Santeria is a saints' religion, but not just any saints. Kidnapped Yorubas enslaved in Cuba were adamant about maintaining their ancient spiritual practices and loyalty to the orishas.
- The colonial rulers banned and prohibited African spiritual practices, and anyone who disobeyed the order faced harsh punishment.
- What should We do? Slaves were forced to convert to Roman Catholicism, and the Church provided graphic representations of the Holy Family and saints to aid conversion of the illiterate.
- Santeria was created. A repurposed new born faith. Through the usage of matching pictures, each orisha were linked to particular Roman Catholic holy saints.
- As a result, Ochossi the Sacred Archer assumed the persona of St Sebastian, whose votive iconography depicts him being wounded by arrows.
- This syncretism seems reasonable at times: a saint and an orisha may have a lot in common, but other times the links are strange.
- Chango, Master of Thunder and Lightning and Spirit of Male Sexual Prowess, was syncretized with St Barbara, the young virgin martyr, since her votive picture depicts lightning.
- Syncretism provides security: one may seem to be praying to St Barbara while really communing with Chango.
- Syncretism, on the other hand, leads to complexity.
- Santeria in modern times maintains a Yoruba spiritual framework with Roman Catholic influences, as well as influences from other African traditions, indigenous Taino Indian influences, and others.
- Some Santeria followers are devout Roman Catholics, while others have abandoned syncretism, feeling that the time for masks is passed.
- Many others choose the middle road. In all instances, however, the main emphasis of Santeria is devotion to the orishas/saints and connection with them.
Related to - Orisha and Vodoun.
You may also want to read more about Paganism here.
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