Haitian Voodoo Research Paper
Voodoo otherwise known, as vodou is one of the most dominant religions that is practiced in Haiti. Voodoo can be translated as “sacred, of god” in Haitian Creole. (National African Religion Congress par 1) Voodoo is approximately 10,000 years old. (Ream par 2) The religion has is also practiced in west and central Africa in countries including: Benin and Nigeria. Haitian voodoo is not only practiced Haiti but is regularly practiced in the United States of America, The Dominican Republic, France and Montreal. (Rock par. 2) The goal of Haitian voodoo is to cure or heal individuals from sickness. (Corbett par. 3) Since Haitian voodoo is seen as the main culture/religion and is practiced by roughly seven million people it is seen as a religion
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This god is known under the name of Bondye. This one god connects voodoo to other monotheistic religions such as Christianity or Judaism. (Corbett par. 3) After the belief in Bondye there is the belief in the Loa otherwise known as the ‘holy spirits,’ ‘Lwa’, and ‘Loua.’ The Loa are messengers that transmit prayers from god to practitioners. A Loa accompanies each individual that practices voodoo at birth. This Loa controls there that individual’s life as a force responsible for life decisions. (National African Religion Congress par. 5) For example, during religious ceremonies, may attach themselves to their individual in order to transfer messages. (Corbett par. 3) It is believed that the Loa are inherited through maternal/paternal connections. (Haggerty, sec. 3) The Loa are not the only spiritual beings that are involved in Haitian voodoo. There is also ‘the twins’ as well as ‘the dead.’ The twins are known to be forces that resemble good and evil. They may resemble the well-known yin and yang. (Corbett par. 3) The dead however represent dead family members that have been ignored. (Corbett par. 3)
Voodoo has a priesthood system made up of both females and males. Male priest are known as hounagans while female priestesses are known by the term mambo. Practioners known as bokor look up to hounagans and mambos. These priests and priestesses are responsible for healing, performing …show more content…
The complex religion is made out of numerous religious rites/ceremonies and involves the majority of the population on Haiti. The religion is looked upon/practiced by natives as well as foreigners leading it to become a worldview.
Bibliography:
BBC News. BBC, 30 Apr. 2003. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. .
Caistor, Nick. BBC News. BBC, 08 Apr. 2003. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. .
Corbett, Bob. "Haiti: Selected Terms in Voodoo." Haiti: Selected Terms in Voodoo. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013.
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Corbett, Bob. "INTRODUCTION TO VOODOO IN HAITI." Haiti: Introduction to Voodoo. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. .
Guynup, Sharon. "Haiti: Possessed by Voodoo." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. .
"Haiti - RELIGION." Haiti - RELIGION. U.S. Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. .
Rock, Mike. "About Haitian Vodou – Haitian Voodoo History & BeliefsErzulies Voodoo Spells & Love Spells | Erzulies Voodoo Spells & Love Spells." Erzulies Voodoo Spells Love Spells. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. .
"Voodoo." Voodoo. National African Religion Congress, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013.
This god is known under the name of Bondye. This one god connects voodoo to other monotheistic religions such as Christianity or Judaism. (Corbett par. 3) After the belief in Bondye there is the belief in the Loa otherwise known as the ‘holy spirits,’ ‘Lwa’, and ‘Loua.’ The Loa are messengers that transmit prayers from god to practitioners. A Loa accompanies each individual that practices voodoo at birth. This Loa controls there that individual’s life as a force responsible for life decisions. (National African Religion Congress par. 5) For example, during religious ceremonies, may attach themselves to their individual in order to transfer messages. (Corbett par. 3) It is believed that the Loa are inherited through maternal/paternal connections. (Haggerty, sec. 3) The Loa are not the only spiritual beings that are involved in Haitian voodoo. There is also ‘the twins’ as well as ‘the dead.’ The twins are known to be forces that resemble good and evil. They may resemble the well-known yin and yang. (Corbett par. 3) The dead however represent dead family members that have been ignored. (Corbett par. 3)
Voodoo has a priesthood system made up of both females and males. Male priest are known as hounagans while female priestesses are known by the term mambo. Practioners known as bokor look up to hounagans and mambos. These priests and priestesses are responsible for healing, performing …show more content…
The complex religion is made out of numerous religious rites/ceremonies and involves the majority of the population on Haiti. The religion is looked upon/practiced by natives as well as foreigners leading it to become a worldview.
Bibliography:
BBC News. BBC, 30 Apr. 2003. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. .
Caistor, Nick. BBC News. BBC, 08 Apr. 2003. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. .
Corbett, Bob. "Haiti: Selected Terms in Voodoo." Haiti: Selected Terms in Voodoo. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013.
.
Corbett, Bob. "INTRODUCTION TO VOODOO IN HAITI." Haiti: Introduction to Voodoo. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. .
Guynup, Sharon. "Haiti: Possessed by Voodoo." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. .
"Haiti - RELIGION." Haiti - RELIGION. U.S. Library of Congress, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. .
Rock, Mike. "About Haitian Vodou – Haitian Voodoo History & BeliefsErzulies Voodoo Spells & Love Spells | Erzulies Voodoo Spells & Love Spells." Erzulies Voodoo Spells Love Spells. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013. .
"Voodoo." Voodoo. National African Religion Congress, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2013.