Diaspora

The dispersion of a people to other lands with hope of return

The Jews during the Babylonia exile and their dream to return to the promised land

African people moved in the slave trade, e.g., Yoruba people brought to Brazil and Cuba

The Jews

From the centrality of the Temple to loss of the Temple

From the loss of the Temple to the importance of the Law and to feast days

From one expression of the faith to multiple expressions: Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed

The Yoruba people, predominantly from Nigeria

From practicing their African religion, to loss of practicing their religion

From loss of practicing to translating their ideas and deities into acceptable forms, i.e., Catholicism

Translated forms become a tradition:
Candombe’ in Bahia and Umbanda and Macumba in Rio de Janeiro

Slave trade brings many West African people to the Americas (and Haiti)

Once relocated, their religions forbidden in order to prevent rebellion

African spirits and language re-identified with acceptable Catholic "spirits" and language

Rio

The Spiritist Tent of Granny Maria Antonia of the Congo; patron saint

Brazilian archetype: The Old Black Woman

Christian statues: Virgin Mary, Jesus, St. George

Correspondence to Umbanda deity called Orisha, Yoruba society, West Africa

People use both the Catholic name and the Yoruba name today

Catholic, Yoruba and Spritism

Spiritism

Popular among the elite in Europe and Brazil in the late 19^th century

Millions in Brazil adhere to this today; mostly middle class

Attributes many events to the desires and actions of spirits

Provides a means of healing physical and mental afflictions

Spirit possession can cause illness

Specialists can communicate directly with spirits

The debate as to purity

Are the Umbanda and Candomble’ traditions Catholic?

Example of Umbanda practice

Celebration of Catholic feast days

In a way that corresponds to the Afro-Brazilian meaning of the deity

Marian feast day celebrated at the sea with gifts offered to Yemanja, mother of some Orishas

Orishas: forces and principles

 

Definition: The blending of two or more cultures or belief systems to create something new, a third

Are all cultures and all religions syncretistic?

Some would argue that the most basic cultural and religious process is syncretism

No cultures are pure or exist in a bubble; we all borrow from and develop other sources