Santeria: The Survival Of An Ancient African Religion

Many perceive Santeria as a bizarre an undesirable amalgamation of primitive, pagan beliefs and Roman Catholicism. Many believe the religion to be a dangerous, perhaps even Satanic, variation of Voodoo featuring zombies, indiscriminate animal sacrifices and other totems that make those from “first world” religious backgrounds uneasy. The truth behind Santeria is far less ominous. Santeria is a legitimate religion with roots that trace deep back into history. European colonization of the “new world” brought with it the importation of slavery. Many slaves were Yoruba’s (that territory lies in what…

Read More

Santeria Religion – What is Santeria?

Santeria Religion In this time anyone caught in the worship of native gods would be punished and many times by death, Africans and the native Tainos. In order to keep the religion and life, The slaves became “Christianized” at least to the slave owners. The slaves took each African god(Orisha) and renamed them after the saints. Chango the god of thunder became Santa Barbara and they kept the religion in secret. Even today the religion is kept in secret since there is still people who see it as devil worship…

Read More