Christianity and Vodou

Christian-Voodoo relations have been marked by political conflicts and syncretism, especially in Haiti and less so in Louisiana or elsewhere.

Christian and Voodoo conflicts

The revolutionary Jean-Jacques Dessalines 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.^[1][2]

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^[3]

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.^[4] 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.

The Church position

The Church has put pressure upon the government to outlaw and disband Voodoo. In 1896, 1913, and again in 1941 the church led its anti-superstitious campaigns to fight against Voodooism. During the campaigns, hundreds of Ounfos and ritual paraphernalia were destroyed and burned. In addition to the more common French and British the missionaries, Canadian missionaries began to move in to Haiti in 1942. A Jesuit seminary was also opened in 1948. Up to this time, the church remains a major political power; this can cause major problems in country and has greatly limited its pastoral work. ^[5]

See also

• Haitian Voodoo
• Louisiana Voodoo

References

1. ^ The Faces of the Gods 42-43
2. ^ McAlister, Elizabeth A, Rara! Vodou, power, and performance in Haiti and its diaspora : Berkeley University of California Press.
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/october/18.28.html
5. ^ Fahlbusch, Erwin (1999). The Encyclopedia of Christianity: Volume 2. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. pp. 496.