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There is a tendency to consider history as a smoothly advancing reality. The four-fold model, however, finds the events of world occur in quantum steps so that there are enduring, distinct stages in Salvation Historvy as there are in the "spiration" of Triune God and in the four-fold aspects of Wakan Tanka. Therefore, as the Person's of the Trinity and the spirits of the Four Directions remain enduringly distinct, so too are the levels of revealed religion in Salvation History to be recognized as enduringly distinct—of which the Lakota religion and the Christian religions are from two distinctly different stages of revealed religion and should be respected as such and remain enduringly distinct.

— The Pipe and Christ by William Stolzman

These scriptural passages trom Ezekiel and Revelations are apocalyptic, and it is most difficult to know absolutely the realities indicated by these colossal descriptions. Obviously they were written in times of religious suppression, and the great visions were given to spur hope more than anything else. But ímages expressing hope must have some basis in reality. Each image had meaning; some were known only in local religious circles. Still there are four levels of interpretation of any scriptural passage: 1) the original historical meaning, 2) the meaning in reference to Christ, 3) the meaning in reference to the church and the individuals in the church today, 4) the meaning in reference to the final judgment. It is experience that fills out the details of any kind of vision, be it covenantal, vocational, prophetic, or apocalyptic. A person familiar with Lakota symbolism is immediately drawn to many meaningful and coherent religious understandings that are most difficult to put into words. While it cannot be said that the above Scripture passages prove that there really are four-sided creatures around God's throne now and at the ends of the earth, one begins to wonder when the same type of imagery emerges from the revelations of other religions. At least the Lakota and the Christian religions are compatible on this point. Still, a more profound comparison can be made.

— The Pipe and Christ by William Stolzman

These scriptural passages trom Ezekiel and Revelations are apocalyptic, and it is most difficult to know absolutely the realities indicated by these colossal descriptions. Obviously they were written in times of religious suppression, and the great visions were given to spur hope more than anything else. But ímages expressing hope must have some basis in reality. Each image had meaning; some were known only in local religious circles. Still there are four levels of interpretation of any scriptural passage: 1) the original historical meaning, 2) the meaning in reference to Christ, 3) the meaning in reference to the church and the individuals in the church today, 4) the meaning in reference to the final judgment. It is experience that fills out the details of any kind of vision, be it covenantal, vocational, prophetic, or apocalyptic. A person familiar with Lakota symbolism is immediately drawn to many meaningful and coherent religious understandings that are most difficult to put into words. While it cannot be said that the above Scripture passages prove that there really are four-sided creatures around God's throne now and at the ends of the earth, one begins to wonder when the same type of imagery emerges from the revelations of other religions. At least the Lakota and the Christian religions are compatible on this point. Still, a more profound comparison can be made.

— The Pipe and Christ by William Stolzman

Whites judge a person good or loving if there is something positive coming from inside a person toward an other. For a Lakota "to love" is "to cause something positive and good in the other." Consequently, the Lakota do not get hung up with the question whether an action originates from free will to be a loving act. A mother, who unretlectively picks up a child to comfort it from its crying, may be acting reflexively, but she is still acting lovingly—according to the Lakota. By their deeds and not their reflection will you know them. Consequently, it is easier for a Lakota to say that this morning when my horse took me out to fix fence and I later fed him, we loved each other and felt a lot closer to each other than I do with many of the people down the road. Certainly one's horse has its own nature or way and relationships are closest with one's family and relatives. Nonetheless, for a Lakota, love can bridge differences of nature both ways...for are we not all relatives, mitakuye oyae in?

— The Pipe and Christ by William Stolzman

Some White people ask whether the Lakota worship the sun at the Sundance. The word "worship" refers to the special recognition given to a spiritual person, recognizing that person as divine, or at the highest spiritual order. One Sundance chief said, "So many people have asked me about the Sundance. Do we worship the sun? I tell them, No. We worship almighty God. We admire his work, Without the sun we wouldn't be able to see one another or recognize the different colored people of the world in the four directions of the Sundance."

— The Pipe and Christ by William Stolzman

In my opinion, the Lakota spirits have shown greater appreciation and towards the Church than the Spirit of the Church has shown toward the Lakota spirits. But times are changing.

— The Pipe and Christ by William Stolzman

I said to a Full-blood friend that it seems that Christianity on the reservation has been purifying the Lakota religion long before Vatican II indicated it should be done. To this he replied, "Yes that is true. But don't forget. The Lakota religion had been purifying the Catholic Church too, especially since Vatican II. I don't know why it has taken you smart guys so long to get with it. *

— The Pipe and Christ by William Stolzman

This is a book that will fit handily in any saddlebag, in any creel, in any backpack, in any river runner's ammo can -- and in any picnickers' picnic basket. No good American should ever go into the woods again without this book and, for example, a hammer and a few pounds of 60-penny nails. Spike a few trees now and then whenever you enter an area condemned to chain saw massacre...you won't hurt the trees; they'll be grateful for the protection; and you may save the forest.

— Ecodefense by Edward Abbey, Dave Foreman, Bill Haywood