Comparing Rastafari And Vodou

Great Essays
Rastafari and Vodou are two major world religions that are both intertwined with a long history of oppression, persecution, and connection to the African people. While not as well known as the other more “traditional” religions like Christianity or Islam, Rastafari and Vodou are both religions with followers numbering in the millions. They have had extraordinary impact on the cultural and political scenes in their respective countries of origin. While not everyone agrees with the beliefs of these two religions, most people can agree that they are unique in their own right, and deserve to be studied and broken down in order to better understand the core of Rastafari as well as Vodou.
First I would like to give a little background knowledge
…show more content…
Similar to how slavery played a very important role in the founding of Rastafari in Jamaica, Haiti was a country plagued by centuries of a complex slave trade with European oversight. White, Christian slave owners severely restricted the practice of any foreign African religion, and more or less forced their slaves to convert to Christianity. Unlike other religions that may have died out at this point, Vodou simply went underground, and essentially played the Europeans at their own game. Over the years of religious persecution that Vodou followers faced, they adapted and incorporated Christian ideals into their own hidden religion, allowing them to mask their true beliefs from their oppressors; this alone explains why such a large number of Haitians seem to practice both Vodou and Christianity concurrently. Even after Haitian slaves were freed by the French, Vodou still faced heavy opposition in their country, where the act of practicing Vodou was punishable. Haitian Vodou’s rich history is filled with persistence in the face of oppression, and has allowed it to become a very flexible religion that, although can change to adapt its environment, never loses its core …show more content…
Both Rastafari and Vodou grew out of an environment that heavily relied on the enslavement and trade of African people. They both also faced significant resistance from the governing and social establishment in their countries, who seem to be responsible for the well known stereotypes these religions often have to carry (Rastas are lazy, weed smoking people and the Vodun are strange mystics). One key difference that I noticed between the two is that Rastafari has more or less had a doctrine that most of its followers agree to be 100% true with no exception, while Vodou is more in the shadows about its beliefs, and it allows its followers to tailor the religion to their own needs in a non-selfish

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Through this we learn that Haiti has been a nation that has been dominated and whose citizens have been dehumanized as slaves for centuries by the colonization of foreign countries. Haiti has been stripped of its resources for years and in present day, Farmer shows how the effects of centuries of abuse still manifest themselves in every day Haitian life through poverty and the general hopelessness of improvement; it is very important to understand the connection between the history of Haiti and how this served to mold the social responses of the arrival of HIV/AIDS in Haiti, both by Haitians themselves and by the United States. The trauma of poverty and discrimination implemented towards Haiti by richer developed nations is what constructed the internal and external cultural model of HIV/AIDS. The first accusation stems from this; within Haitian societies, sorcery was seen as the reason that HIV/AIDS was contracted. Farmer describes how the people of Haiti used sorcery to rationalize and cope with HIV/AIDS.…

    • 1590 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In Maria Chona’s “Autobiography of a Papago Women” (1936), the author speaks in detail about the Folkways of the Papago people and their change and continuity in the face of encounters with other cultures over the centuries. Maria Chona was very closely connected to the land being that she grew up amongst the desert. Culture was a great deal to her and her family since they followed the traditions that were performed by past generations. However, throughout the years the culture became civilized. There was also acts of extreme cruelty and brutality amongst the Papago and Apache people.…

    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Haitian American culture has been a long-surviving and well-adapting culture. Starting with the indigenous people that occupied the island, before Christopher Columbus’ arrival in 1492. Columbus, being a conqueror for Spain, claimed the island of Haiti for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella and named it Hispaniola meaning “little Spain”. From thenceforth the indigenous people of the island were killed off during gold conquests and the ruling of the Spanish by forced labor and diseases. With very little of the indigenous people surviving, Hispaniola became a part of the Spanish rule that was forgotten.…

    • 1274 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Haiti is a Caribbean country that is found in the island of Hispaniola. It has a population of 10.6 million people. Its main languages are French and Creole. The Haitian Revolution started in 1789 and ended in 1804. The main religions found in Haiti are Voodoo and Roman Catholicism.…

    • 377 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism: Christianity vs. Voodoo The way we view different cultures can determine our own sense of belonging in our own cultural groups. Ethnocentrism and cultural relativism are the two main ways to compare cultures. Neither one is better than the other, there are benefits to each. After defining these terms, Christianity and Voodoo will be compared using these methods.…

