeling was not mutual.

The moment helped to clarify Vine’s growing disillusionment with the church and helped to inspire the criticism of Christianity which appears in God is Red. Philip provides a history of the Indigenous activism which was circling the United States before, during, and after the publication of his father’s book. He has few memories of his father actually writing the book, unlike the writing process for his father’s other celebrated work, Custer Died for Your Sins: An Indian Manifesto. Philip also provides an overview of the editing and preparation work for this edition of God is Red, confirming that the majority of the changes made by his father for the previous anniversary edition have been left in place.