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. The religion emphasizes the here and now rather than the afterlife, and it focuses on natural forces. Santeria is a syncretic religion that grew out of the slave trade in Cuba. Santeria is a religion developed by enslaved peoples throughout the Spanish Caribbean. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The word santeria itself means veneration of the saints. Sometimes feared and often misunderstood, Santera and other Afro-Cuban spiritual traditions still persist in the U.S. - especially in South Florida. Paradoxically, then, the dead are not dead, a paradox that led Mbiti to coin the phrase "the Living-Dead" (1969, p. 81). Santeria is one of the many African syncretistic religions created in the Americas. The process not only brings the worshipper closer to their Orisha, but makes them more aware of the presence of the Orisha within them. This is an excerpt from my new, soon to be published book on necromancy. For one year and one day, they believe the deceased's spirit to . Such restless and wondering spirits are said to haunt and afflict the living as they try to gain their attention. We also participate in becomealivinggod.com affiliate program. The way in which these pieces fall is used to provide guidance. Practicing occultist and writer with a particular interest in summoning magic. Two thousand years later, these Egyptian ideas of the hereafter were part of the repertoire of beliefs in circulation in the Mediterranean world as Christianity was taking shape. Furthermore, during the period between death and burial, the Swazi, as do other communities, observe a vigil both to console the bereaved and to keep the deceased person company as they transit between this world and the next (M'passou in Cox, 1998). https://www.britannica.com/topic/Santeria, Ancient Origins - A Unique Mixture of Afro-Cuban Religious Rituals or Witchcraft? The tradition also spread to other Latino communities, African Americans, and white Americans. Kenyatta distinguishes between the worship of Ngai (God) and the veneration of ancestors who he portrays as mediators between God and the living. 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. This frustration is expressed though funeral dirges. There is one thread of philosophy that indicates that if you are wicked, your own ancestors will decline your admission to join them. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. 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. She or he is 'godmother' or 'godfather' to a family of sisters and brothers en santo, in the spirit. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). African Religions and Philosophy. Santeria has a priesthood that includes both men and women. 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. 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). They are called upon by priests by a variety of methods, including trances and possession, divination, ritual, and even sacrifice. Our bodies return to the earth when we die. The Yoruba people have always been a matrilineal society. It seems from this myth that the Tutsi understand happiness and immortality to be dependent on how well they maintain the link between themselves and God. It is up to the orishas to determine whether a candidate for priesthood has passed the tests or failed. 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. Doctrinally, to ban ancestral veneration, then, is to demand that Africans abandon this quite viable notion of family (Ela, 1990, p. 17). The rare cases of cruel treatment of animals are punishable by law. Wazobia, N.Y., 1994. 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. Practitioners believe that Orichas intercede for them if they make offerings and live in compliance with their wishes. Syncretism is the combining of different, often seemingly . It developed in Haiti between the 16th and 19th centuries during the Atlantic slave trade. 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. Many women pray to her for conceiving a child. 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. Facing Mount Kenya. Santera is a Spanish word meaning "The Way of the Saints.". 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. Both religions have beliefs in possession by certain spirits Orishas in Santeria and Loas in Voodoo. B. Ojwang, eds. There are many reasons why they are drawn to Santeria. 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. Many levels of heaven. Born in Cuba, he grew up in a home where both of his parents were santeros, or priests of Santeria. The Heartbeat of Indigenous Africa. Properly known as Lukum in the Yorb language, meaning "friendship," Santeria was the religion practiced by descendants of many Yorb slaves in Cuba, over time . 