The African Religion Vodu and Catholicism Essay examples -- voodoo, bla

The terms voodoo, hoodoo, black magic and conjure arouse assorted ideas and interpretations such as fear, fascination, or repugnance. For some, the image of voodoo dolls, which are used to bring pain to the ones enemy are associated with these words. Others might visit curses and spells used for evil intentions to be at the heart of voodoo. A more innocent notion of voodoo encompasses the idea that it is to be used for the communal good. all in all of these ideas came together and merged with Christian and Catholic beliefs after Africans were transported to the Americas and subjected to unimaginable horrors as slaves. Many historians define voodoo as a syncretism between the African righteousness Vodu and Catholicism. Voodoo is an entirely new creation, which was born as the African slaves were confronted with New World religions. These new ideas were camouflaged as European saints, the Orisha divinities move to be invoked, fed, and famous by their transplanted New World devotees, who in turn expected protection and assistance from their ancient spiritual guardian. In some cases, slaves used the culturally received Catholic saints as a cover for their ancestral beliefs which were often seen as foolish and heretical by their masters. This new belief system met new human being needs that the settled and passive African modes could not match. Voodoo held an important part in many slaves lives as remnants of their African beliefs evolved into a meaningful and puissant force. Voodoo was an essential element of survival for many slaves because it helped them cope psychologically with the physical torment they endured, it gave them a sense of power in impossibly delicate situations, and it served as a unifying force.Vo... ...e and was treated as an evil force which needed to be shunned by all. The views of voodoo within the outside community continued to transform into something that was more entertaining than menacing. Eventually the practice s spread beyond slave communities and continued after slavery was abolished, leaving behind a legacy that looked virtually nothing like the original African predecessor.Works Cited Wilkie 141. Fandrich 776. Suttles 98. Chireau 17. Long 92. Chireau, 16. Chireau, 15. Chireau, 16. book Wilkie, 142. Pinn 44. Anderson, 22. Chireau 24. Touchstone 374. Tallant 10. book Chireau 18. Chireau 18. Suttles 98. Suttles 99. Suttles 99. Suttles 100. Simson 223. Postma 56. Slave revolts Suttles 98. Postma 56. Fandrich 780. Fandrich 780. Fandrich 780. Anderson 141.