# Why I Am a Pagan explained — American Indian Stories > Chapter companion for American Indian Stories by Zitkála-Šá. ## What happens The narrator reflects on her spiritual beliefs, contrasting the rigid dogma of Christianity with the living presence of the Great Spirit in nature. She recounts a visit from a 'native preacher' who urges her to convert, but she finds deeper connection in the natural world—the river, hills, birds, and flowers—and in the traditional legends of her people. She affirms a kinship with all creation and rejects the fear-based teachings of hellfire, embracing instead a pagan reverence for the divine in all things. ## Themes in this chapter ### Spirituality vs. Christianity The narrator explicitly contrasts her pagan reverence for the Great Spirit in nature with the Christian preacher's doctrine of hellfire and damnation. ### Resistance and Resilience By affirming her own spiritual path and rejecting the missionary's pressure, the narrator demonstrates quiet resistance to cultural and religious assimilation. ### Loss of Identity and Belonging The narrator observes the 'native preacher' as a 'mere echo' of another's note, reflecting the loss of authentic identity under colonial influence. ## Character check-ins ### Mother The narrator's mother, now a follower of the new superstition, is recalled in a memory of a burned holy book. ### The Great Spirit The narrator hears the voice of the Great Spirit in nature and feels the divine presence in the phenomenal universe. ### Chän The narrator's black shaggy dog, a beloved companion who seems to understand Sioux words. ## Key lines > A wee child toddling in a wonder world, I prefer to their dogma my excursions into the natural gardens where the voice of the Great Spirit is heard in the twittering of birds, the rippling of mighty waters, and the sweet breathing of flowers. Like a young child exploring a world of wonder, I choose the natural world over their rigid teachings, because there I hear the Great Spirit in the birds, the water, and the flowers. _The narrator expresses her preference for experiencing the divine through nature rather than through Christian doctrine._ > The racial lines, which once were bitterly real, now serve nothing more than marking out a living mosaic of human beings. Racial divisions that once caused great pain now only help to distinguish the beautiful diversity of humanity. _The narrator reflects on a shift in perspective, seeing racial differences as part of a harmonious whole rather than as sources of conflict._ > Beautiful is the spiritual essence they embody. I leave them nodding in the breeze, but take along with me their impress upon my heart. The wildflowers hold a beautiful spiritual quality. I leave them swaying in the wind, but their image stays with me in my heart. _The narrator describes a deep spiritual connection with the natural world, carrying its essence within her._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters/why-i-am-a-pagan - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/american_indian_stories_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/american_indian_stories_se/chapters