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| Vodou altar. UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History. Photo by Dennis Nervig.Image Source (www.lameca.org) |
Vodou (or commonly misidentified as voodoo) is a complex religion practiced by up to 80 million people worldwide. Despite its popularity it is a largely misunderstood religion due to inaccurate popular culture depictions based in false reports collected in the 1800s from tortured practitioners. Today's blog post is dedicated to rectifying some of these misunderstandings about Vodou by providing a short summary of what it is and is not. The history of the religion, its origins, and basics of its modern practice will be discussed in order to inform the reader of Vodou.
Vodou is a religion that comes from various other religions. It draws upon various African and Native American faiths, in addition to Catholicism. Vodou began in the mid-1700s among African slaves who were taken to Haiti. These individuals were prohibited from practicing their own religions, which they opted to continue to practice in secret. As they came in contact with Native Americans they began to incorporate their ideological beliefs into the African religions. Catholicism was forced upon the slaves by their masters as a means of social control as the masters believed that their slaves would be much more submissive by practicing Catholicism. In the beginning the slaves went through the motions of practicing Catholicism, but they eventually found several elements of the religion were similar to their own African faiths and they elected to incorporate these elements into their practices. From this the syncretic religion of Vodou was born.
As Haitian slaves were moved they took Vodou with them. It spread from Haiti to Louisiana, which is the second most populace place of practice today, and eventually throughout South America. Today, Vodou is practiced among various populations, particularly Haitian populations. You can find Vodou practiced wherever a large proportion of Haitian immigrants exist, as well as in Benin, an African country where the religion is the state religion.
Popular belief characterizes Vodou as a scary religion full of cannibalism, human sacrifice, and demonic possession. These views originated from false confessions collected from tortured Vodou practitioners in the 1800s and were widely published. They were eventually spread by Hollywood cinema as Vodou is used as a means of initiating various dangerous and scary movie story lines. These depictions are inaccurate and negative stereotypes that harm both the religion and its practitioners.
Vodou is a very complex religion that is quite peaceful and in many ways beautiful in its practice. Vodou practitioners believe in a paramount deity as well as several lesser deities who represent ancestors, natural elements, and gods & goddesses. These lesser deities are often referred to as the Lwa. Vodou practitioners worship the Lwa through offerings of food and goods left at temples and shrines dedicated to the Lwa, who are consulted in various matters related to one's life. The primary tenant of the religion is service to the community, which is one of the reasons why the Lwa are consulted. These consultations can be done by individual practitioners or through the guidance of Vodou priests or priestesses, who are trained for such purposes.
In summary, Vodou is a very complex religion that has roots in various African, Native American, and Catholic faiths. It has been practiced for centuries, and it is popular among various peoples globally today. The popular depictions of this religion are wrong and do not do the religion any justice because it underscores the beautiful complexity of the faith and its practitioners.
Bibliography
Alexandre, JA. 2015.
“Voodoo and Christianity: Compatibility or Irreconcilable Differences?” Christian Research Institute. http://www.equip.org/article/voodoo-christianity-compatibility-irreconcilable-differences/
Dr. E. 2016. “What is the Difference Between Voodoo,
Hoodoo, and Santeria?” Santeria Church
of Orishes. http://santeriachurch.org/what-is-the-difference-between-voodoo-hoodoo-and-santeria/
Haas, SA. 2011. “What is Voodoo? Understanding a Misunderstood Religion.” Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/saumya-arya-haas/what-is-vodou_b_827947.html
No Author. No
Date. “Chapter 1: The Origin of
Voodoo.” http://www.univie.ac.at/Anglistik/webprojects/LiveMiss/Voodoo/chap1.htm
No Author. 2002. “Voodoo Religion: The History.” Voodoo Religion. All About…
http://www.allabouttheoccult.org/voodoo-religion.htm
Robinson, B.A. 2010. “Religions
of the World: Vodun (aka Voodoo) and related religions.” Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance. http://www.religioustolerance.org/voodoo.htm
49 comments:
Hollywood tends to exaggerate religions, so I never thought of Vodou as scary.
Betsy Britt
Introduction to Anthropology SA-202
I never know that there was a difference between voodoo and witchcraft, very good article.
Since vodou is commonly practiced among African and native American with force , do they still force people to join them or they now join willingly at this new age.
Kelechi, I have never encountered any literature on Vodou being a religion forced onto anyone. Can you please provide the reference/source? As for your second inquiry vodou is a religion one either chosses or raised in.
