Catholicism and the Supernatural

[M.A.R.]

Supposedly when the slaves were brought from Africa, they couldn't practice their religion, they were forced to practice Catholicism. A way to hide their true religion was to include saints and catholic items in the ceremonies.

windeguy - there are many religions and no, God didn't tell anyone to make up religions, you are right about man making up these religions to control the masses. But you know what?? if you are not hurting anyone, be it people, the environment, yourself, you live a life where you give generously without taking from your surroundings, you are already on uplifting your soul.

lol, in ancient times those people used to fast too much or just didn't have enough food, so they hallucinated.

[cobraboy]

The folks I refer to are caucasian, Spanish decent.

[Chirimoya]

Originally Posted by Chip00

This is an opinion that is old as man himself.

Only one question for you - what if you end up being.....wrong!

If that's the only reason you have to believe, and there is a higher being, you're in trouble! It's called Pascal's wager, IIRC.

[drtampa]

QUOTE LatinoRican
"Faith that a small, thin wafer made of flour will save your soul from hell is what makes religions what they are."[/quote]

As a Catholic my belief is that the "thin wafer made of flour" becomes the Body of Christ. If you do not believe that you should never receive the Sacrament.

[jalencastro]

Originally Posted by cobraboy

The folks I refer to are caucasian, Spanish decent.

Santeria is heavily practiced in Cuba and Puerto Rico where there is a pretty big 'white' population. no offense to anybody, i know latinos are a diverse group of all colors, size, shapes, everything! but people are free to practice any form of religion they wish!
I used to have a puerto rican landlord who looked like Vigo Mortensen [lord of the rings] and he was into his santeria too, who would have thought?

Jaime

[LatinoRican]

The OP's main concern seems to be how many Catholics in the DR also dabble in what he names the "supernatural" or doing things of a spiritual nature that the Catholic church would frown upon. Being raised in the Catholic religion, I know that one of its basic tenants or beliefs is that if you are good, etc., you will receive your reward in the afterlife. I guess some people would like to benefit from these "rewards" (wealth, love, etc.) in this lifetime and will do whatever it takes to have them come their way!

[M.A.R.]

Originally Posted by jalencastro

Santeria is heavily practiced in Cuba and Puerto Rico where there is a pretty big 'white' population. no offense to anybody, i know latinos are a diverse group of all colors, size, shapes, everything! but people are free to practice any form of religion they wish!
I used to have a puerto rican landlord who looked like Vigo Mortensen [lord of the rings] and he was into his santeria too, who would have thought?

Jaime

Santeria orginated in Cuba as a combination of the Western African Yoruba Religion and Iberian Catholicism 2 . "It is one of the many syncretic religions created by Africans brought to the Caribbean islands as slaves." 56 . It was developed out of necessity for the African slaves in order to continue practicing their native religion in the New World. As in all countries where the African slaves were taken, Cuban slave masters discouraged and sometimes prohibited the practice of their native religions 40 .

The slaves in Cuba were forced to follow the practices of the Catholic Church, which went against the beliefs of their native religions. Noticing the parallels between their native religion and Catholicism, and in order to please their slave-masters and fulfill their own religious needs, they created a secret religion. Santeria uses Catholic saints and personages as fronts for their own god and Orishas (spiritual emissaries). Thus, when a slave prayed to an Orisha, it looked as if they were praying to a saint. 3

re: there are many guardians some names that sound familiar to me are Yemaya, Babalu, and Chango.

[Chip00]

Originally Posted by jalencastro

interesting choice of words here and interesting theory, but i dont think finger pointing or assuming that haitians have largely to do with the amount of supernatural beliefs on the island. remember that all of the caribean islands have most of this 'religion' [i.e. santeria, voodoo, candomble] originate from western africa. i think it is amazing how west african tradition and beliefs has come over to this 'NEW WORLD', granted via the slave trade, but this is where its diversity came from. different european powers at the time brought over slaves, the spaniards happened to land on DR and brought with them catholisism, pushed it hard core on the slaves and hence a new MIX of religion was born. also keep in mind that Haiti and DR is still ONE island and that at one point was all ONE people too, so the mixing between the borders, people, customs was and still is nothing new...what i dont understand is the despise that Dominicans have towards Haitians and or anything Haitian....including their 'religion'. I dont see a big difference is Haitian Voodoo and Dominican Palo/Santeria. And it is practiced just as much on both sides of the island deep within the countryside.

Jaime

Maybe in your mind they were one people but you don't speak for the majority the Dominicans and nor historians either.

Just because the DR was occupied by a foreign power speaking a foreign language for a very short period of time doesn't mean they were one people.

If you are referencing when the indians lived here or in the very beginning when there were just a few outposts these aren't relevant becasue the people then and their customs aren't connected today with what remains in Haiti nor the DR.

[Chip00]

Originally Posted by windeguy

You are of course correct that that anything is possible, despite how unlikely it could be. I see no reason to believe in an eternal soul and/or supreme being(s), reincarnation, etc.

At latest count, how many "one true religions" are there in the world? Nothing I have seen would ever lead me to "believe nor have faith" in such things. The various religions have various levels of mind control over the population which is sometimes referred to as the opiate of the masses. These religions try to provide an explanation for why we are here and what will happen with different explanations depending upon the religion.

Where is the proof? Why doesn't "god" (or gods for those with polytheistic beliefs) talk to us like he/they supposedly did in ancient times? Curious, isn't it? I'll take my chances on what I "believe" is the infinitesimally small chance that I could be wrong.

If you want to believe what yoiu want to believe, I have no problem.
However the comment about "mind control" is a cheap jab, and shows your ignorance.

FYI - I go to church whether Christian or Catholic not because of man, because men are failures - I go to give thanks to the Creator who made me, end of story. I have had this feeling in me since I was little and it has nothing to do with whatever the resident pastor is telling me. Every pastor, priest and even the Pope are men just like me and imperfect just like me. Their have their "impetus" from the Creator to do what they have to do just like I do.

[Chip00]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

If that's the only reason you have to believe, and there is a higher being, you're in trouble! It's called Pascal's wager, IIRC.

I know not Pascal nor his wager - I was merely making a point, gracias!