Religion.

Voodoo

Form: 6th
Maria Honcharuk
What is religion?
Religion is:
 a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose
of the universe
 often considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or
agencies
 usually involves devotional and ritual observances
 often contains a moral code governing the conduct of
human affairs
 Functions of religion
 It makes people less lonely, as it brings social solidarity
 Reassures people in the normality of pain and gives them
the feeling that it is part of human condition
 It often makes people more rounded and rebalances them
 It gives people explanations about how the world was
created, its laws, life and death
 It helps to preserve our heritage as usually those are
religious people, who are conservative and observe social
norms religiously
 It is a potent and powerful means of controlling social
behavior, providing a fear of the godly punishment
Why did it appear?
Yarylo Helios

 Polytheism
Sun
 Many similar gods in different cultures
 Need to explain things around them
 Gods represented natural forces Ra

Lightning

Perun Zeus
Thor
 Major religions
 Hinduism:
Hinduists believe their position in this present life was
determined by their actions in a previous life
 Buddhism:
Most Buddhists believe a person has countless rebirths, which
inevitably include suffering. A Buddhist seeks to end these
rebirths and to purify one's heart
 Islam:
Muslims believe there is the one almighty God, named Allah,
who is infinitely superior to and transcendent from
humankind. Allah is viewed as the creator of the universe and
the source of all good and all evil.
 Voodoo
 Traditional African religion
 Haitian Vodou, Candomble (Brazil), Winti (Surinam), Louisiana
Voodoo
 Appeared in the French colonies
 Originated from African slaves on Haiti as a result of the blending of
traditional beliefs and catholic elements in the 18th century
 Voodoo
 Loa live in our world and people’s health and wellbeing
depends from them
 According to Voodoo there is no difference between black and
white magic
 If used for bad and evil purposes it is called Red
 When people are possessed by a bad Loa their eyes become red
 Animal sacrifices are essential, as Loa use blood to connect
with mortals
 Bondye is the God, but he doesn’t intervene in earthly affairs
 Voodoo
 Each ritual begins with drawing veve – a symbol of Loa,
which represents his main characteristics
 Papa Legbe is the first Loa to be called (crossroads,
intermediary between humanity and Loa, gives permission
to speak to the spirits
 Baron Samedi (Baron of dead, Death, healing, smoking,
drinking and destruction)
 Erzulie (love, health, beauty, flowers)
 Celebrations

 Mange Loa: large annual feasting of all the Loa

 Fet Gede: All Souls Day
 Voodoo temples are known as “peristyles”
 Me and religion
 Not a religious person
 I don’t like the idea of destiny and some entity being that
creates it
 Respect any religion
 Helps to cope with problems and take decisions in difficult
situation

“You don’t have to be ruled by fate. You can choose freedom, as

there is no righteous path, it’s just people trying to do their best in a
world where it is far too easy to do your worst”
- Castiel