AAS 112 Lecture 8: AAS Lecture #8: Religion in the Americas (SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY)
Document Summary
Involves drumming, singings, charms, sacrifices, spiritual possession (communicate the blessings of the deities to other people), spells (etc) Areas that were dominated by catholicism are areas in which african traditions also thrived. African spiritually blending with established european beliefs". Structured hierarchy of deities mediated by priests. Oversees the lesser deities, loa (lower deities) Interacts with every facet of the physical world. Loa are not required to be saintly individuals. Still powerful, supernatural forces that people appeal to to basically control the world. Prayer is to bring supernatural forces to everyday life. In the us, many voodoo leaders are women. Striking that there are so many women. Attempt to shape how people interact with other human beings. Practices are private, or in small groups.