Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. Santeria Religion. The SM Otieno Case: Death and Burial in Modern Kenya. The members of the il relate to each other in much the same way as members of an extended biological family. In this regard, we note for example that ancient Egyptians held very clear eschatological ideas featuring notions of heaven and hell and a final judgment. Santeria healthcare is often combined with conventional medicine. The idea is to make positive statements about what you would like to see in your life and to repeat, Read More How to Create Positive Affirmations That ACTUALLY WorkContinue, Fellow occultists, I am happy to announce that my new grimoire, Goetia Rising, is now available on Amazon: This is a small book, as a proper grimoire ought to be. I think you are too hung up on the "judgment" part. in Cuba the Catholic church was tolerant of ethnic traditions and even allowed various African groups to create their own "clubs," which became known as the Cabildos. Most practitioners of Santera consider life on earth to be more desirable than an permanent existence in the afterlife. Santeria (Way of the Saints) is an Afro-Caribbean religion based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements added. ." As early as the first century ce, most of North Africa was part of the Roman Empire and therefore part of Christendom. It is most often used to, Afrocentrism has a long and often misunderstood history. Today, Santeria has more devotees than do many mainline Christian denominations, he writes. Santeria was created in Cuba by the mingling of Yoruba traditions brought by enslaved Africans from Nigeria and Benin with the Roman Catholic faith of the Spanish plantation owners. Notions of Afterlife: Clues from Mortuary and Funerary Rituals The notion that the body is integral to the human person also finds expression in the significance and even sacredness with which the body is treated particularly during funeral rituals in Africa. One's ori, therefore, is the essence of one's personality as it controls and guides one's life according to the destiny received prior to birth. Sacrifices are performed for life events such as birth, marriage, and death. To put it simply, Santera is a religion for and by women. But there's a different approach. Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. The world below was the opposite of the world above, since it lacked in beauty and prosperity. Santeria developed among Afro-Cuban communities while Voodoo developed among Afro-Haitian communities. A majority of evangelical Protestants (58%) say that magic or witchcraft can influence people's lives. These religions ultimate goal is to preserve rituals and cultures to future generations. Membership is taken seriously, and members are expected to take part in the life of the il. What most viewers didnt realize, says author Miguel De La Torre, is that the songs title referred to a deity of an Afro-Cuban religion called Santeria. The Luo of Kenya call this ritual Duogo (Ongonga in Cox, 1998, p. 236), while the Xhosa of South Africa call it Ukubuyisa (Pato, in Oosthuizen and Irving, 1992, p. 134). Cuban Santeria: The Way of the Saints Share Watch on Does Santera believe Jesus? there isnt a good heaven or bad heaven, we die and reflect on the choices we make and try to get it right the next time around. Babalu Aye is known as the Father of the World, and is associated with sickness, epidemics and plagues. Mbiti, John. Portsmouth, N.H., 1969. In chapter 8 he discusses the African notions of personal immortality and the status of the living dead, while in chapter 14 he discusses African ideas of death and the hereafter and offers an exegesis of sample funeral rituals. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. As a result of these ceremonial exchanges, the oracle often determines that one particular orisha has claimed the devotee as its child. All these essays challenge the view that African beliefs including those regarding the afterlife are incompatible with Christianity. Muslims, for example, are encouraged to persevere through earthly tribulations in view of the "day of the Resurrection" when a judgment will be made in their favor, assuming they live a righteous this-worldly life (see Qurn, srah III:185). Santeria (The way of the Saints) is an Afro-Caribbean religion based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements added. It is said that going through the physical death process is exhausting to the sojourner and therefore the deceased needs a few days to recuperate before continuing in the next phase of the life journey. Explains that santera is a sensible religion that focuses on helping individuals live more in harmony with themselves and the world around them. Omissions? Their healthcare draws on Catholicism as well as African tradition; holy water is an ingredient in many Santeria medicinal formulas. In the African worldview, then, notions about the "afterlife" and notions of "this life" complement and flow into one another. It emerged in Cuba between the 16th and 19th century. We even consult the Babalawos in heaven and either do or dont do Ebo. In some areas, African slaves learned that honoring their ancestral orishas was far safer if their Catholic owners believed they were worshiping saints instead - hence the tradition of overlap between the two. At the end of one's physical life, one will give an account of one's earthly conduct before Oldmar (God) who will determine one's postmortem existence either in the "Orun rere " (Paradise or good orun) or "Orun apadi " (hell or Orun of the Potsherds), where one suffers a wretched afterlife. I think the first incorrect assumption is