Haitian Voodoo Research Papers

The upbringing of Vodou into popular culture has set new standards for this religion. People were both terrified and fascinated by this “magic”. Vodou is analyzed through its uses in the touristic culture. For example, tourists would come to places like New Orleans, which also practice Vodou. The people would show interest in the religion by buying Vodou paraphernalia or equipments for fun or to use as decoration as opposed to sacred use. Additionally, Vodou can be seen in various films. For instance, the practice of Vodou was presented in a Disney movie called The Princess And The Frog. The movie portrayed how Vodou does not always have to be considered as dark magic and evil. But, it could also be used in a good and positive way. Furthermore, Vodou was also depicted in a famous television show called American Horror Story. In one of its season, the show was centered around Vodou magic. Things like Vodou sacrifices, rituals, and curses were all presented. Moreover, Vodou has also inspired the creation of movies greatest “monster”-the zombies. The belief of zombies is related to the Vodou religion. They are corpses who have been re-animated and controlled by magical means for some specific purpose, usually labor. They have appeared in American pop culture for decades. And, they are still appearing in many modern

Although the practice of Voodoo and Witchcraft are thought to be the same, the two belief systems share similarities and differences, just as other religions do. Both are systems of old beliefs that continue to be practiced today; however, they are often disgraced because of their association with evil. The largest similarity between Voodoo and Witchcraft is that they are not intended for wickedness, rather, the rituals are meant to reflect the choices of the practitioner. However, Voodoo and Witchcraft are much different because Voodoo relates to a human’s connection to spirits, while Witchcraft relates to the innate power that exists within humans.

The Holy Ghost People by Peter Adair, was created in 1967. It exposes people of the Pentecostal religion, and their unusual rituals and ceremonies that they partake in. While watching the movie I kept on wondering why someone would want to sit through one of their services and participate in such odd rituals and behaviors. After reviewing the sociological theories we have learned in class, I concluded that Durkheim’s Social Consensus theory and Collins Interaction Ritual Chains theory both best explain the motivations for joining and staying in a religion that has such unusual rituals and extreme commitments.

Voodoo is primarily practiced in Haiti, Cuba, West Africa, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and America, specifically Louisiana, by roughly 30 million people today. Voodoo is acknowledged to be the world’s most powerful form of magic and one of the world’s oldest

Ranging from the south Alleghenies mountain range all the way down to the south of Georgia and far west of Alabama, lived the Cherokee Indians. They were a powerful detached tribe of the Iroquoian family and were commonly called Tsaragi which translates into "cave people." This tribe was very prominent in what is now called the U.S, but over time has been split up or run out of their land because of social or political encounters with the new settlers from Europe. Despite the dispersion or the split amongst this tribe, they still obtained their core religious beliefs, practices and ceremonies. Their detailed belief system, fundamental beliefs, significant meanings, and their connection to song and dance make up their religious system. The early

The enslaved Africans had long contact with Catholicism which lead to syncretism between their aboriginal religious beliefs, doctrines, and rituals. According to Nathaniel Murrell (2010) Syncretism “implies the blending of different religious elements into an undifferentiated religions”. In order words, syncretism is the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties as in philosophy or religion. Religious syncretism is the blending of a foreign belief and an indigenous belief systems and teachings. Syncretism has been a key part of the survival of African practices on the plantation. The enslaves were forbidden to practice their faith publicly. The planters believed that the Africans were Eden

Haiti is a unique country because it occupies the western third of the island Hispaniola, consists of two peninsulas, and is separated by the Gonave Gulf. Haiti has lush green mountains, crisp waves, and silky smooth skies. It also has a population of approximately 10 million. Haiti is also very dependent on US products.

A large portion of the population in Haiti follow the Roman Catholic Religion, however, there is an understanding that Voodoo may be the National Religion of Haiti. In the

Witches practice witchcraft which grants access to let witches have communication with the devil. Furthermore, “the culmination of the mythology of witchcraft came about from the 15th to the 18th centuries in the depiction of the witches Sabbath” (Carroll). Witchcraft is talked about and defined in the book, The Element Encyclopedia of Ghosts & Hauntings, saying, “Witchcraft is an ancient art that utilizes the powers of nature and the mind to bring out desired effect” (Cheung 539). In addition to that, witchcraft works by using certain combinations of natural elements to draw certain energies. Someone can use these energies by stimulating senses to alter states of consciousness that intensify moods and feelings (Cheung 539). No exact known

Between 600 and 1450 religion in the Middle East changed in that of major splits and new religion emerging; however the status of women seem to remain the same. There are three major religions that had a major impact on the Middle East. Judaism is the monotheistic religion of the Jews, it originated in Canaah Israel and Palestanian territories. Christianity is another major religion that originated in the Middle East. Later on the church was split into different groups. The last major religion is Islam. Islam is the one religion that had the most affect on the region.

It all started with Tituba claiming she signed the devil 's book. Them people got really worried because the bible stated witches “shall not suffer to live” that gave them reassured opinions because the people followed the bible. Then people noticed that they could get away with accusing other people that they wanted to get rid of. It was the perfect way to get rid of someone your jelous of. Then many people took advantage of the system and from there it went crazy, but I believe The main cause of witchcraft is people taking advantage of it for their own

During the seventeenth century, the system of slavery was very popular around the world. Hispaniola, which is Haiti today, was the first colony in the Caribbean to rebel against the system of slavery to form an independent nation. Hispaniola was a much flourished colony. Many countries at that time like, France and Spain, were very interested to maintain the status quo. This practice was very detrimental to the people.

When the Puritans got to Plymouth Rock they saw a vast land filled with “red skinned savages.” They did not agree on whose land this was and there creation stories were a bit different as well. The Native Americans like every civilization in the world have a creation story. The creation stories tell the origins of the world as they believe it begun. Native American stories were not written and kept a record of they were passed down orally, they are essentially the indians version of the bible. The Indians and Puritans culturistic views on how earth begun are different and similar to each other.

In June 15, 1881 the death of Marie LaVeau was a tragic moment according to the New Orleans new paper Daily Picayune. So after her death, her daughter Marie II took her mother spot as the voodoo queen. Marie II looked just like excepted she was a little lighter, but she was an evil woman according to (Turner p.180) stated that she use to kill babies if their mothers didn’t want them, and hung them up like pigs. She keep a room filled with frog’s eyeballs, rooster blood, and many other weird things. The things were for her voodoo rituals that she performs for people. Marie II was all about the money, she keep her mother “Maison Blanche” were black slave dance for white men at. Individuals thought that she was the real Marie LaVeau, she carried her mother legacy; but she never gained the respect as her mother did. She didn’t have the charisma, and compassion as her mother. She died in June 1897 by downing in Lake Pontchartrain. Many tourists go and visit the graveyard were Marie LaVeau is buried, some people still ask her to grant wishes for them. The myth has it that if you knocked three times, place an X on the grave, and spin around three time your wish is

The Puritan belief and lifestyle plays a major role in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel The Scarlet Letter. The story takes place in Puritan New England, and opens with a scene presenting to the audience that a young woman named Hester Prynne has committed adultery. Wearing her punishment proudly, a scarlet letter “A” on her breast, Hester continues to live in New England where she raises her daughter and creates an embroidering business for herself. All the while, in the heart of the town, Hester’s lover and the child’s father, Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale silently suffers and is ultimately overcome with guilt from his secret sin until the point of death. Throughout the story, references to witchcraft and a witch’s link to Satan is expressed. Several