Santeria, Scientology, Satanism — oh my! Atheist author explores minority religions

[rug]

Chris Stedman | Feb 20, 2014

How much do you know about Santeria, Scientology, or Satanism?

If you answered “not much,” you’re far from alone. Studies have shown that a great number of Americans are ignorant about major religions—so it’s no surprise that, when it comes to minority religions, misinformation and stigma are widespread.

Atheist author Dr. Karen Stollznow, a linguist and former researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, wanted to change that. So she traveled across the U.S. to visit and study minority religious communities.

The result: her recent book God Bless America: Strange and Unusual Religious Beliefs and Practices in the United States, which offers an insightful look at minority religious communities in the U.S.

http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2014/02/20/santeria-scientology-satanism-oh-karen-stollznow-understanding-minority-religions/

[arcane1]

1. I finished that one a few weeks ago.

It was fun

[rug]

3. That's good to know. I'll see if the library has it.

[gwheezie]

2. Years ago I had a roommate who practiced Santeria

It just reinforced my opinion all religions are goofy

[rug]

4. Did your roommate grow up in it or adopt it?

[gwheezie]

8. Both kinda

In fact now that I think of it, I had another friend who followed Santeria, both had cultural ties to the religion but family was not actively practicing. Both these people were active practitioners.

[rug]

11. They sound more like reverts than converts.

Many people return to their religious roots at some point.

[lumberjack_jeff]

5. I know this

[rug]

7. I never met anyone named Bud who practiced Santeria.

[hrmjustin]

6. I have a cousin that converted to Santeria.

After the death of her son several years ago she said she relied on her faith much more than before his death.

[rug]

9. That's unusual. I never heard of anyone converting to Santeria.

I've heard of some who consulted or asked that a particular ritual be performed for a specific purpose, but never a conversion.

It strikes me as a nonevangelical syncretic religion with deep cultural roots.

[hrmjustin]

10. She follows the religion and was raised Roman Catholic.

[rug]

12. Its strongest in the Caribbean. Does she have any cultural connection?

[hrmjustin]

13. No they are fully Italian in ancestry.

[rug]

14. I wish her well.

[okasha]

18. It's also found in

continental Latin America. A friend of mine own a yerberia (herb shop), and quite a few of his customers seem to swing freely back and forth between Santeria and conventional Catholic observances.

[rug]

22. This will be interesting.

The fastest growing religions in South America seem to be fundamentalist Christians and Santeria and related religions.

[Mojorabbit]

15. I know several who have done so. Most grew up Catholic but not all.

I have a large group of friends who practice Santeria and other religions in the same vein such as Candomble and Umbanda. This is Fl which is a melting pot so maybe more prevalent here because of that. Not my cup of tea for many reasons.

[rug]

16. Do they have a Caribbean background?

[Mojorabbit]

17. The people I know

who practice Santeria... as a group have a mix of maybe 50 percent with a Caribbean background and the rest not.
I went to a tambor with some friends because I wanted to hear the drumming and there were so many people there that
they had three people who were professionally directing parking. I had no idea that the community was so large as this was just a small family's gathering and
so many people were there.

The other two religious groups mostly do not which makes me wonder if the popularity of these religions are growing
as more people are exposed to them down here. Most of this group are drummers (frame, doumbek, djembe).
World music maybe exposing people to world religions? Don't know!

[rug]

21. This is so little understood.

So many came they needed to direct parking? Amazing.

[TM99]

33. These communities can be quite large

and yet quite hard to find.

My partner and I recently found our Padrino and his new small Ile (house) here. He only just moved here from Miami, two years ago.

A tambor was thrown in honor of his ruling Orisha, Oshun, and it gave opportunity for two newly crowned Paleros to be present to the drums. It was done in his rather small residence here in central Phoenix. We were rather shocked at the number of people that turned out for it. Now it was a public one as well, so there were those in attendance who were not in Lucumi, however, the tambor spilled over into the front and back yards and the adjoining neighbor's homes & yard.

In a larger community like Miami, I can definitely imagine direct parking.

[TM99]

19. Santeria and the other ATR's

are very misunderstood. Most of the really decent & unsensationalized books on the subject are often only available in Spanish. I definitely want to check out this work.

I have been in both Lucumi (Santeria) and Palo Kimbisa for 12 years now. Within reason, I am willing to answer questions on it from members who have an interest.

[rug]

20. What's the difference between Lucumi and Palo Kimbisa?

[TM99]

23. In a nutshell,

the various African tradition religions (ATR's from here on out) are diasporatic in that the slaves mixed their old religious traditions together between tribes once here in the Americas.