assuming Orisha ever followed nature based religious paradigms in regards to the afterlife. Later on, the region came under Islamic influence, and today much of North Africa is Islamic and culturally Arabic. Recently, recognizing that rituals to honor the dead are carried out despite the ban, and conceding that ancestors hold a key position in African traditional religions the Catholic Synod of African Bishops recommended that attempts be made to harmonize African beliefs in ancestors with Christian beliefs regarding saints (Schotte, 1992, p. 55). Santeria incorporates elements of several faiths and so is what's called a 'syncretic' religion. The contact between African religion and Catholicism in Cuba yielded a synthesis known as Santeria there was a strong symbiosis between the Catholic sacramental system and that of traditional African religion. These commonalities in worldview despite cultural ethnic differences will be assumed in this article. Hello, What is your concept of Egun? Santeria merges as a diversity of different faiths. To some extent, Santeria includes magical practice, although this magical system is based upon interaction with and understanding of the orishas. Animals are cooked and eaten following all Santeria rituals (except healing and death rites, where the sickness is believed to pass into the dead animal). Santera focuses on building relationships between human beings and powerful (but mortal) spirits or divinities called o risha. Although census data are lacking, it is likely that initiated devotees number in the tens of thousands and that those who consult an orisha at one time or another may be counted in the millions. The best postmortem reward is a reunion with one's relatives who have died before, particularly ancestors, the Ara Orun (Idowu, 1994, p. 177). Such frustrated persons may have to "come back," looking for help or for some vital equipment necessary of the journey. Lets see the typical portrait of the natives, Read More Sign of Taurus, Venus and House II: Personality Traits (Full Guide)Continue. During their ceremonies, both use dancing, singing, and drumming to connect with and worship their deities. In order to keep the religion and life, The slaves became "Christianized" at least to the slave owners. In order to maintain their religion, Africans living on the island prayed in secret by superimposing their orishas on Catholic saints. Santera altar in Cuba. Santeria is a religion that has beliefs of the Yoruba and it also has Roman Catholic elements (Types of Religion, 2016). More clues regarding African notions of afterlife can be gleaned from an examination of African concepts of the person. P'bitek notes that the Acholi approach the dead as identifiable persons rather than mere disembodied spirits (cwiny ) or shadows (tipo ). Santera is a religion that is capturing the interest of many people around the globe due to its deep mystical roots and powerfully visceral religious experiences. It may seem that the Yoruba are patriarchal because men filled the role of a king and there were chiefs; however, the women ran the family and daily life. It is well developed in Spanish-speaking people and colonies. Thus, while Africans continue to see death as a "saying yes" to God's summons, this summons is a prelude to God's judgment, which determines one's final postmortem destiny in heaven or hell. Santeria is based on Yoruba beliefs, while Voodoo is based on Fon and Ewe beliefs. Elements of Santera and its African roots permeate Cuban culture, including by Each deity represents an aspect of nature, like thunder, and a human characteristic, like power." Does Santera believe in the afterlife? Oosthuizen, G. C., and Irving Hexham, eds. Rather, it depends on how well one conducted oneself in this life as a member of the corporate group. Ostensibly based on a true story, Revelation is a claustrophobic account of what happens when you accept food from a stranger. While Christianity emphasizes beliefs and preparation for eternal life, he says, Santeria focuses almost entirely on rituals and life in the here-and-now. We can choose how we want to interact with people, and with the world around us, and we can make good choices to bring more ir into our lives. Thats why you have December 25th as the day and no where mentioned in the Bible. Sometimes my clients are also not comfortable dealing with the spiritual world on their own or lack the necessary items and solitude to even conduct these rituals. Santera is based upon the development of personal relationships through divination, sacrifice, initiation, and mediumship (see medium) between practitioners of the religion and the orisha deities, who provide their devotees with protection, wisdom, and success and who guide devotees in times of crisis. Rites of Passage in Contemporary Africa: Interaction Between Christian and African Traditional Religions. Many dress in white to symbolize purity. De La Torre calls for dialogue between Christianity and Santeria, which share both commonalities and fundamental differences. Perhaps because of human disobedience or greed, this relationship was lost. Sun on the cross sacrificing your ego. This is often the house of senior Santeria priest, who heads an extended family: He, or more often, she, is the head of the il in the deeper sense of 'family'. Santera, (Spanish: The Way of the Saints) also called La Regla de Ocha (Spanish: The Order of the Orishas) or La Religin Lucum (Spanish: The Order of Lucum), the most common name given to a religious tradition of African origin that was developed in Cuba and then spread throughout Latin America and the United States. Candombl is not focused on the afterlife, though practitioners do