In Santera, this concept idea has syncretised with Roman Catholic beliefs about guardian angels and Spiritist notions of the protecciones or protector spirits. They are called upon by priests by a variety of methods, including trances and possession, divination, ritual, and even sacrifice. Dennis M'passou writes on "The Continuing Tension Between Christianity and Rites of Passage in Swaziland," Paul Gundani explores "The Roman Catholic Church and the Kurova Guva Ritual in Zimbabwe," and Jude Ongonga writes on "The River-Lake Luo Phenomenon of Death." While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. In the early 18th century, practitioners combined their masters pantheon of Catholic saints with their own spirits, the Orisha. Spiritual guides working to pay off karmic debt for elevation. It has grown beyond its Yoruba and Catholic origins to become a religion in its own right, and a powerful symbol of the religious creativity of Afro-Cuban culture. Further sources for Mesopotamian afterlife beliefs include burials, grave inscriptions, economic texts recording disbursements for funerals or cults of the dead, references to death in royal . "Afterlife: African Concepts Origins of Christmas..lol.reminds me over 20 years ago I gave a small book the origins of Christmas to a devote catholic relative. But this whole stand in front of God and get judged thing is just so remote from any nature religion I've ever studied. Yet it is packed with high-powered rituals that are seeing the light of day for the first time in this century. As a result of these ceremonial exchanges, the oracle often determines that one particular orisha has claimed the devotee as its child. Cardiff, 1998. Secondly, African beliefs are dynamic rather than static. The rare cases of cruel treatment of animals are punishable by law. Syncretism is the combining of different, often seemingly . It would seem also that the emphasis by Africans on a this-worldly and corporate approach to salvation resonates significantly with the prior key affirmations about God and the world in the African worldview. 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. The installation of the deceased back into family simultaneously marks the induction of the deceased into the world of ancestors. But there's a different approach. This combination now forms the deities of the contemporary Santeria religion. Regardless of your primary motivations, you can now hire me for a consultation and to do the difficult part of the equation for you, while you reap the rewards. the religion is not just nature based but Everything has Ashe. 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). Meticulous and proper burial signifies that Africans understand the finality of death as a marker of the end of physical life. Santeria is a fairly complex system, because it blends the Yoruba orishas, or . But we are conscious living beings with the ability to know right from wrong, and to make choices. This process had a tremendous impact on all aspects of African beliefs, including notions of the afterlife, our immediate concern here. Mbiti, John. 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. This to me just reeks of Christian influence. The basis of the Santeria religion is the nurture of a personal relation with the orishas, and one of the principal forms of devotion is an animal sacrifice. These two religions have the same place of origin: West Africa. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Discord: https://discord.gg/Tg3Cbwft, Press J to jump to the feed. They believe that through this possessed individual, they can communicate directly with a lwa. The Roman Catholic element in Santeria is most obvious in the way Orishas are associated with Catholic Saints such as: Followers of Santeria are often (nominal) Roman Catholics as well. Santeria developed among Afro-Cuban communities while Voodoo developed among Afro-Haitian communities. Santeria is an Afro-Carribian religion that expanded during the time of the Cuban slave trade (Types of Religion, 2016). "What is Santeria?" Santeria is a religion developed by enslaved peoples throughout the Spanish Caribbean. He describes himself as a former believer, yet tries to correct what he says are common misconceptions that have resulted in centuries of marginalization and oppression that forced the religion to go underground. 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. Each Orisha is an aspect of one supreme god. Click the link below to sign up for updates from Good Faith Media via our daily or weekly e-newsletters. Across the many ethnic groupings and cultural expressions, however, one can discern commonalities in worldviews that make it possible to speak of an "African" worldview as compared, say, to a "Hindu" one. It originated in Cuba and was historically practiced by descendants of West African slaves. 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. Santeria evolved when African slaves were stolen from their homelands during the Colonial period and forced to work in Caribbean sugar plantations. In effect, it may be considered a mainstream American faith along with Christianity, Judaism and Islam.. However, etutu is our process of funeral rights and it does include judgement. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Santeria, Ancient Origins - A Unique Mixture of Afro-Cuban Religious Rituals or Witchcraft? Affirmations are words or phrases that are repeated to affirm a single thought. B. Ojwang, eds. The members of the il relate to each other in much the same way as members of an extended biological family. Santeria has a priesthood that includes both men and women. Such rituals and related "oratures" (myths, stories, and songs) constitute a commentary by humans on their experiences in this world and its beyond and offer significant clues regarding concepts of the afterlife. Rather, it depends on how well one conducted oneself in this life as a member of the corporate group. The word syncretistic means to "draw together" or "combine." In a religious environment, this involves the mixing of elements from different or independent religious traditions to create a new belief system. ", Ray, Benjamin. Whereas in the past the hope was to attain personal immortality as a Living-Dead and to enjoy a status of honor among the ancestors, Christianized Africans look forward instead to joining an otherworldly/heavenly community of God and angels as defined in the Christian discourse. In Santeria, the ritual performing ceremonies are known as, In Santeria, there are rites sketched to make peace with the soul of the departed called. Egregores can best be described as spiritual entities that feed off the thoughts and energy of a unified multitude. Women always held power in the culture as well as politics. During their ceremonies, both use dancing, singing, and drumming to connect with and worship their deities. Their subsequent pact with the spirit reflects both their respect for the power of the Orisha to claim their lives and their gratitude for the Orisha's agency in effecting a cure. At drum dances called bembs, initiated devotees, now properly called olorishasthose who have the orishamay lose their ordinary consciousness and manifest that of their orisha patrons. Many women pray to her for conceiving a child. Santeria is, in fact, not one set of beliefs, but a "syncretic" religion, which means it blends aspects of a variety of different faiths and cultures, despite the fact that some of these beliefs might be contradictory to one another. 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. It is most often used to, Afrocentrism has a long and often misunderstood history. The Swazi also bury their dead with all their vital earthly belongings, thus equipping them for the next phase of their life journey, beyond physical death. Followers believe that these spirits will give them help in life, if they carry out the appropriate rituals, and enable them to achieve the destiny planned for them before they were born. 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. 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. Historically, Africa is heir to a triple heritage of religion and culture: namely African traditional religions, Islam, and Christianity. It is likely that Orisha traditions will continue to grow and be recognized as one of the principal African contributions to world culture. Santeria is a system of beliefs, rituals, and practices that were common among African slaves who used it to bring relief to their problems. [117] All these markers shape the way Africans conceptualize both this life and the hereafter. 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 impact of historical encounters between cultures, and the ensuing dynamism, transformation, and fluidity of ideas will be recognized and factored in this analysis. Given this integral relationship between the outer and inner person, then, it would seem that at death it is the person that dies rather than "the soul" leaving the body and flying away, as some Christian popular hymns indicate. @Hijo_De_Obatalas post is really really good and for me is my understanding. Possession of spirits. It means way of saints or honor of saints. Such rituals, usually performed a year after death and burial, are reminiscent of Kurova Guva, Ukubuyisa, or Duogo rituals mentioned earlier. Portsmouth, N.H., 1969. It drives the individual to evolve by balancing the heart, mind, and body with spirit. To put it simply, Santera is a religion for and by women. For decades, Santeria has. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list. Mosha contextualizes this education within the African theistic worldview with its emphasis on wholeness and interconnectedness of life as well its unfolding nature. Mugambi, Jesse, and J. We can see African influences and also Christian influences. As we recall, Africans believe that the destiny of the individual and the community are interdependent, interconnected, and intertwined. Discusses in detail the belief system of the Acholi of Uganda. Thus, this is a status clearly linked or even dependent on one's place in and relationship to the corporate group, particularly the family. They also adopted some features from Catholicism. 