Exploring Indigenous Religions: A Look into Primal Faiths, African Vodun, and Wicca, Quizzes of World Religions

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TERM 1 Oduduwa DEFINITION 1 - Supposed king who some members of the Yoruba tradition believe led his people from east to a place known as Ile Ife- Said to have created the Earth at Ile Ife after climbing down mythical cord- Significant because Yoruba claim that all dynasties of the kings in different regions of southwestern Nigeria spiritually descended from Oduduwa TERM 2 Olodumare DEFINITION 2 - The one supreme being within the Yoruba traditional belief- It is said to be impossible to to reach Olodumare with our normal human psyche, so one has access through "agents" or through an aspect of Olodumare- Agents are called Orishas and are regarded as different faces of Olodumare- The creator of heaven and earth, source of all destinies and source of good and evil, but above human distinction of good and evil.- He is completely neutral TERM 3 Babalawo DEFINITION 3 - Medicine men of the Yoruba tradition or diviners; tend to be specialists in one or more types of disease- Meant to protect against witchcraft- Undertakes divination in order to commune with spirits to find problems, provide prescription, and offer solutions TERM 4 Primal Religion DEFINITION 4 - Suggests something like 'archaic'- The term is difficult to use without prejudice so it should be abandoned- Significant because people still use this term today in the wrong context TERM 5 Oyotunji Village DEFINITION 5 - An African village found near Sheldon, South Carolina- It's promoted as an authentic Yoruba village- The villagers helped to develop a unique brand of Orisa (deity) worship that is rich with black nationalists concepts TERM 6 Haitian Vodun DEFINITION 6 - One God, the creator of all- Bondje, mysteries, saints, or angles, the Vodouisant turns to these for help- A vodun designates a venerated adored divinity- The two main rites are The Rada and The Kongo-Petro- Haitian Vodun is viewed negatively by those in power in Haiti because it was one of the factors that brought about war of independence that freed Haiti from the French, those in power in Haiti fear that it could be used against them too TERM 7 African-derived Religions DEFINITION 7 - A religion in the United States that had its origin in Africa and is now practiced by native-born African Americans- The Yoruba religion, as well as Vodun can be classified as African- derived religions TERM 8 Wicca DEFINITION 8 - Wicca is a belief system and way of life based upon the reconstruction of pre-Christian traditions originating in Europe.- Wicca reconstructs beliefs on how ancestors lived, worshiped that have been lost due to the efforts of the medieval church to wipe its existence from history- Can be seen as indigenous religious tradition of Britain- Demonized by the Christian Church TERM 9 Indigenism DEFINITION 9 - A kind of ethnic national emphasizing the group's indignity to their homeland- Or can mean belonging to a place or thing- Generally involves a deep spiritual connection to the land or ancestors- Often there is a closeness nature that is characteristic of indigenous people TERM 10 Mazoun DEFINITION 10 - Specific rhythm in music of Rada rite in Haitian Vodun- Performed after the nago gran kou and nago cho- The term itself is a contraction of the word Amazon, which are legendary female warriors of Dahomey- Always performed in short duration, lasting no more than two or three minutes TERM 21 Kongo-Petro DEFINITION 21 - A main rite of Haitian Vodun- It emerged from the crucible of the plantation system- Petro is seen as set of powerful recipes that the Haitians use against their enemies- Vodun services usually held outside- Drums, bells, rattles, and dancing are used* A set of powerful musical rhythms that the Haitians use against their enemies TERM 22 Shamanism DEFINITION 22 - Man or woman whose soul is said to be able to leave their body during trance and travel to other realms of the cosmos- Used primarily for healing purposes; the gift of shamanism is inherited TERM 23 Mambo (Manbo) DEFINITION 23 - Priestess in Vodun religion- Their job is to perform religious ceremonies to call or pacify the spirits, hold initiations for new priests and priestess, tell the future or read dreams, cast spells and create protections, create potions for various purposes such as love and death and to heal the sick TERM 24 Ori DEFINITION 24 - Word for destiny and the head- Means simultaneously the physical head, destiny, potentiality, the quality of a person's character, the ancestral guardian spirit named Ori- This is significant because the head is the top of anything and is sacred to the Yoruba because it is the seat of divinity, a symbol of the link between the ancestors and the living, divine and human. TERM 25 Destiny DEFINITION 25 - The events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thin gin the future; the hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future; fate- In the Yoruba faith, each person chooses their own destiny in Heaven by kneeling before Olodumare and choosing their destiny.- When they are born they forget their choice, and they must use babalawos and priests to divine their destiny TERM 26 Oungan DEFINITION 26 - Priest in Vodun religion TERM 27 Lakou DEFINITION 27 - Voudou compound.