I have a question about religion. In Mother Culture it appears that religion and the state have been tied up together since the dawn of civilization. Even though in the United States they claim there is a separation, it appears that many of the state ("state" as in government) laws appear to originate from our deeply held Christian belief system. Religion's place in Mother Culture mainly appears to inflict rules of behavior and conduct. My question is regarding indigenous tribal religion. I want to have a better understanding of the purpose religion serves in an indigenous tribal culture. Are tribal laws and religion one and the same? Or does religion serve only to help them understand their spiritual place in the world? Or is it neither? • Ishmael.org, the work & philosophy of Daniel Quinn