believe in a life after death. The Santeria faith teaches that every individual has a destiny from God, a destiny fulfilled with the aid and energy of the orishas. These actions inspire Iwa to possess one of their members with a spirit. It is an example of the intersectionality of African . . A priest has 'made the saint', which means that they have been 'reborn in the spirit' and made a commitment to serve a particular Orisha. One pertinent essay by D. M. Hostetter is entitled "Disarming the Emandloti: the Ancestors," and notes how, in Christian discourse, the ancestors are subordinated to Jesus who is said to disempower them. The animals are killed by cutting the carotid arteries with a single knife stroke in a similar way to other religious methods of slaughter. Sacrifices are conducted during important events such as death, birth, marriage, healing, and initiation (Lele, 2012). Click the link below to sign up for updates from Good Faith Media via our daily or weekly e-newsletters. Sickness was not known, and when people died, Imana brought them back to life after three days. Many levels of heaven. It is an amalgamation between the orthodox Yoruba religion in West Africa and Catholicism. Hector Avalos, Introduction to the U.S. Latina and Latino Religious Experience, 2004, Eugenio Matibag, If and Interpretation: An Afro-Caribbean Literary Practice, in Sacred Possessions: Vodou, Santera, Obeah and the Caribbean (ed. Although Santeria is a religious path that is not rooted in Indo-European polytheism like many other contemporary Pagan religions, it's still a faith that is practiced by many thousands of people in the United States and other countries today. Kenyatta, Jomo. In the Kongo Malongo/ Palo tradition the Kongo cosmogram depicts the birth of man, potentially reaching his full potential on this physical domain and then passing into the spirit realm where you review what youve done and then continue the cycle again until proper elevation. When after a long time such individuals are no longer remembered by name, they enter a state of what Mbiti calls collective immortality as they blend into the general world of those who have gone before (Mbiti, 1969). We believe in reincarnation. Cox, James, ed. People are therefore encouraged to treat the body with suspicion because fleshly desires might derail their souls from the journey to heaven. This article will factor in this palpable ethnic diversity in order to avoid sweeping generalizations. Indeed, within Hinduism, one goal of religious activity is to facilitate the ultimate separation or liberation (moksha ) of the soul (tman ) breaking out of once and for all the unending and tragic cycle of reimbodiment (sasra ). She or he is 'godmother' or 'godfather' to a family of sisters and brothers en santo, in the spirit. The denigration of the body implicit in these songs is quite alien to indigenous understandings of the human person and the person's destiny after death. We offer a safe space to ask questions, share religious experiences (positive and negative), learn and grow. Order Santeria: The Beliefs and Rituals of a Growing Religion in America now from Amazon.com. Many testify that it was their experience of a life-threatening illness which first prompted their devotion to an Orisha. (M'passou in Cox, 1998, p. 28). Without sacrifice the religion would die out, as sacrifice is essential for initiation into the faith community and the 'ordination' of priests. Winter Solstice and Sol invictus. Merced claimed he had been sacrificing animals for over a decade without any problems, and was willing to "quadruple bag the remains" and find a safe method of disposal. Santeria, which came out in October, is one of three recent books by De La Torre, whose earlier works include the 2002 Reading the Bible from the Margins by Orbis Press. But someone who cold-bloodedly murders his family isn't going to have the same fate as a person who has gone through life trying to be supportive and helpful to his family. The difference between religion and spirituality is that religion has a rigid set of tenets while spirituality encourages the spiritual elevation and development of the person. https://www.learnreligions.com/about-santeria-traditions-2562543 (accessed March 2, 2023). Quite different to the Tutsi myth with its promise of at least a rudimentary eschatological hope, the Nuer myth of paradise lost stipulates that in the beginning all was happiness, since the heavens, God's abode, and earth were linked by a rope, the pathway to access divine favors and bounty. Secondly, African beliefs are dynamic rather than static. And although most people are appalled by the animal sacrifices offered during ceremonies, the most important thing is respecting other peoples religious beliefs and faiths. There are many reasons why they are drawn to Santeria. Although Idowu presented this idea of afterlife in the context of traditional Yoruba society, it is important to note that some scholars have questioned this apparently theological explication of the Yoruba notion of afterlife. Those who undergo its carefully guarded initiation rites, which include animal sacrifice to cleanse the soul and give strength, step into an extended family. Appropriate burial and "disposal" of the body is therefore important; otherwise, the person cannot make the transition into the other world. Secretly the practitionres prayed to their ancestors gods as they hid behind Christian saints. Idowu, Bolaji. In fact, one of the reasons why Santeria evolved out of the Yoruba traditions was because the Yoruba people noticed the striking similarity between their Orishas and the Catholic Saints. In Voodoo, Iwa is a veneration of deities frequently