Note the similarities:
QUOTE
There are a number of points of similarity between Roman Catholicism and Vodun:
Both believe in a supreme being.
The Loa resemble Christian Saints, in that they were once people who led exceptional lives, and are usually given a single responsibility or special attribute.
Both believe in an afterlife.
Both have, as the centerpiece of some of their ceremonies, a ritual sacrifice and consumption of flesh and blood.
Both believe in the existence of invisible evil spirits or demons.
Followers of Vodun believe that each person has a met tet (master of the head) which corresponds to a Christian's patron saint.
Both believe in a supreme being.
The Loa resemble Christian Saints, in that they were once people who led exceptional lives, and are usually given a single responsibility or special attribute.
Both believe in an afterlife.
Both have, as the centerpiece of some of their ceremonies, a ritual sacrifice and consumption of flesh and blood.
Both believe in the existence of invisible evil spirits or demons.
Followers of Vodun believe that each person has a met tet (master of the head) which corresponds to a Christian's patron saint.
http://www.religioustolerance.org/voodoo.htm
These two religions have become interspersed here to the point where there are often voodoo offerings to the statue of the Virgin Mary. The reason for this, I've discovered, is as follows:
QUOTE
the structure of Voodoo, as we know it today, was born in Haiti during the European colonization of Hispaniola...The religion evolved from West African beliefs and developed further among slaves in the Caribbean who adopted elements of Catholicism.
http://www.swagga.com/voodoo.htmNew Orleans has a large number of descendants from the Haitian immigrants that fled here during the Haitian uprising in the late 1700's, so it is the reason why it is practised here, without much askance.
Also, note this:
QUOTE
During this 56 year period houngans and mambos built up the public religion of Haiti, Voodoo, in a weird amalgamation of African spirit religion and Catholicism. Virtually all lwa became associated with Catholic saints (Dumballah the snake lwa is St. Patrick; Erzulie, the earth mother is the Virgin Mary). The most important consequence of this is that Haitians see nothing odd at all with practicing Voodoo and Catholicism side by side and are often very devout about each of them.
http://www.webster.edu/~corbetre/haiti/voodoo/overview.htm
I realize this is probably a long shot...but I was wondering if anyone here (on this site) practised vodun or was familiar with it at all? If so, experiences? Thoughts?