DivineSpirals
06-12-2003, 11:45 PM
I have read two different biographies of experiences in Santeria (Lucumi). One seemed to describe the "worship" of the Catholic Saints as a defense mechanism...the African people hid their Gods with Saints to appease their white oppressors. This view maintains that the Saints are nothing more than a cover, and that the similarities between each orisa and corresponding Saint was a happy coincidence allowing generations of practitioners to remember which Orisa was hidden by which Saint.
On the other hand, I am currently reading an account where it seems the author was taught that the Orisa had manifested themselves as the Saints, so in essence, the Saints *are* actually the Orisa. This belief seems plausible since the characteristics shared between each Orisa and his/her corresponding Saint are so similar (down to their representative colors). Once the African captives witnessed the Saints, some may have joyously concluded that their African Gods had come to reunite with them disguised as images of white people.
This seems to be a topic of debate. I was already familiar with the former teaching, but the latter is new to me. It's interesting. Opinions?
On the other hand, I am currently reading an account where it seems the author was taught that the Orisa had manifested themselves as the Saints, so in essence, the Saints *are* actually the Orisa. This belief seems plausible since the characteristics shared between each Orisa and his/her corresponding Saint are so similar (down to their representative colors). Once the African captives witnessed the Saints, some may have joyously concluded that their African Gods had come to reunite with them disguised as images of white people.
This seems to be a topic of debate. I was already familiar with the former teaching, but the latter is new to me. It's interesting. Opinions?