The Handsome Lake religion

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The Handsome Lake religion was a revitalization movement that helped the Iroquois survive in a drastically modified environment. Handsome Lake, a Seneca prophet, stressed the importance of maintaining traditional values and social organization in the face of changing circumstances. The religion emphasized the importance of sobriety, family values, and social responsibility, and it helped the Iroquois adapt to new economic and political realities. The religion did not lead to the rejection of European farming techniques or the adoption of matrilineal descent groups. While it stressed the importance of women in Iroquois society, it did not promote female labor over male labor, and it did not lead to the adoption of communal longhouses.

The Handsome Lake Religion