An inaccurate book "Haiti or the Black Republic" by S. St. John written in 1884 said that Vodun was evil religion, it described cruel human sacrifices and cannibalism. This book had a big influence on people outside the West Indies. After that Voodoo religion was created in Hollywood and since 1930 appeared horror movies containing it. Vodun religion was studied accurately only since 1950.
In Vodun religion each group follows different spiritual path and worships different pantheon of spirits which are called "Loa" and it means mystery in Yoruba language. Traditional belief of Yoruba has a main God Olorun and the God of less significance Obatala who was authorized by main God to create Earth and all life forms. Fight between God Olurun and Obatala ended with victory of Olurun and Obatala's exile. There are also hundreds of minor spirits, those which come from Dahomey are called Rada and those who were added later are often dead leaders in the new world and are called Petro. The supreme being in Vodun is too remote to be interested by people, but minor spirits can be worshiped and can be called for assistance. Vodun teaches about the spiritual components of activities of daily life like sex. Sexual energy is powerful and its mastery helped the Vodun ancestors to survive and then to thrive.
The purpose of rituals in Vodun to is make contact with a spirit, to gain their favor by offering them animal sacrifices and gifts. Vodun priest is either male who is called Houngan or female called Mambo. During rituals Loa is called to join the rite and the person is chosen by the Loa for possession. The chosen person will start to make jerky movements and may fall to the ground in convulsions. This is the spirit of the person being replaced with the spirit of the Loa. The term used is "mounting", as the spirit of the Loa then "rides" the possessed person. Once the Loa is present, the person's behavior, mannerisms and even language can change, and the others present can tell which Loa has joined them.
Define Pantheism . How does this belief differ from Monotheism and Polytheism . What is Pantheism Pantheism is the belief that God and the world are one (McFarland 268) . The name pantheist was introduced by John Toland (Clark and Geisler 8 ) . Pantheism is often confused with p...
CUBAN SANTERIA Santeria, which literally means, way of the saints', originated in Cuba. Santeria is considered an Afro-Cuban religion. It has roots in Africa, specifically the Yoruba people in southwestern Nigeria. When Africans were brought to the New World as slaves, they brought with them their Yoruba religious traditions (Nunez: 3). Slave owners forced them to give up their beliefs and convert to Christianity. ...