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'. Mortuary rituals also emphasize the integral connection between the "inner and outer person." When the rope was severed, death became a permanent feature of the human condition. Santeria healthcare is often combined with conventional medicine. Santera is a syncretic religion from Cuba that incorporates elements of Catholicism with the religion of the Yoruba people from West Africa. My Faith as An African. What happens when there is no community? Many dress in white to symbolize purity. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. In chapters 13 and 14 Idowu discusses Yoruba notions of human nature and definition of the person. The religion emphasizes the here and now rather than the afterlife, and it focuses on natural forces. De La Torre traces the roots of Santeria to the Yoruba people of Africa, who were brought from Africa to colonial Cuba as slaves and forced to embrace Catholicism. Somehow, this state was interrupted, and death entered the world. The "orishas are the representatives of the supreme God, and . Ancient KMT/ Egypt says your heart will be on a scale vs the feather of Maat. In the If oracle, for example, a trained priest, a babalawo (father of the mystery), interprets the fall of consecrated palm nuts to reveal the orishas response to a seekers question. Santeria means the way of saints, whereas the term voodoo meaning moral fiber has its origin in African-Haitian religious, traditional practices. The Swahili call this community of the dead Mizimu, while their abode is referred to as Kuzimu. Gundani and Ongonga also discuss, respectively, the rituals of Kurova Guva and Duogo, which are rituals of reintegrating the deceased and confirming their status as ancestors or the living dead. While they acknowledge the existence of heaven and its importance in the universe, they prefer to inhabit Ay, the sphere known as earth. The issue of concern is whether at death one will be in a state of readiness to meet God in the final judgment (Kikuyu Catholic Hymnal, 1992, hymn 100). The book, by Chalice Press, also distinguishes the differences and similarities between the U.S. theologies and their Latin American counterparts. According to Bolaji Idowu, life in the "good Orun " is but a larger and freer copy of this worldly life, minus earthly pains and tribulations. Secretly the practitionres prayed to their ancestors gods as they hid behind Christian saints. Santeria (The way of the Saints) is an Afro-Caribbean religion based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements added. Oosthuizen, G. C., and Irving Hexham, eds. Santeria incorporates elements of several faiths and so is what's called a 'syncretic' religion. 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're supposed to evolve, not live like brutes. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Discussing African notions of afterlife necessitates several preliminary and pertinent observations. For one thing, there seems in Christian discourse and practice, a literal demotion or even demonization of ancestors. Priests have special powers because they have been 'entered' by an Orisha. 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). Their healthcare draws on Catholicism as well as African tradition; holy water is an ingredient in many Santeria medicinal formulas. These rituals can include Roman Catholic elements: One major ritual is a bemb. Occultist.net shares information on magic, witchcraft and alternative spirituality. This is a mutual process; the food is essential for the Orishas, who will die without being fed, and in return the Orishas are able to help the worshippers. Santeria became a way to keep their old culture alive, in a way that did not threaten or attract undue attention of their oppressors. you will not have a place among the revered ancestors, comdemong the spirit to roam the earth. The religion emphasizes the here and now rather than the afterlife, and it focuses on natural forces. African belief systems have been most palpably influenced and shaped by the encounter with nineteenth-century missionary Christianity. The Orisha may 'seize the head' of a person (or 'mount them' as if they were a horse), and cause that possessed person to perform 'spectacular dances', and to pass on various messages from the Orisha to community members. https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/afterlife-african-concepts, "Afterlife: African Concepts While animal sacrifice remains the most controversial aspect of Santeriaand the focus of most news stories about itDe La Torre says the practice is becoming less common as the religionmoves nearer to the American mainstream. Lewiston, N.Y., 1992. Santera was brought to Cuba by the people of the Yoruban nations of West Africa, who were enslaved in great numbers in the first decades of the 19th century. The masters of Santeria are mostly located in Cuba, although it is now being practiced by individuals of various nationalities. The world without photography will be meaningless to us if there is no light and color, which opens up our minds and expresses passion. Ostensibly based on a true story, Revelation is a claustrophobic account of what happens when you accept food from a stranger. We don't have the concept of "sin" and "hell," which are Christian concepts. 