Some of them though are more one than the other. Lucumi (Santeria) and Ifa are from the Yoruban peoples. Palo is from the Congolese peoples.

Santeria is syncretic with Catholicism and an Orisha is then also associated with a saint. For example, Babalú-Ayé, the Orisha of the earth but in particular of disease and the cure for disease, is also known by San Lazaro (Saint Lazarus). My experience is that older Santeros and Santeras tend to be both Catholic and Santerian especially if of Latino descent, but younger Santeros and Santeras and those of more African descent tend to be Santerian without need for Christianity. They are extremely respectful of their elders and do not disparage it. They just simply do not embrace it.

Ifa is not syncretic with Christianity at all. It is 'pure' Yoruban traditions though given the fact that it is diasporatic, it really isn't exactly the way things were practiced in Yorubaland, hundreds of years ago.

Palo or Las Reglas de Congo has three branches - Mayombe, Briyumba, and Kimbisa. Mayombe is often considered the oldest with the 'truest' roots to the Congo religious traditions, however, it really is not practiced in the United States due to the 'altars' needing to be outside and a lack of elders to pass on the initiations. Briyumba is the next oldest and is Afro-Cuban in origin. Kimbisa is both the youngest but also has connections to traditions in the Loango Kingdom which was dominated by but eventually received independence from the Congo peoples.

Kimbisa can be either Cristiano or Judio which means that the Christian houses are syncretic and share a lot of overlaps with Lucumi. Orishas, Nkisi, and Saints are all considered the 'same'. Judio houses did not accept Christianity. Therefore, they do not share as much with Lucumi. The Nkisi are seen as 'similar' to the Orisha's but definitely different. The initiations, rituals, language, etc. are all radically different.

I was scratched into a non-Christian Palo Kimbisa house 12 years ago but no longer have contact with that elder. I am newer to Lucumi, but I do have the beads (Elekes), the Warriors, Olokun (the mysteries of the deep sea), the Ibeji (the twins), and have had my guardian Orisha that rules my head called down by a high priest. Once I am ready, I will undergo the 1 year and 1 week initiation to 'make saint' or become a priest in Lucumi. I have also been accepted by the drums to become a sacred drummer. I will begin my training later this year after several initiations and the determining of which drum in particular will choose me though the elder here suspects he knows based on my 'personality'. My partner of 8 years is not an initiate of Palo but is in Lucumi, and we have the same Padrino (elder). She has the same initiations but has been in the religion longer so she has a few others that I do not.

[rug]

24. Fascinating. Thanks for the info.

[TM99]

25. You are most welcome.

I will not claim to be an 'expert' but I am glad to share what I know about these traditions. They are quite unique, deep, and powerful in my experience.

[Mojorabbit]

26. Congratulations! Beautiful rhythms to you. nt

[TM99]

30. Thank you.

It is a real honor. As a musician, I am innately drawn to the drumming and the chanting. There is much learn, and I am quite excited.

[cbayer]

28. Thanks so much for this. This is really foreign to me.

[TM99]

31. You are welcome.

Please ask more if you want. There is a lot more to this religion than what is often portrayed here in the States outside of select communities notably little Havana areas of large cities.

[cbayer]

32. I am currently living in Mexico and have begun to discover

a fascinating mixture of various religions. The Day of the Dead was particularly interesting to me.

I look forward to learning more.

[TM99]

34. Yes, how wonderful!

I have lived in Arizona now close to 25 years. While in Tucson, I had the opportunity to apprentice with a curandera who was also a psychologist. To this day, I still have a small altar to Santisima Muerte. The Day of the Dead is an ancient tradition honoring the Lady of the Land of the Dead, Mictecacihuatl, who became Santisima Muerte after Catholicism displaced the indigenous pagan religions of Mexico.

There are other amazing folk saints in Mexico & Central America, like El Niño Fidencio, San Simón, and Jesús Malverde , that I encourage you to learn about if given the chance.

[cbayer]

35. I hope to learn more as I stay here.

I find that in general the people here do not readily share their religion nor do they wish to convert anyone. Although the celebrations are often huge and loud, the day to day practices are more private.

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge and experience.

[cbayer]

27. I know very little, but if this book is entertaining, it might

be a good source for learning more.

There are some significant rituals in New Orleans that are tied to santeria and I had reason to find out about some of them during a particularly difficult time in my life.

But not speaking of it was part of the ritual and while I don't really believe, I don't see any reason to do something I was advised not to do.

You know what I mean?

[rug]

29. Yup.

Just don't ask me how I know.