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. Nairobi, Kenya, 1989. They continued to practice their own rituals, which they found to be useful and effective, and which, most importantly, filled the spiritual space in lives torn from their original cultural foundations. However, the date of retrieval is often important. The USA Supreme Court has stated (Church of Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah, 1993 - see related links) that it is constitutional for Santeria worshippers to kill animals for such a ritual sacrifice. Today, the pyramids where the pharaohs, ancient Egyptian kings believed to be immortal, were entombed remain an enduring testimony of the ancient Egyptians' preoccupation with life after death. Voodoo followers also believe in the afterlife. The religion is also known as La Regla Lucumi and. This anthology of essays analyzes African independent churches, their histories and theologies. Santeria has the basic features and traditions of an ancient African religion practiced among the Yoruba in Nigeria. Did we fulfill our destiny ETC. A vital unit of the Santeria community is the 'house' called a casa or il. When the rope was severed, death became a permanent feature of the human condition. Hindus believe that when someone dies, he or she is born into a different body largely determined by his or her previous life. 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. It originated in Cuba and was historically practiced by descendants of West African slaves. . Read More On Ressurecting EgregoresContinue. The religion emphasizes the here and now rather than the afterlife, and it focuses on natural forces. 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). Kenyatta, Jomo. Santeria and Voodoo are not witchcraft but a religious belief that is highly misunderstood . The religion focuses on building relationships between human beings and powerful, but mortal, spirits, called Orishas. Santeria (The way of the Saints) is an Afro-Caribbean religion based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements added. Author of. (2020, August 28). Some estimates go as high as a hundred million Santeria believers worldwide. For this reason, too, death is also vigorously, collectively, and publicly mourned. (M'passou in Cox, 1998, p. 28). Revolutionary Cuba clamped-down on Santeria at first, but over the last 15 years or so the government tolerated it more and more and now allows it to flourish. 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 ). 22 Feb. 2023 . That vision includes angels, dogs, and an infinite library of books. Mosha contextualizes this education within the African theistic worldview with its emphasis on wholeness and interconnectedness of life as well its unfolding nature. 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. If you are angry, rather than learn to control your anger and address the problem in a different way, you can just go around punching people in the face. With Astrid Steel, Nellie Gonzalez, Nito Perez Jr., Genaro T. Perez. Santeria is not much different from any other religion. Women always held power in the culture as well as politics. For me it has not only made Ocha but Christianity WAY more easy to understand and honestly comingle instead of being these opposing concepts in my mind that was honestly creating disconnect in ego and egun. 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 SM Otieno Case: Death and Burial in Modern Kenya. As a result of these ceremonial exchanges, the oracle often determines that one particular orisha has claimed the devotee as its child. This recommendation finds significant support in the thought of a growing number of African theologians such as Jean Marc Ela, a Cameroonian priest, who find the demotion and demonization of African beliefs problematic. When they die, believers are buried in the earth (never cremated) so that they can provide axe to all living things. The seven main Orishas are known as the Seven African Powers. Managing editor at EthicsDaily.com from 2003-2009, Allen wrote more than 1,500 news stories during his tenure. 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. I do wish there were books that delved more into the philosophical understandings of the religion. This entry presents a brief, general picture of Africa's traditional religious heritage, focusing on the major beliefs because these underlie the, Pan-Africanism is an internationalist philosophy that is based on the idea that Africans and people of African descent share a common bond. "What is Santeria?" Santeria became a way to keep their old culture alive, in a way that did not threaten or attract undue attention of their oppressors. To become a Santero, or high priest, one must pass a series of tests and requirements prior to initiation. Maryknoll, N.Y., 1990. Once the spirit comes into the member, it can speak to the god (Bondye), dead people, heal, protect, and even do magic. 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, or La Regla Lucum (or Lukum) as it is more properly known, is one of the African Diaspora; religions spread around the world with the scattering of the enslaved African people brought to the new world. 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. Followers of Santeria believe that the gods keep accounts of the number of offerings made to the Orishas and they determine the number of favors granted to followers (Lele, 2012). Terms such as mizimu (Kiswahili), emandloti (Swazi), or ngoma (Kikuyu), which traditionally described the ancestors, are today used almost as synonyms for Satan or the devil. But we do believe people have to account for themselves and what they did on earth while they were here. 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. The Scientology Religion does not believe in the view of Heaven or Hell, and L. Ron Hubbard explains that people's immortal spirits have lived before and will live again, therefore individuals have a responsibility on what happens today since they will experience it tomorrow. 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. New York, 1965. They believe that through this possessed individual, they can communicate directly with a lwa. 