Disguising The West African Religion As Catholicism Essay Example

per legend, Obatala used to consume excessive amounts of palm wine while molding the bodies of unborn babies, leading to many of them being born with deformities. His spiritual guide, Olofi, instructed him to refrain from drinking palm wine during his most important task. Consequently, any child born with a defect is now considered to be a child of Obatala, and it is prohibited to taunt them.

Yemaya is known as the spirit of maternity and is considered the mother of all wealth. She also rules over witches and holds a similar role to the Virgin Regla in Catholicism. Yemaya's true name is Yey Omo Eja, which translates to Mother of Fish, as it symbolizes the belief that life originates in the sea and that developing babies resemble fish. Like the depths of the oceans and rivers, Yemaya possesses an air of mystery while also embodying nurturing maternal qualities. Her colors are blue and white, and she is sometimes associated with mercy due to her unwavering love for her children. Alongside Yemaya, Oya serves as the gatekeeper of the cemetery and has authority over the deceased.

Yemoja is a formidable warrior who embodies the powers of the Nigerian River, thunder, and lightning. When she takes on the form of an animal, she becomes a water buffalo. As a shape shifter, Yemoja grants her offspring the ability to transform themselves as well. Her colors are maroon and white, and she frequently joins her fellow Orisha, Chango, in battle. Chango is renowned as one of the most infamous Orishas and represents fire, thunder, and lightning.

The characteristics of Chango include passion, chauvinism, charm, great power, beauty, wisdom, and valor. With

his sword and machete, he has the ability to create or destroy as he pleases. Chango is often associated with St. Barbara, a Catholic saint. Chango is typically worshipped on Friday and Saturday, with his colors being white and red.

Oggun is a representation of effort and hard work. He tirelessly works as an iron worker for his siblings Eleggua and Chango. This elder Orisha is notorious for his furious rage and the potential danger he poses. Numerous tools are associated with him, including the knife, machete, anvil, pick, chisel, hammer, rake, spade, and horseshoes. All these tools are stored in a black cauldron. Rather than animal sacrifices, his followers typically offer cigars, rum, toy cars and airplanes, and weapons. Lastly, Ochun is another one of the main Orishas who bears resemblance to Venus in Greek mythology.

Ochun is the Orisha who is connected to romance, flirtation, seduction, love, marriage, money, and fertility. She is also known as the goddess of sweet water and her rituals often take place near waterfalls or on river beds. While Ochun enjoys dancing, she is also deeply spiritual. She possesses strong divination abilities and her children are often blessed with psychic powers, particularly when they use the sacred seashells, which serve as the mouths of the Orishas. During the time of slavery in Cuba, the slaves came into contact with copper, which was their form of currency. As a result, Ochun is associated with Our Lady of the Caridad del Cobre.

In the Casa de Santo, practitioners of Santeria, known as Aborishas, gather together. This community includes both babalawos and priests/priestesses, with men and women holding the latter

position. However, only men can serve as high priests. The primary focus of high priests is divination, which involves predicting the future and interpreting signs in people's lives. New members are guided by a godfather or godmother who reveals the secrets of Santeria to them. These newcomers also receive sacred beads associated with their Orisha. They often have to follow strict dress codes, shave their heads, observe celibacy, or adhere to specific dietary restrictions. Moreover, before obtaining divine energy, they must undergo a cleansing ritual for purification.

Santeria is a belief system that departs from the traditional notion of good versus evil, like God and the Devil. Instead, it acknowledges that everything possesses positive and negative elements, and no action is inherently ethical or unethical. Rather, actions can only be assessed based on the surrounding circumstances. The focus is on striving to carry out benevolent acts. However, if someone performs a good deed solely motivated by fear of punishment or expectation of reward, it does not demonstrate genuine moral character. True morality derives from doing what is right solely because it is right. Numerous misconceptions exist about Santeria.

The movie showcases a couple who adhere to a religion which involves sacrificing humans and consuming aborted fetuses. However, in actuality, only animals like roosters, turtles, goats, and chickens are sacrificed in a humane manner. The main component of the sacrificial ritual is blood, while any leftover parts are cooked and eaten by the followers. It is essential to mention that practitioners of Santeria strictly forbid the practice of black magic.

Although Santeria does not have a moral code similar to Christianity, criminals utilize certain spells in order to protect

themselves and attract good luck. One notable example is the worship of Ochosi, the deity associated with hunting and traps. Many criminals practice this in order to avoid being caught by law enforcement. While Santeria relies heavily on oral tradition, some publications have recently emerged providing more information on the subject. However, there are still undisclosed secrets that only followers of the religion have access to. Notable celebrities such as Desi Arnaz, Jennifer Lopez, and Ozzie Guillen (the manager of the White Sox) are among those who embrace Santeria.