I knew a family that practiced vodou and they were very open about it and explained to me it isn't what people think it is.
In voodoo is there any harm done to animals because of tradition?
I will be honest: I did find some mention of animal sacrifice among some vodou practitioners. This practice does not appear to be mainstream, though. I did not delve deeply into the concept because of that. I do know that in other religions where animal sacrifice is practiced the animal is humanely put down and eaten as part of a ritual feast. You can look at this practice similarly to Halal or Kosher meats that are blessed prior to being slaughtered for consumption.
Aaliyah Caldwell
I didnt know vodou was practiced by mainly African Amercian and Native Amercian.
Traditionally and today, yes, although there is a large number of white practitioners, particularly in New Orleans.
Devin Easley
Intro to Anthropology
It was a surprise to learn Vodou was derived completely from Hatian slaves. Do you know whether they have any sort of sacred text similar to a Bible or Quran? Also I understand the media has over exaggerated their practices extremely. Yet does the religion not carry out any practices seen as "bad" due to their harmful nature?
As far as I know there is no central text that practitioners of Vodou use. As for "bad" practices I encountered none in my research, so the notion of Vodou being a bad religion is one that is largely based on misinformation, false ideas, and bad perceptions of the religion and its followers.
I did not know that Vodou was a newer religion and I did not know that it was a product from Catholics forcing their beliefs on their slaves and that was pretty surprising because I thought Vodou was from like the 1200s or something like that
I honestly thought witchcraft and vodou were the same thing just different names. But now looking at it it makes sense that Hollywood would exaggerate what vodou is.
when I hear Vodou I think of all the bad things in movies I know now that my vision on the religion is the wrong thing and I shouldn't be mislead by what I see from movies
I like the fact that the writer goes deeper than the surface to really give a different outlook on voodoo and the purpose and reasoning behind it. I had recently learned more about voodoo from a tv show contrary to what people believe about learning information from a tv show. American Horror Story had talked about the rituals of voodoo and actually spoke of Mistress Marie Laveau, a well known "Voodoo Queen" who's tomb site happens to be in St. Louis, MO which tempts me to visit.
I never knew that vodou was different than witchcraft or that is stemmed from Catholicism and it being forced on slaves. I had always thought the religion was "bad" or "wrong" so to speak thanks to media and the ways they exaggerate things. I had never thought to do my own research on the religion. Maybe now I will. The concept seems very interesting. - Shannon
During your travels have you ever encountered an Voodoo practitioners? and if so did what was the experience like?
I always looked at vodoo as a negative thing used to hurt or harm others, so to read this article it gives me a new outlook on it. I didn't know much about voodoo except what I would see in movies which I learned is actually incorrect now that I read this article.
Didn't know that Vodou is a religion that comes from various other religions. I always thought it was just witchcraft stuffed performed by those whom believe strongly about it.
Ainya Lomax Soc.412
Being from a Caribbean background you often hear of voodoo witch craft and the practice but this post went slightly more in depth beyond what i already knew as far as purposes and such.
I have often heard of "Vodoo" which from my understanding is akin to obeah or witchcraft. This blog is an eyeopener as I can't recall seeing the word "Vodou" before.
The media has totally twisted and thrown this practice threw the dirt just because of there unorthodox methods. The origins of this are fascinating and the fact that this was forced on slaves speaks volume. I definitely will dig deeper on this topic.
I always thought voodoo an witchcraft were the same thing. But those people who forced Catholicism among those people are very wrong. I wish the people who di that would just let them practice their religion
I have not run into Vodou practitioners in my travels, but I do have friends who know some. I have met a Curandero (Peruvian word for witch) but we did not talk, which was partially due to language differences and he was working.
With Jefferson City being a big catholic city do you believe that Vodau is practiced in churches here? And with this religion is it shown more in churches or do people practice this belief out in public?
I have been in Missouri for six months, so I cannot say for sure what is and is not practiced here in the state or in any one town. I am curious as to what led to that question. As for where Boudoir is practiced it is typically not in churches. The religion Incorporated Catholic and other elements but is now its own distinct religion. :)
As a child I used to be insanely interested into Vodou but I never actually took the time out to learn the truth behind the practice so it is nice to know there is a little logical sense to the practice rather than stereotypical idea of Vodou.
I don't understand why voodoo is such a popular religion, its way too risky & scary for me to have any dealings with.
I never know that there was a difference between voodoo and witchcraft.