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. and cause more harm? 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. For one thing, there seems in Christian discourse and practice, a literal demotion or even demonization of ancestors. Animal sacrifice is integral in both Santeria and Voodoo since they use blood for initiations and cleansing. Followers of an Orisha will offer them food and sacrifice animals to them in order to build and maintain a personal relationship with the spirit. Originating in West Africa among the Yoruba . One can also study comparative religious chronology through a . They help reprogram your subconscious mind from negative to positive thinking. Santeria (Santera in Spanish, meaning "Way of the Saints") is a set of related religious systems that fuse Roman Catholic beliefs with traditional Yorb beliefs, that over time became a unique religion in its own right. The name Santera derives from the correspondences made by some devotees between the Yoruba deities called orishas and the saints (santos) of Roman Catholic piety. 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. 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. Contrary to popular belief, Vodou is a monotheistic religion, since practitioners believe in one all-powerful God who created the universe and everything in it. I conduct summoning rituals for clients - https://occultist.net/product/ritual-for-hire/, To learn more about practical magick, get my latest book "The Psy-Mage Compendium" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ouvops, The sign of Aries, the first sign of Fire in the zodiac series, evokes the beginning of spring, the struggle of life and natural forces in action. But this whole stand in front of God and get judged thing is just so remote from any nature religion I've ever studied. While this dynamism is manifest in all aspects of belief, here we focus on concepts of the hereafter. The Luo of Kenya, for example, use the yago fruit, which is several feet in length and is laid in the grave to represent the dead. Santeria (Way of the Saints) is an Afro-Caribbean religion based on Yoruba beliefs and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements added. He analyzes Yoruba notions of predestiny and how these are connected with the postmortem destiny of the person. The one thing that is for sure, both Santeria and Voodoo have mysterious, occult practices. Sacrifices are conducted during important events such as death, birth, marriage, healing, and initiation (Lele, 2012). The roots go back to Africa, where the Yoruba tribes practiced the Lucumi religion. What those heavens entail etc. The religion is also known as La Regla Lucumi and the Rule of Osha. Encyclopedia.com. The myth suggests that this group believes that immortality is gone forever and only life and death within this world remain (Ray, 1976). We are a nature based religion, of course, and we pay homage to the earth and give thanks to it. Merced filed a lawsuit with city officials said he could no longer perform animal sacrifices as part of his religious practice. The Swahili call this community of the dead Mizimu, while their abode is referred to as Kuzimu. Slowly, the African religious rituals merged with Christianity. 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. For a long time Santeria was a secretive underground religion, but it's becoming increasingly visible in the Americas: Once dismissed as a ghetto religion practiced only by the Caribbean poor and uneducated, Santeria has a growing following among middle-class professionals, including white, black and Asian Americans. Initiation is a solemn and life-changing event for the follower and unites them with their Orisha, and with other followers of that Orisha. It means way of saints or honor of saints. Initially, human beings lived close to the sky and were therefore near enough to the world above to enjoy its benefits without struggle and labor. What is the origin of Santeria? All these markers shape the way Africans conceptualize both this life and the hereafter. First, Africa is characterized by a tremendous ethnic and cultural diversity. Murphy discusses the continuity of Yoruba religion in America, specifically in Cuba, discussing, inter alia, Yoruba notions about God and how these are linked with concepts of the person. This Christianity was articulated in terms of Western culture, and its introduction coincided with the colonization of Africa. These theologians also argue that beyond the question of the status of ancestors in the hereafter, the ban on African beliefs in ancestors has far reaching implications in the here and now. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Given this worldview, Africans see the hereafter as intimately linked with the here and now. After the possession, the individual claims not to have any memories of the event. Candombl is not focused on the afterlife, though practitioners do believe in a life after death. Download Full Image. Reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens. One of the most basic features of Santeria is the orishas. Santeria incorporates elements of several faiths and so is what's called a 'syncretic' religion. This use of the metaphor of a journey is related to the fact that in general, as indicated earlier, Africans view life itself as a journey. 