They offer an explanation when presented with the death of a young adult, or when someone who seems to be of relatively good health becomes ill (Barker 2008:129). For example, the death of a young woman named Mona was blamed on sorcery in order to provide an explanation to the villagers since there were given no medical reason (Barker 2008:125). Barker concluded that although Christianity does not believe in sorcery, and both methods of understanding have different views, they can and do coexist in harmony within the Maisin people (Barker 2008:134). Hedican’s textbook “Social Anthropology” discusses the coexistence of Christianity and traditional beliefs among the Mi’Kmaq.
Those who practice use an important tool, magic, “not black magic, but the magic of healing and making whole” (Wicca, Chambers
• This book is about finding medicinal plants in the Amazon Rainforest to cure common diseases. • Sometimes, Western medicines cannot cure the common diseases. • This book was written by Mark Plotkin and it was published in 1993. • Mark Plotkin travels to different parts of the rainforest and collect several medicinal plants for a research experiment. •
The traditions of Vodou in Haiti is a prime example of religious syncretism-as it has a combination of Christian and traditional African religions. These practices were also influenced through syncretism with French Catholicism. The West African deities, primarily from Benin and Dahomey, are called loa and are also usually identified with Roman Catholic saints. For example, the serpent loa, Damballah, is often identified with St. Patrick. Also Houngan, or Voodoo priests, have long since adopted elements of Roman Catholicism in Voodoo rituals, including the use of candles, bells, crosses, the practices of baptism, and making the sign of the cross.
Through partaking in interaction rituals, individuals become members of something greater than themselves. This feeling of being apart of something greater than oneself provides a moral community for the individuals, which then guides individuals in their beliefs and behaviors. It is similar to a never-ending circle; as individuals see the emotionally charged environment that this religion provides, they want to be a part of it, so they partake in unusual rituals, which furthers their engagement and emotional connectedness to their community. It almost reminds me a bit of an addiction. This community turns objects, such as poison and snakes as sacred, which in turn creates a sacred and profane world.
“Literacy Myth and the History of Literacy” by James Gee a profound and insightful piece. James Gee states “what I propose in the following papers, in the main, is a way of talking about literacy and linguistics.” (Gee) The main focus that gee writes about in this pieces is when he is speaking about discourses. gees definition of a discourse is: “A discourse integrates ways of talking, listening, writing, reading, acting, interacting, believing, valuing, and feeling in the service of enacting meaningful socially situated identities and activities” (Gee) 719
In this manner, “camouflaged as European saints, the [Voodoo] divinities continued to be invoked, fed, and celebrated by their transplanted New World devotees, who in turn expected protection and assistance from their ancient spiritual
The upbringing of Vodou into popular culture has set new standards for this religion. People were both terrified and fascinated by this “magic”. Vodou is analyzed through its uses in the touristic culture. For example, tourists would come to places like New Orleans, which also practice Vodou. The people would show interest in the religion by buying Vodou paraphernalia or equipments for fun or to use as decoration as opposed to sacred use.
Voodoo in Haiti Studied by Zora Neale Hurston The word Voodoo or also known as Vodou specifically in Haiti, is a syncretic religion that has roots in West Africa and Haitian culture. The specific Voodoo in Haiti is a religious practice that has a very significant history from a blend between African animist traditions and Catholicism. The religion that resides inside of Haiti is one that is very eye catching and something that is unique and one that has a dynamic belief system. Most of their practices consist of rituals, ceremonies, and the veneration of spirits, known as the Ioa, which serves the purpose of being the intermediary connection between the spirit world and the real world.
Spirituality for the blackfeet was a substantial fragment in their daily lives. Their religions and customs were based on animism which encompassed the spiritual idea that the universe and all natural objects such as: animals, plants, trees, rivers, mountains rocks all have spiritual aspects. The Blackfeet and other tribes had an abundant amount of different beliefs Majority of the great plains tribes like the Blackfoot tribe, believed in Manitou (the Great Spirit). Another belief was the Skin-walker, he was a medicine man who was believed to have a connection with animals, supernatural creatures and elements of nature. The Skin-walker had many details on his costume, the original outfit is a grizzly bear with attachments including the skins
This fusion of Catholicism and Voodoo eventually led to the emergence of a hybrid religion known as Haitian Voodoo, which remains an important part of Haitian culture and spirituality today. At the same time, Catholicism also influenced the development of Haitian Vodou culture and practices, for example, "Closely tied to the saints-lwa synchronicity are the pervasive Catholic icons, especially chromolithographs. "(Murrell 72), the integration of lwa with Catholicism as the main spirit of voodoo further demonstrates the influence that religion brought by European contact has had on the development of voodoo. Catholicism played an important role in the
Many cultures believe that a cleansing is a way to spiritually have peace and restore broken areas of the body. For example, if people are real bad with health or cannot resist much of many diseases out there, the shamans would normally go connect spiritually on how you can get better. One thing to note though is that the shamans are the one who maintains the strong communication between the spirits. The shaman knows that we are not alone. So whenever the person works generously and with compassion to cure pain and suffrage from the other person, the spirits show interests and come to
The entirety of this religion lays its basis on the fact that it is made up of foma, otherwise known as shameless lies. Bokonists are aware of this fact and continue to follow the religion to a tee, because what the religion offers is greater that living a meaningless life. As much as it is a lie, it provides a way of life for those lost in their current situation. San Lorenzo is very underdeveloped; its citizens live with a poor infrastructure and under the dictatorship of “Papa”
It is a spiritual way of life often used to refer to the group of Abrahamic religions and to the indigenous religions of the world. The philosophical belief system of paganism is as fluid and changing as the water that flows in the mountain stream. Traditions evolved from myths, histories and lore of ancient civilizations such as the Greeks, Celts, Romans and Egyptians and these deities are often called upon in rituals. African and Caribbean spiritual traditions such as voodoo and Santeria represent a unique set of blended indigenous beliefs, practices, rituals brought to the Americas by slaves. Native American spirituality, including the Cherokee, Navajo, and Mayan Indians where symbolism tends to focus around nature or Mother Earth as represented are
The word voodoo can be drawn since the 13th century in the Ghana, Mali, and Mauritania. Voodoo stemmed from the Fon language and by the 16th century, many West Africans worshipped a shrine of gods. Africans devoted their time into ancestor worship and ritual practices in order to help communicate with the spirits. Voodoo is most commonly known for the spiritual practice of black magic in West Africa. In addition, “Hoodoo which refers to an African traditional folk magic and Obeah derived from Central and West African origins,”(Tucker).