identified as Yoruba gods and Roman Catholic saints. Santeria means the way of saints, whereas the term voodoo meaning moral fiber has its origin in African-Haitian religious, traditional practices. The orishas serve as messengers between the human world and the divine. Santeria has the basic features and traditions of an ancient African religion practiced among the Yoruba in Nigeria. These offerings may range from simple presentations before home altars to elaborate feasts in the orishas honour. But we do believe people have to account for themselves and what they did on earth while they were here. Governed by Venus, a sensual and carnal planet, Taurus is in analogy with House II, concerning acquisitions, possessions and everything that one ingests, that one assimilates. Thanks another story tho. De La Torre also edited Handbook of U.S. Theologies of Liberation, examining Christian concepts and the interrelationship between religion, community and culture from the perspective of U.S. marginalized communities. This Christianity was articulated in terms of Western culture, and its introduction coincided with the colonization of Africa. Magesa depicts ancestors as moral exemplars and in chapter 3 presents ancestors as custodians of and enforcers of life-affirming values. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. To become a Santero, or high priest, one must pass a series of tests and requirements prior to initiation. The end result was that the practice of animal sacrifice within a religious context was ruled, by the Supreme Court, to be a protected activity. Most If consultations prescribe some form of sacrifice to one or several of the orishas. However, etutu is our process of funeral rights and it does include judgement. During crucial moments of this life journey, special rituals (rites of passage) designed to mark, celebrate, and help the individual successfully negotiate the key turning points, including death, are performed. It is likely that Orisha traditions will continue to grow and be recognized as one of the principal African contributions to world culture. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Thus, in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, a text designed to be a guide for the soul as it journeyed on beyond physical death, Osiris determines the destiny of the dead. It marks the end of his physical life in the religious community that he's been part of, and it's important to make sure his Orichas are cared for in the proper way, to bring an end to his relationship with them on earth. There is always something worth knowing even if you cannot attain its knowledge. In August 2009, the 5th U.S. They believe that through this possessed individual, they can communicate directly with a lwa. AFRICAN RELIGIONS While they acknowledge the existence of heaven and its importance in the universe, they prefer to inhabit Ay, the sphere known as earth. Voodoo can be traced to the Fon and Ewe in West Africa, currently known as Benin. It would seem, then, that contemporary debates about the afterlife in Africa are simultaneously discussions about this world and this life. We can see African influences and also Christian influences. [117] She is associated with Saint Theresa. Joseph M. Murphy Professor of Theology, Georgetown University. The slaves permeated these beliefs into Christianity to avoid being persecuted, since their traditional religious expression was forbidden. Schotte, Jan P., ed. Failure to perform burial rites properly makes the deceased unable to negotiate the postmortem phase of the life journey successfully. It's a choice. Satan is not recognized, and he is not worshipped in Voodoo and Santeria contrary to the mythical depiction of Santeria and Voodoo as satanic cults for the black people. Thus, petitionary prayer is often said through them. Bob Allen is managing editor of EthicsDaily.com. Priests have special powers because they have been 'entered' by an Orisha. Factsheet on the Santera Tradition in Cuba - This factsheet provides a brief overview of the traditions of the Santeria community in Cuba and highlights the religious freedom violations that community experiences. Santeria combines influences of Caribbean tradition, West Africa's Yoruba spirituality, and elements of Catholicism. Rituals are also performed to prepare and equip the deceased for the journey ahead and also to "inform" those on the other side that the deceased is on the way and they should expect him or her. Santeria is an Afro-Carribian religion that expanded during the time of the Cuban slave trade (Types of Religion, 2016). (February 22, 2023). What are the beliefs of Santeria? Santeria is not much different from any other religion. But this whole stand in front of God and get judged thing is just so remote from any nature religion I've ever studied. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. A redefinition of the human person also seems to be indicated in the Christian discourse. Oldmar: God in Yoruba Belief. Each deity represents an aspect of nature, like thunder, and a human characteristic, like power. Nairobi, Kenya, 1992. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. This anthology of essays analyzes African independent churches, their histories and theologies. My New Grimoire Goetia Rising is Now Available! Encyclopedia of Religion. Instead of conceiving the person as a soul that is contained in a body, Africans define the person as an integral whole constituting the "outer person" (the body) and the "inner self." Voodoo followers also believe in the afterlife. Santeria and Voodoo were both presented in the Western Hemisphere by slaves from North Africa, most likely Nigeria. Oya is a warrior, and the guardian of the dead. To make the journey easier, the corpse is anointed with fat, fed with milk, and covered with a hide to protect it from the elements. The first mention of tarot divination dates back to 1540 when one of the earliest treatises on divination with playing cards, Read More Tarot Vs. Oracle Cards for DivinationContinue, Daily positive affirmations are a great tool for creating the life of your dreams. God (named differently by various ethnic groups) is the creative force behind the origins of the universe and human beings within it, a belief that appears in many African cosmogonic myths. It developed in Haiti between the 16th and 19th centuries during the Atlantic slave trade. For one thing, there seems in Christian discourse and practice, a literal demotion or even demonization of ancestors. Boston, 1988. This to me just reeks of Christian influence. Paradoxically, then, the dead are not dead, a paradox that led Mbiti to coin the phrase "the Living-Dead" (1969, p. 81). Merced was pleased with the ruling, and said, "Now Santeros can practice their religion at home without being afraid of being fined, arrested or taken to court.". In the minds of its members, the core function of the il is to honor the spirits and receive from them in turn guidance and assistance in all of life's endeavours. This process had a tremendous impact on all aspects of African beliefs, including notions of the afterlife, our immediate concern here. Readers will also find plenty of valuable book reviews and courses which may prove to be helpful for obtaining greater knowledge. Summarizing distinctive markers of this African worldview, Sambuli Mosha isolates four key ideas, namely: (1) the centrality of belief in God, (2) an acknowledgment of the intrinsic unity between individuals and communities, (3) viewing the universe as an interconnected, interdependent whole, (4) embracing life as a process of spiritual formation and transformation (Mosha, 2000). B. Ojwang, eds. This ceremony invites the Orisha to join the community in drumming, singing and dancing. The religion is also known as La Regla Lucumi and the Rule of Osha. However, the date of retrieval is often important. Some estimates go as high as a hundred million Santeria believers worldwide. Santera is based upon the development of personal relationships through divination, sacrifice, initiation, and mediumship ( see medium) between practitioners of the religion and the orisha deities, who provide their devotees with protection, wisdom, and success and who guide devotees in times of crisis. The belief system of Santeria is reflected in its history. Santeria: The Soul Possessed: Directed by Benny Mathews. The Cabildos were not only ethnic clubs but also religious organizations under the secret leadership of the babalawo - the religious functionary whose patron divinity was Orunmilla, the oracle divinity of the Yoruba. The name derives from the similarities that some practitioners found between the deities called orisha s of the West African Yoruba people and the . Rituals for summoning the, Read More My New Grimoire Goetia Rising is Now Available!Continue, The sign of Taurus, the first earth sign in the zodiac series, evokes the middle of spring, green meadows and fatty pastures. Let us see the typical portrait of the, Read More Sign of Aries, Mars and House I: Personality Traits, Relationships..Continue, People are always looking for a way to predict their future using a variety of techniques and tools. Santeria, a religion created several centuries ago by West Africans enslaved in colonial Cuba and imported to New York City more than 40 years ago, is going public. Devotees see the Orisha tradition as a world religion and have received public recognition of their spiritual achievements. Generically called, African Traditional Religion or ATR, it is more complex than one practice, and not religion. Santeria has no scriptures and is passed on by word-of-mouth. Image courtesy of Jacob Tabo/Unsplash. He also contextualizes Santera culturally and historically and suggests that Santeria is both a reconstruction of Yoruba beliefs as well as a creative response of accommodation and resistance to mental enslavement. Meticulous and proper burial signifies that Africans understand the finality of death as a marker of the end of physical life. In the crowning ceremony, the symbols of the patron orisha are placed on the head of the devotee, and he or she may enter a ceremonial trance and become a medium for that orisha. Such theologians assert the compatibility of African beliefs with Christian ones if only the latter can shed their Western garb and be clothed afresh in terms of African culture, a process called "inculturation." Apart from vague notions that it somehow involves animal sacrifice and is a syncretistic religion blending Catholic and African beliefs, most Americans know little of anything about Santeria, yet it is probably the most-practiced religion in Cuba and is growing in the United States, De La Torre argues in Santeria: The Beliefs and Rituals of a Growing Religion in America by Eerdmans. By cutting the carotid arteries with a single knife stroke in a similar way to religious! ' or 'godfather ' to a family of sisters and brothers en,... Citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies prior to initiation maintain their religion, 2016 ), )... System of santeria is a warrior, and its introduction coincided with the aid and energy the... Directly with a spirit of sacrifice to one or several of the Yoruba and it has... Happens when you accept food from a stranger without sacrifice the religion also. 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