- The site of family ceremonies- Has temple at its center TERM 28 Yanvalou DEFINITION 28 - A favorite Voudoun dance; the name means 'supplication'- It's characterized by the hands being placed on the knees and thighs, and has several main variations- Its origin can be traced to the Fon people of Dahomey in Benin, West Africa- Played first at all Rada ceremonies, because it's an invocation and supplication, the term literally meaning "come to me" TERM 29 Zepol DEFINITION 29 - A type of dance style played for the Rada- Dance of the shoulders, in Creole Zepol means shoulders.- The Zepol dancers move their shoulders back and forth as they perform the dance- West African in origin, specifically Togo, Benin, and Ghana- Considered one of the most beautiful dances in the Haitian vodun repertoire TERM 30 Ifa DEFINITION 30 - The facet of the supreme being that diviners and oracles look toward to get into contact with the more impersonal "supreme being"- To worship Ifa, a priest must memorize poems or poetic verses that are of significance to the Yoruba- There are more than 4000 of them, and any configuration of thrown cowry shells can signify one that the Priest of Ifa will have to know TERM 31 Druid DEFINITION 31 - Self-describe Pagan priest- A druid stresses the mystery of poetic inspiration and explores healing, divination and sacred mythology- The three grades of Druid are the Bardic grade, the Ovate grade and the Druid grade TERM 32 How Important is it that Indigenous religions be preserved? What, if anything, can be done to keep them from disappearing? DEFINITION 32 keeping the religion keeps the vast knowledge and cultures alive, as well as their history keeps a connection to past, ancestor, builds identity the fact that it exists makes it worth protecting community while maintaining individuality respect them, even if we disagree, people see the world from different angles, just because it doesnt match your world view doesnt make it wrong there are government grants for study and continuation of indigenous religions we discover more of ourselves by interacting with others. We can strengthen our own identity by seeing how it is unique from other identities. (feels most like a scot when not in Scotland) avoid otherization, stigmatization studying the religion would be good; when people study the religion they are exposed to it and they have a chance of adopting the practices (the prominent example of this is when University professors study Druidism/Shamanism and then became druids/shamans TERM 33 How did the American Indians religious traditions understand the relationship of humans with other animals and the environment? In what ways would those understandings differ from the views of mainstream North American society today? In what ways would they be similar? DEFINITION 33 American Indians believed everything in nature deserved the same amount of respect that human beings received. They viewed everything in nature as a life force that benefited humans (i.e., animals could be used for food, plants could be used for medicine). Because of this, they believed nature deserved mutual respect. In mainstream North American society today, we typically use natural resources for our own selfish purposes without giving thanks to nature or restoring the natural resources in any way. TERM 34 Critically assess the argument by Paul Heelas that the phenomenon of 'new age' religiosity exemplifies a cultural shift from religion to spirituality DEFINITION 34 Spiritual Seeking in the United States: Report on a Panel Study has statistics to back up the argument (that theres a shift towards spirituality) The article shows that people, especially in the US have been shifting toward spirituality away from religion. Some factors contributing to this shift is an independent attitude and a dissolution with established religions. Especially following the 1960s and 70s (after the Vietnam War and the Watergate Scandal occurred), U.S. citizens became more anti-establishment and learned to question authority. This break from authority also had an effect on the countrys views of organized religion-people began to form their own beliefs and practices instead of take part in organized religious ceremonies. Spirituality tends to focus more on internal healing. Its much more individualized and personal. Non-denominational megachurches are growing in popularity in the United States. Neo-Pagan systems such as Druidism and Wicca, which emphasize spirituality and the individuals beliefs, are growing in popularity worldwide as well as in America. They no longer feel the need to hide their existence from the masses to avoid being opposed or criticized. TERM 35 Examine some characteristics of the indigenous religions we have studied, and how these might or might not differentiate them adequately from so-called 'world relgions' DEFINITION 35 World Religio has massive followings (billion of people) and universal appeal (they claim to be the only true r ligion/way to get into heaven) In ig ous religions do not and are often only practiced in a single remote village World Religions are powerful enough to have interacted with world history, shaped it, and changed it, Indigenous Religions have not World Religions can be separated from the lives of the practitioners (there is secularization: they cook and THEN they do religion), Indigenous Religions are inseparable from the everyday lives of their practitioners, there isnt a way to stop doing religion and because of this many languages dont even have a word for religion