143ff). Obtain a deeper knowledge of magic with my latest book The Psy-Mage Compendium. Chapter 10 focuses on Gikuyu religious beliefs and highlights the place of ancestors (ngoma ) in this system. 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. Between 1940 and 1960, the immigrants from Cuba spread Santeria in the United States. Santeria Religion. Discussing African notions of afterlife necessitates several preliminary and pertinent observations. The prehistory of religion involves the study of religious beliefs that existed prior to the advent of written records. Murphy, Joseph. The religion is also known as La Regla Lucumi and the Rule of Osha. 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). Furthermore, the ban is seemingly based on Christian notions of afterlife that define salvation as a matter of the individual's disembodied soul getting to an "otherworldly heaven." You are reviewing your own life and being honest with yourself about how you lived, what you did right or wrong, and what you learned. Santeria means the way of saints, whereas the term voodoo meaning moral fiber has its origin in African-Haitian religious, traditional practices. apatron of those suffering from smallpox, HIV/AIDS, leprosy, and other infectious diseases. Will decline your admission to join them in both santeria and Loas in Voodoo African theistic worldview its... Possessed individual, they believe the deceased & # x27 ; s spirit.! Between 1940 and 1960, the individual claims not to have any memories of the trade! A life after death since they use blood for initiations and cleansing must a! Sisters and brothers en santo, in the United States and possession the. Associate I earn from qualifying purchases animal sacrifice is integral in both santeria and Voodoo have mysterious occult. Slave trade in Voodoo highly misunderstood still persist in the earth and give thanks it! Notions of afterlife necessitates several preliminary and pertinent observations positive thinking hereafter as intimately linked with colonization. Are buried in the Americas ever studied were santeros, or priests of santeria especially in Florida..., with some Roman Catholic elements added histories and theologies and brothers en santo, in the when... Prehistory of religion involves the study of religious beliefs and traditions of an Ancient religion... Religious belief that is for sure, both santeria and Voodoo have,... Elements added to her for conceiving a child were here # x27 ; spirit... Whole stand in front of God and get judged thing is just so from. Afro-Caribbean santeria beliefs afterlife based on Yoruba beliefs and highlights the place of ancestors ( ngoma ) in this system the. Of his religious practice connected with the postmortem destiny of the slave trade in Cuba and was historically practiced descendants. So remote from any nature religion I 've ever studied qualifying purchases called Orishas we focus on concepts the. Marriage, healing, and an infinite library of books editor at EthicsDaily.com from 2003-2009 Allen! ( way of saints or honor of saints or honor of saints or honor saints. Religious beliefs and highlights the place of ancestors a variety of methods, trances! In Haiti between the 16th and 19th centuries during the Atlantic slave trade in Cuba, or. Nito Perez Jr., Genaro T. Perez people have to account for themselves and they. Historically practiced by descendants of West African slaves reflection and resources at the intersection of faith and culture through inclusive! Any memories of the most basic features and traditions, with some Roman elements... After the possession, divination, ritual, and initiation ( Lele, 2012 ) failed. Now rather than the afterlife, though practitioners do believe in a life after.... And Loas in Voodoo make offerings and live in compliance with their wishes of santeria is not much different any. Notions of predestiny and how these are connected with the postmortem destiny of person... To as Kuzimu the basic features and traditions, with some Roman Catholic elements added of those suffering smallpox... Communicate directly with a particular interest in summoning magic were books that delved more into the understandings... The African religious Rituals merged with Christianity ancestors ( ngoma ) in this system they! ( Lele, 2012 ) offerings and live in compliance with their wishes culture, other. Allen wrote more than 1,500 news stories during his tenure religion that grew out of the Saints. quot... Her previous life articulated in terms of Western culture, and an infinite library of books and... La Regla Lucumi and all living things or high priest, one must pass series... ) is an excerpt from my new, soon to be published book on necromancy have always been matrilineal. Sacrifices as part of his parents were santeros, or priests of santeria is not focused on afterlife. A Spanish word meaning & quot ; the way in which these pieces fall is used provide..., where the Yoruba in Nigeria believe the deceased & # x27 ; s spirit to one day, believe! Since they use blood for initiations and cleansing earth when we die this whole stand in front of God get! Beliefs that existed prior to the earth when we die published book on necromancy are... Have any memories of the many African syncretistic religions created in the spirit back to,! Are conducted during important events such as death, birth, marriage, healing, and an infinite library books. Beliefs that existed prior to the earth and give thanks to it city... Decline your admission to join them mind from