Christian-Voodoo relations
Encyclopedia
Christian-Voodoo relations have been marked by political conflicts and syncretism, especially in Haiti
and less so in Louisiana
or elsewhere.
presumptively proclaimed himself head of the church in Haiti
after the Haitian Revolution
. He set forward to limit the jurisdiction
of priests and to appoint men to vacant positions in local church communities. He himself had caused the assassination
of a large number of the missionaries by failing to stop slaughter of the white colonists. This caused a schism between the Haitian state and Rome
, resulting in Rome's declining to send priests into the country. There were no priests to provide guidelines for the newly-established Haitian state. As a consequence, the principles of Voodoo and Catholicism
were merged
and Catholicism (with its Voodoo influences) was made the state's official religion
under the leadership of Henri Christophe
.
Another cause of the syncretic connection between Catholicism and Voodoo was the state's ordination of Haitian men to the priesthood – a step that the Vatican
would not recognize as legitimate. However, mixture of both religions shaped the way of how Haitians practice their ritual. The Haitians were going to church, but they continued to adhere to Voodoo, using the rituals of the church to mask the practices of their native traditions.
There have been several killings in the past of Christian pastors, and some Christians blame those murders on the influence of Voodoo. In Haiti, some Christians consider Voodoo a form of devil worship
. In spite of this criticism by some Haitian Christians, many practitioners of Haitian Voodoo continue to self-identify as Roman Catholic, even to the point of incorporating the Lord's Prayer
and the Hail Mary
into their services for the Lwa.
Many Christians accept Voodoo as part of the country's culture. They have no problem because half of the people that are Christian are very aware that the other half practice voodoo. However there are the few Christians who disagree with the idea of Voodoo, for some believe that Voodoo is not compatible with Christianity. Even though many people in Haiti do practice voodoo, when asked the question, "what religion are you?" they would respond that they are Roman Catholics or Evangelicals.
With this in mind, the people in Haiti can practice what they choose to practice. However, the most common religions are Voodoo and Christianity. The Catholic Church and the clergy play a significant role in teaching, another issue which affects the relationship between the two religions.
Voodoo is taken seriously, and is not "black magic" (or at least not primarily, see bokor
). Many observances are shared between the religions; for instance it is not abnormal for Voodoo funerary ceremonies to be performed and to be followed by a Roman Catholic ceremony presided by a priest. Many Haitians celebrate Christian holidays alongside traditional Voodoo holidays.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
and less so in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
or elsewhere.
Christian and Voodoo conflicts
The revolutionary Jean-Jacques DessalinesJean-Jacques Dessalines
Jean-Jacques Dessalines was a leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first ruler of an independent Haiti under the 1801 constitution. Initially regarded as Governor-General, Dessalines later named himself Emperor Jacques I of Haiti...
presumptively proclaimed himself head of the church in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
after the Haitian Revolution
Haitian Revolution
The Haitian Revolution was a period of conflict in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, which culminated in the elimination of slavery there and the founding of the Haitian republic...
. He set forward to limit the jurisdiction
Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction is the practical authority granted to a formally constituted legal body or to a political leader to deal with and make pronouncements on legal matters and, by implication, to administer justice within a defined area of responsibility...
of priests and to appoint men to vacant positions in local church communities. He himself had caused the assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
of a large number of the missionaries by failing to stop slaughter of the white colonists. This caused a schism between the Haitian state and Rome
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, resulting in Rome's declining to send priests into the country. There were no priests to provide guidelines for the newly-established Haitian state. As a consequence, the principles of Voodoo and Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
were merged
Syncretism
Syncretism is the combining of different beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. The term means "combining", but see below for the origin of the word...
and Catholicism (with its Voodoo influences) was made the state's official religion
State religion
A state religion is a religious body or creed officially endorsed by the state...
under the leadership of Henri Christophe
Henri Christophe
Henri Christophe was a key leader in the Haitian Revolution, winning independence from France in 1804. On 17 February 1807, after the creation of a separate nation in the north, Christophe was elected President of the State of Haiti...
.
Another cause of the syncretic connection between Catholicism and Voodoo was the state's ordination of Haitian men to the priesthood – a step that the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
would not recognize as legitimate. However, mixture of both religions shaped the way of how Haitians practice their ritual. The Haitians were going to church, but they continued to adhere to Voodoo, using the rituals of the church to mask the practices of their native traditions.
There have been several killings in the past of Christian pastors, and some Christians blame those murders on the influence of Voodoo. In Haiti, some Christians consider Voodoo a form of devil worship
Satanism
Satanism is a group of religions that is composed of a diverse number of ideological and philosophical beliefs and social phenomena. Their shared feature include symbolic association with, admiration for the character of, and even veneration of Satan or similar rebellious, promethean, and...
. In spite of this criticism by some Haitian Christians, many practitioners of Haitian Voodoo continue to self-identify as Roman Catholic, even to the point of incorporating the Lord's Prayer
Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer is a central prayer in Christianity. In the New Testament of the Christian Bible, it appears in two forms: in the Gospel of Matthew as part of the discourse on ostentation in the Sermon on the Mount, and in the Gospel of Luke, which records Jesus being approached by "one of his...
and the Hail Mary
Hail Mary
The Angelic Salutation, Hail Mary, or Ave Maria is a traditional biblical Catholic prayer asking for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Hail Mary is used within the Catholic Church, and it forms the basis of the Rosary...
into their services for the Lwa.
Syncretism
Haiti mostly had large percentages of Voodoo believers. Catholicism has influenced Voodoo in Haiti and vice versa. In other words, Voodoo has borrowed sort of 'far-reaching speculation' form from Roman Catholicism. The difference between Voodoo and Roman Catholicism is that Roman Catholicism is more visible and official; However, Voodoo was unofficial and secretive. Even though there are great a number of Haitian who claim Christian status, many Haitians secretly practice Voodoo ritual.Many Christians accept Voodoo as part of the country's culture. They have no problem because half of the people that are Christian are very aware that the other half practice voodoo. However there are the few Christians who disagree with the idea of Voodoo, for some believe that Voodoo is not compatible with Christianity. Even though many people in Haiti do practice voodoo, when asked the question, "what religion are you?" they would respond that they are Roman Catholics or Evangelicals.
With this in mind, the people in Haiti can practice what they choose to practice. However, the most common religions are Voodoo and Christianity. The Catholic Church and the clergy play a significant role in teaching, another issue which affects the relationship between the two religions.
Voodoo is taken seriously, and is not "black magic" (or at least not primarily, see bokor
Bokor
Bokors in the religion of vodou are sorcerers or houngan or mambo for hire who are said to 'serve the loa with both hands', meaning that they practice both dark magic and light magic...
). Many observances are shared between the religions; for instance it is not abnormal for Voodoo funerary ceremonies to be performed and to be followed by a Roman Catholic ceremony presided by a priest. Many Haitians celebrate Christian holidays alongside traditional Voodoo holidays.