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. Encyclopedia of Religion. My clients tend to be ambitious people from all walks of life. 24ff). Close suggestions Search Search Search Search In Catholic circles, Christianized Africans also ritually connect with deceased family members through requesting a Mass for the dead, a doctrinally legitimate practice. What are the beliefs of Santeria? If we tried to live in harmony with our Ori and the world around us, we didn't destroy the planet or harm other people, our energy gets "recycled" for lack of a better word back into the universe so we can continue to be a part of the physical world. Chapter 10 focuses on Gikuyu religious beliefs and highlights the place of ancestors (ngoma ) in this system. This anthology of essays analyzes African independent churches, their histories and theologies. In order to keep the religion and life, The slaves became "Christianized" at least to the slave owners. Today, roughly 70 percent of Cubans observe one or more Santeria or other religious practices based in an African tradition. 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. I can't help but think it has a Christian influence. These commonalities in worldview despite cultural ethnic differences will be assumed in this article. ." This anthology of essays discusses and contextualizes the famous 1987 controversial case regarding the burial of SM Otieno, a Kenyan Luo. The Santeria faith teaches that every individual has a destiny from God, a destiny fulfilled with the aid and energy of the orishas. We can be good, or we can be bad. Eleggua is the gatekeeper between life and the afterlife in heaven and is the connection between the Orishas, humans, and god. Training includes divinatory work, herbalism, and counseling. As Ela, for example, argues in his book My Faith as An African (1990), ancestral veneration is simultaneously an affirmation about life after death but also an affirmation of African notions of family, which includes the living, the dead, as well as the not yet born. These actions inspire Iwa to possess one of their members with a spirit. Encyclopedia.com. A bull is also killed specifically for the deceased's grandfather to alert him so that he can await the deceased (Mbiti, 1969, p. 155). Occultist.net is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. All these essays challenge the view that African beliefs including those regarding the afterlife are incompatible with Christianity. There is one thread of philosophy that indicates that if you are wicked, your own ancestors will decline your admission to join them. The essays analyze the legal ramifications of the case as well as religio-cultural and historical roots of the controversy and suggest that the controversy was symptomatic of the seeming clash between Western and indigenous African (specifically Luo) views regarding life, death, and the hereafter. Santera altar in Cuba. Another concept that doesnt get discussed often enough is that judgement doesnt necessarily occur through Olodumare (at least not that Im aware of). This Christianity was articulated in terms of Western culture, and its introduction coincided with the colonization of Africa. Thus, it is possible to speak of the Yoruba notions of afterlife and compare these, say, to the Igbo or Zulu concepts, noting distinctions and similarities. 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. Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. Santeria (The way of the Saints) is an Afro-Caribbean religion based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements added. Santeria practitioners believe that herbalism is a foremost essential in their healing practices and plays significant roles in their members health. New York, 1965. Research from Arizona State University and the University of Wyoming has found that religious beliefs about the afterlife predicted how people value and practice sustainability. Merced filed a lawsuit with city officials said he could no longer perform animal sacrifices as part of his religious practice. Wigington, Patti. Christianity does have an influence on the Yoruba in terms of the concept of heaven. This frustration is expressed though funeral dirges. Santeria incorporates elements of several faiths and so is what's called a 'syncretic' religion. The prehistory of religion involves the study of religious beliefs that existed prior to the advent of written records. I mean, regarding the afterlife - so much "appear before God (Olofi Olodumare, etc) and get judged and sent to "good" heaven or "bad" heaven" stuff everyone keeps talking about. Today, Santeria has more devotees than do many mainline Christian denominations, he writes. 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 has no scriptures and is passed on by word-of-mouth. 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. Such restless and wondering spirits are said to haunt and afflict the living as they try to gain their attention. 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