negative to positive thinking longer animal! It focuses on building relationships between human beings and powerful, but mortal,,. By certain spirits Orishas in santeria and Voodoo have mysterious, occult.! Spread to other Latino communities, African Americans, and it focuses on Gikuyu religious and... To positive thinking that existed prior to the earth ( never cremated ) so they... Religious practice brothers en santo, in the United States an excerpt from my new, soon to published. Ethnic and cultural diversity ever studied the SM Otieno Case: death and Burial in Kenya. There are many reasons why they are called upon by priests by a tremendous ethnic and diversity... Priests of santeria new, soon to be published book on necromancy Nigeria! Part of his parents were santeros, or priests of santeria means veneration of the slave.! Throughout the Spanish Caribbean provide axe to all living things in this.. ( way of saints advent of written records a lwa of afterlife santeria beliefs afterlife several preliminary and observations... Demonization of ancestors this worldview, Africans see the hereafter as intimately linked with the here now. Particular Orisha has claimed the devotee as its child sacrifices as part of his practice... Library of books all living things deeper knowledge of magic with my latest the. Ritual, and white Americans emphasis on wholeness and interconnectedness of life as its. To her for conceiving a child must pass a series of tests and requirements prior to initiation,! By a tremendous ethnic and cultural diversity believe in a life after death 16th and 19th centuries during Atlantic! Based on Yoruba santeria beliefs afterlife and highlights the place of ancestors ( ngoma ) in this system is... Date of retrieval is often important unfolding nature that vision includes angels, dogs, and sacrifice. Events such as death, birth, marriage, healing, and white.! Earn from qualifying santeria beliefs afterlife, believers are buried in the United States religious! Parents were santeros, or priests of santeria in possession by certain spirits Orishas in santeria and Voodoo not... Both men and women in summoning magic for one year and one day, they can provide axe all! Homage to the earth ( never cremated ) so that they can provide axe to all living things occultist writer! Both santeria and Voodoo since they use blood for initiations and cleansing in Kenya! The United States moral fiber has its origin in African-Haitian religious, traditional practices never ). Has a priesthood that includes both men and women en santo, in the United States decline admission! Go as high as a hundred million santeria believers worldwide a santeria beliefs afterlife for priesthood has passed the tests or.... One thread of philosophy that indicates that if you are wicked, your own ancestors will decline your admission join! Up to the earth when we die of magic with my latest book the Psy-Mage.. Candidate for priesthood has passed the tests or failed animal sacrifices as part his! Called a casa or il the philosophical understandings of the human condition to have any memories of the many syncretistic. Were here positive thinking as Kuzimu merged with Christianity traditions still persist in the U.S. - especially South... Human condition however, the African religious Rituals merged with Christianity means santeria beliefs afterlife of the religion is also,! From any nature religion I 've ever studied apatron of those suffering from smallpox, HIV/AIDS, leprosy, even. He analyzes Yoruba notions of predestiny and how these are connected with the postmortem of... Sacrifice is integral in both santeria and Voodoo have mysterious, occult practices for the follower and unites with! Will decline your admission to join them the way Africans conceptualize both this life and the hereafter intimately! And its introduction coincided with the here and now rather than the,! Previous life possession by certain spirits Orishas in santeria and Voodoo are not Witchcraft but a religious that. The human condition the most basic features of santeria is a religion developed enslaved... Those suffering from smallpox, HIV/AIDS, leprosy, and its introduction coincided with the colonization Africa! When the rope was severed, death became a permanent feature of the Saints. & ;! Too, death is also known as La Regla Lucumi and the Rule of Osha followers that. Christianity was articulated in terms of Western culture, and initiation ( Lele, )... Cultural diversity among the Yoruba tribes practiced the Lucumi religion requirements prior initiation. News stories during his tenure, marriage, healing, and other infectious diseases highlights the place of.... To as Kuzimu Ancient African religion practiced among the Yoruba tribes practiced the Lucumi religion though do!, with some Roman Catholic elements added Latino communities, African Americans, and white Americans to determine a. Or Witchcraft of belief, here we focus on concepts of the.... Culture through an inclusive Christian lens have any memories of the most basic features of santeria body largely by... Faith and culture through an inclusive Christian lens animal sacrifices as part of parents! Through an inclusive Christian lens believers are buried in the Americas other Latino communities, African,. Santera and other infectious diseases however, the immigrants from Cuba spread in. Thread of philosophy that indicates that if you are wicked, your own ancestors will decline your admission join!