Voodoo

Any affiliation with the occult has occured only recently with the “Gothic” movement in pop culture, and is not related with any orthadox Voodoo practices. Instead of accepting the Catholic religion, many slaves only incorperated it into the establishing Voodoo religion. Voodoo is not the stuff myths and horror movies, rather it is a peaceful and loving religion which can benefit many more than only those devout to Obatala. Voodoo dolls were used as a mean of cursing or hexing an individual, most commonly a plantation owner. The seperations in voodoo varies in the importance of ceremony and the roles of thier clergy. James wrote the book Haiti or the Black Republic.

In the three centuries of religious oppression, Voodoo became a symbol of pride and independence for the slaves. The most wide spread voodoo is Yoruban, of orthadox voodoo. Santeria has no defined structures and the role of priests or priestesses are small if even there in Santeria communities. No historical evidence of human sacrifice or affiliation with western principles of Satan has been discovered. For instance Eleggua, goddess of opportunity and Oya, goddess of fire and wind were both created by Obatala for humanity. With several different religions present in any given group of slaves, the majority of slaves adapted by holding a service which accepted all lineages and respected all ancestreal lines of faith, both aspects being of primary concerns in African religions.

As Voodoo was founded in necessity, it is one of the more lineant religions in terms of tolerance of relationship with other religions. Though the name can be trace to the Yoruba tribe, it is unknown if he is a rimnant of the Catholic involvement in voodoo. (The other part, Gros Bon Ange, big guardian angel, being one’s conscience and what allows corporeal life) Voodoo contains distinct denominations, but the root faith is constant.