    • 428 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In The Disconnection between Power and Rank as a Process, Maurice Bloch talks about the economic and political development of South Asia and Polynesia, and he addresses the main issue of relationship between symbolic ‘rank’ and ‘power’ in the society. He examines how the production of rank through ritual and its importance in the evolution of political systems in Madagascar. Bloch’s ideas on disconnection relates to his argument that spiritual realm or sacred authority involving the particular view of the world’s religious systems, which works on concealing the elements and practical alternatives. In Civil Religion in America, Robert N. Bellah compares the differences between public and private religion and how civil religion is not the same as religion found in places of worship but are influenced by them (i.g. Christianity). Bellah talks about how the American civic consciousness was influenced by God and church, how religious ideas were shaped by what it meant to be Americans and the ritual component of politics which also showcases…

    • 796 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Voodoo is a system of spirit worship brought to Haiti by slaves from Africa. In 1791, leaders of a slave revolt against France held a secret voodoo meeting in a mountain above Cap Haitian at which they dedicated their country to evil spirits. After their victory over Napoleon’s armies in 1804, they attributed their success to voodoo. As recently as 2004, then President Aristide, a former Roman Catholic priest, renewed this vow. People who practice voodoo believe that everything, good or bad, happens at the whim of spirits.…

    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Haitian literature is posited around three codes of positive reference: indigenism, magical realism, and Marxism[3]. Essentially, these three references show how Haiti’s grim environment held a powerful presence in literature. The destructive nature of Haiti’s government towards its people can be seen in the titles of works of literature as well as the creativity of their respective authors. It can be noted that the titles of published works of literature held a double meaning for most. In French, it may be considered funny, but in Haiti, it was usually a local saying about the governments harsh reality towards its citizen.…

    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There are social and cultural expectations that individuals are expected to adhere to in their society. These expectations, or standards, vary based on location, time, and communities. In This reflection will be analyzing how practitioners of a religion adapt to society without losing their true sense of self. The community in which African slaves had to become acclimated with in Cuba was one of division, inconsistency, and coercion (Olmos 34).…

    • 664 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Palo Religion

    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Throughout time the world has been introduced to many religions. A certain Afro- Cuban religion has sparked much controversy since its inception. Like many religions, it has been misunderstood due to its religious beliefs. As well, their use of black magic and communication with the spirit world leaves others puzzled.…

    • 905 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    There are many concepts discussed within Dr. Maulana Karenga’s book Introduction to Black Studies, but I will be thoroughly discussing Black Studies as a discipline, Black Liberation Theology, Black Womanist Theology, Religious Thrusts, the wealth and income and its influence on political empowerment, the reversal of ghettoization problem, economic and political empowerment of African Americans, Black on Black crime, Post-Traumatic Slave Syndrome, and Psychopathic Personality (2010). Fundamentally, I will discuss the challenges Black Studies creates for the traditional American education. Black Studies challenges the traditional education in every way. It challenges the fact that all knowledge is based on one particular race—White.…

    • 1721 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Island Possessed: Presentation Paper Island Possessed by Katherine Dunham is a beautiful introduction to Haiti. The book is comprised of stories, recollections and historical facts about the island that spare no details; good or bad. But the book causes the reader to reevaluate the definitions of good and bad while reading. Is good really good and is bad just different? Her articulation of emotions toward the historical Haitians, Haitian Vaudun culture and the people put into perspective how uniquely possessed this island really is.…

    • 2531 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The films: Vodou Kingdon, Divine Horsemen, The King Does Not Lie, and Rastamentary explore Afro-Carribean religions by studying, and filming the practices of the Vodou, Santería and Rastafarian religions. These films depict different practices, rituals, ceremonies, ways of living and thought processes. While the religions being depicted are based in islands such as Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica; the very soul of these religions derived from the mother land of Africa. Each film is uniquely diverse, depicting the religions in different ways. The films not only highlight its religion of focus, but it also highlights their connections to Africa, allowing viewers to easily identify similarities within these Afro-Caribbean religions.…

    • 1766 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Santeria Essay

    • 2300 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Santeria is a religion originating out of Cuba from the sixteenth century, and incorporates elements of African religion, Roman Catholicism and French Spiritism. It is an important religious influence in Cuba whose beliefs and practices have integrated into many cultures including, but not limited to, the United States. The worship of the saints, or Santeria, has a relatively new history, coming into existence by help of the slave trade and innovating thinking of the people held captive. The followers of Santeria persevered against European attempts to strip them of their traditions. The slaves developed their religion as a challenge to being colonized, and “...as a counter hegemonic challenge to the social, economic, and political order…

    • 2300 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There are over 3000 tribes in Africa who all have unique lifecycle traditions (Reference, 2016). This paper is going to focus on two unique tribes: the Zulu tribe from Southern Africa, and the Masaai tribe from Eastern Africa. Although these two tribes are both from the same continent, their practices of tradition are very different. Their cultures were created long ago so they have very specific traditions that are vital to the culture, and make it what it is. They are sacred traditions.…

    • 2141 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Improved Essays