Tiffany Heavens
- Well it turns out I did not know what Voudou was. I too was one who spelled it voodoo and had no idea it was a religion. Every time I heard it I thought it was some type of spell.
Growing up i always thought vodoo was a bad thing because of what i would see. One of my mom friends did vodoo and she would explain to me that it wasnt as harmful as it seemed. After reading this blog post it really gave me some information about vodoo that i didnt know about.
-Daisha Benton
You can learn a lot from reading this article. I never knew that Vodou was an actual religion, because of me thinking it was so closely related to witchcraft. I also never knew that so many people practiced this faith worldwide.
Being of Haitian decent this post hit home for me. All my life I grew up being teased about using Vodou and things of that nature when really I had no prior knowledge of it before reading this article.
I find it odd that I've seen it written out as "Voodoo" all my life, and yet I knew exactly what you were talking about whenever I saw it written "Vodou." I actually never knew it was a religion in the first place, the movies used to make it out as a practice of dark magic, or some invisible force all around us, kind of like chakra maybe, but I'm glad to see someone's trying to spread the word and let people better understand.
If I remember correctly, Vodou is actually portrayed fairly accurately in American Gods.
My senior year in high school we had to watch a class over voodoo for our sociology class. We were all just expecting to see a bunch of dolls that "witches created" and have no idea of the catholic influence but I found it really cool watching the Haitians participate in it.
I never knew that voodoo started with African slaves who were taken to Haiti. My grandma is from Louisiana so I was always told about how serious this was their. I was taught that it could be peaceful or evil practices I still have family in Louisiana who take part in it but, since many others in my family see it as being "evil" we no longer have ties to that side of the family anymore.
-Apreshana page
Its crazy how this article literally just came across my screen because I was just talking with someone who is from Miami and he was telling me how the Haitians practice voodoo because of it originating in Africa. Enjoyed this article a lot, very interesting.
- Anthony Townsend
I always thought voodoo was evil. But I've also learned voodoo can be good and bad practices. I have friends from Florida who always discuss voodoo. I think its pretty cool to learn about.
I did not know that voodoo started in Africa and i will never ageee with it because nothing good comes out of using this practice someone is just going to end up hurt really bad . Overall I enjoyed this blog post gained a lot more on voodoo. - Mykia Chaney
I have learned a lot about Vodou from this blog. It is not something that I am comfortable with because I feel like it is very risky. It is assumed that all is evil, but I have learned that there can be good Vodou. One thing that actually shocked me is the spelling. Being that I do not know much about this topic, I never looked into the spelling, but I have always seen it spelled “Voodoo”. Interesting post.
Kahla Perry
I agree that Vodou is misunderstood that's why I'm glad that this blog went more in depth in discussing it.
this is a very interesting post, i always wonder if vodou was real. i also thought it was spelled "voodoo". I didnt know that it started in Africa. i thought maybe it came from NOLA
-Kyla Thomas
Before reading this article, voodoo and witchcraft was all the same to me. Now that i know they are totally different i can have a more open mind.
-Jasmine Busby
as silly as it sounds i started getting interested into voodoo after the princess and the frog movie came out, after i started to watch youtube videos and shows that had something to do with voodoo. i have always thought it was use to evil, so reading this article changed on how i look at it.
- Lavonza Marshall
Interesting, so africans started this practice to hide there initial practice from catholic slave masters but also took some beliefs and practices from their religion and some from native americans because they also believed that those individually picked practices could fall in line with what they already believe? Wow so when slavery started to die down in haiti why didn't they go back to original practices or beliefs? Were the newly picked practices too far into the religion to change it?
Christopher McFadden
This post was very helpful in helping me understand voodoo. I've only seen depictions of people like Marie laveau and papa legba on tv as evil and never in a good light. In addition, I've seen santeria associated with voodoo and the same connotations. I now wonder how much alike they are other than being misunderstood.
-Gavin G
It was interesting to learn that voodoo is a religion that come from various other religions. I had never realized that the slaves were forced in to catholicism, that they incorporated those elements into the Religion of voodoo. It is comforting to know that voodoo is actually a peaceful practice in many ways.
Elaine christopher
Interesting, I’ve had a friend that always bragged about her Vodou religion but she was actually so sweet and grateful just overall a happy person. She was always worried about rituals and it became so fascinating to me how she really connected herself with the world spiritually at such a young age. She told me her family believed peace comes from prayer and patience. Connecting with spirits was an easy thing for her. Many people view see her as a scary person but me on the other hand felt amazed.
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