Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 131 views

    The Voodoo Religion by Sarah Moje

    Uploaded by

    Ffairus Sholihin
    The document provides an overview of the Voodoo religion, including its origins in Africa, spread to Haiti and the Americas through the slave trade, beliefs, rituals, and modern practices. It discusses Voodoo's roots stretching back thousands of years, how slaves practiced it secretly while outwardly converting to Christianity, its influence on other religions like Catholicism, and how it is still widely practiced today with millions of followers worldwide.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    The Voodoo Religion by Sarah Moje

    Uploaded by

    Ffairus Sholihin
    131 views12 pages
    The document provides an overview of the Voodoo religion, including its origins in Africa, spread to Haiti and the Americas through the slave trade, beliefs, rituals, and modern practices. It discusses Voodoo's roots stretching back thousands of years, how slaves practiced it secretly while outwardly converting to Christianity, its influence on other religions like Catholicism, and how it is still widely practiced today with millions of followers worldwide.

    Original Description:

    Voodoo Tradition

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document provides an overview of the Voodoo religion, including its origins in Africa, spread to Haiti and the Americas through the slave trade, beliefs, rituals, and modern practices. It discusses Voodoo's roots stretching back thousands of years, how slaves practiced it secretly while outwardly converting to Christianity, its influence on other religions like Catholicism, and how it is still widely practiced today with millions of followers worldwide.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    131 views12 pages

    The Voodoo Religion by Sarah Moje

    Uploaded by

    Ffairus Sholihin
    The document provides an overview of the Voodoo religion, including its origins in Africa, spread to Haiti and the Americas through the slave trade, beliefs, rituals, and modern practices. It discusses Voodoo's roots stretching back thousands of years, how slaves practiced it secretly while outwardly converting to Christianity, its influence on other religions like Catholicism, and how it is still widely practiced today with millions of followers worldwide.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    of 12

    The Voodoo Religion

    A History of Vodun in
    America
    General Knowledge
     Vodun is usually called
    Voodoo by the public.
     The name is a form of the
    African word for "spirit".
     Vodun's roots may go back
    6,000 years in Africa.
     Slaves brought their
    mysterious religion with them
    when they were forcibly
    shipped to Haiti
    It’s Role Today
     In 1989 Benin formed a democratic
    government and Vodun was allowed to
    be practiced.
     It became the official religion of Benin
    in 1996.
     Most adults in Haiti practice Vodun in
    some form.
     It is also commonly practiced in the
    American South.
     60 million people practice Vodun
    worldwide.
    Voodoo and Vodun
     Vodun, the religious
    practice is found in: in
    Benin, Dominican Republic,
    Ghana, Haiti, Togo and various
    centers in the US - largely
    where Haitian refuges have
    settled.
     Voodoo, which is largely
    imaginary, is found in more
    commercial areas. It has
    been created for Hollywood
    movies, complete with "voodoo
    dolls", violence, and bizarre
    rituals.
    Vodun in the West
     When slaves arrived in
    Haiti, their owners made
    them baptized Christians.
     So, although the slaves
    were “Christian”, they
    mainly practiced their
    own Vodun faith.
     It was practiced in secret
    for the most part and
    many slaved also
    attended Catholic mass.
    Vodun Beliefs
     Vodun beliefs:
     Vodun, like Christianity, is a religion of
    many traditions.
     Devotees worship spirits, called Loa.
    The word means "mystery" in the
    Yoruba language.
     There is a chief God: Olorun, who is
    remote and unknowable.
     In Vodun, a lesser god called
    Obatala created Earth and all the life
    forms on it.
     There are hundreds of minor spirits.
    Vodun and Christianity
     You can see an influence of
    Catholicism on later Southern
    American Vodun beliefs.
     The Loa resemble Christian Saints
     Both believe in an afterlife.
     Both have the idea of a ritual
    sacrifice and consumption of flesh
    and blood.
     Both believe in the existence of
    invisible evil spirits or demons.
     Followers of Vodun believe that
    each person has a met tet which
    is very similar to a guardian angel.
    The Vodun Soul
     Followers of Vodun believe that each person has
    a soul which is composed of two parts: a gros
    bon ange or "big guardian angel", and a ti bon
    ange or "little guardian angel".
     The little guardian angel can and often leaves
    the body during sleep and when the person is
    possessed by a Loa during a ritual.
     There is a concern that the ti bon ange can be
    damaged or captured by evil sorcery while it is
    free of the body.
    Vodun Rituals
     Vodun rituals:
     The purpose of rituals is to
    make contact with a spirit to
    obtain help.
     Human and Loa depend upon
    each other; humans provide
    food and other materials; the
    Loa provide health, protection
    from evil spirits and good
    fortune.
    Vodun Rituals
     Vodun priests can be male or female.
     A Vodun temple is called a hounfour.
     In the center of the temple is a pole where spirits communicate
    with the people.
     The altar in front of the pole will be decorated with candles, and
    statues of Christian saints.
     Before the ceremony starts, a veve is created on the floor.
     This is a pattern of flour or cornmeal.
     Then, drumbeats begin and rattles are shaken. Dancing will start.
     One of the dancers will eventually become possessed with a Loa.
     The possessed dancer will behave as the Loa and is treated with respect
    and ceremony by the others present.
    Marie Laveau
     Premiere voodoo
    priestess in New
    Orleans.
     Credited for bringing
    the religion to U.S.
     Kept its followers
    advised of its rituals.
     Famous voodoo
    practioner.
    The Tomb of Marie

    You might also like