Candomblé is an Afro-American religion practiced chiefly in Brazil but also in adjacent countries. The religion came from Africa to Brazil, carried by African priests and adherents who were brought as slaves between 1549 and 1888. The name Batuque is also used, especially before the 19th century when Candomblé became more common. Both words are believed to derive from a Bantu-family language. Although originally confined to the slave population, banned by the Catholic church, and even criminalized by some govern ...

Including:

• Candomblé - Nations
• Candomblé - Beliefs
• Candomblé - Syncretism
• Candomblé - Rituals
• Candomblé - Temples and priesthood
• Candomblé - Books

Read more here: » Candomblé: Encyclopedia - Candomblé

See also:

Candomblé, Candomblé - Nations, Candomblé - Beliefs, Candomblé - Syncretism, Candomblé - Rituals, Candomblé - Temples and priesthood, Candomblé - Books

Read more here: » Candomblé: Encyclopedia II - Candomblé - Beliefs

Candomblé temples are called houses (casas), plantations (roças), or yards (terreiros). Most Candomblé houses are small, independently owned and managed by the respective higher priests (father- or mother-of-saint). A few of the older and larger houses have a more institutional character and more formal hierarchy. There is no central administration. Candomblé priesthood is organized into symbolic families, whose members are not necessarily relatives in the common sense. Each fami ...

See also:

Candomblé, Candomblé - Nations, Candomblé - Beliefs, Candomblé - Syncretism, Candomblé - Rituals, Candomblé - Temples and priesthood, Candomblé - Books

Read more here: » Candomblé: Encyclopedia II - Candomblé - Temples and priesthood

Candomblé Ketu' (or Queto in Portuguese spelling) is the largest and most influential nation (sect) of Candomblé, an Afro-American religion widely practiced in Brazil. Its beliefs and rituals are similar to those of other Candomblé nations in general terms, but different in almost every detail. Although related to the batuque cults that started in the late 1500s, Ketu developed mostly in the early 19th century, chiefly in the region of Bahia, among slaves belonging to the Yoruba (Iorubá) ethnic g ...

Including:

• Candomblé Ketu - Deities
• Candomblé Ketu - Ritual language
• Candomblé Ketu - Hierarchy

Read more here: » Candomblé Ketu: Encyclopedia - Candomblé Ketu

Brazilian Culture is of a very diverse nature. The religion of most Brazilians is Roman Catholic. In fact, Brazil is the largest country in the world whose predominant religion is Roman Catholicism. Many other beliefs over time have been incorporated into the Brazilian catholic belief system such as Spiritism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Ayahuasca, and Judaism as well as religious syncretisms, such as candomblé, umbanda, and macumba, that mix Catholicism with African tribal religions. A majority of the population are non-practicing Catholics ...

Including:

• Culture of Brazil - Curiosities

Read more here: » Culture of Brazil: Encyclopedia - Culture of Brazil

An Agogô is a multiple bell used in samba baterías (percussion ensembles). It is also used in the ceremonial music of those religions in the new world which are based on beliefs brought by slaves from Africa such as candomblé. It may be the oldest samba instrument and was based on West African cow-bells. It is made of metal with each bell a different size. This allows a differently pitched note to be produced depending on which bell has been hit. The most common arrangement is two bells attached by a U shaped piece of ...

Including:

• Agogô - Links
• Agogô - References

Read more here: » Agogô: Encyclopedia - Agogô

Channelling or channeling is the alleged communication of information to or through a physically embodied human being (the channel or medium), from a spirit or other supernatural entity outside the mind (or self) of the channel. Channelling is part of the belief systems and rituals of many religions, such as shamanism, Candomblé, Voodoo, Kardecism, Umbanda, and more. Channelling mediumistic - General. Research of articles by channellers has shown they allegedly have chann ...

Including:

• Channelling mediumistic - General
• Channelling mediumistic - Channelling Definition
• Channelling mediumistic - Hypotheses on Channelling
• Channelling mediumistic - Books channelled texts entities and mediums
• Channelling mediumistic - Books and channelled texts
• Channelling mediumistic - Entities and mediums
• Channelling mediumistic - Channelling in fiction

Read more here: » Channelling mediumistic: Encyclopedia - Channelling mediumistic

The mythology of the Yoruba is sometimes claimed by its supporters to be one of the world's oldest widely practised religions. It is a major religion in Africa, chiefly in Nigeria, and it has given origin to several New World religions such as Santería in Cuba and Candomblé in Brazil. Yoruba mythology is only one part of itan — the complex of myths, songs, histories and other cultural concepts which make up the Yorùbá religion and society. Yoruba mythology - Deities. Yoruba deities are called O ...

Including:

• Yoruba mythology - Deities
• Yoruba mythology - The Orisha
• Yoruba mythology - Other concepts
• Yoruba mythology - Yoruba mythology in the New World
• Yoruba mythology - External link

Read more here: » Yoruba mythology: Encyclopedia - Yoruba mythology

Brazil's main religion since the 16th century has been Christianity, predominantly Roman Catholicism. This religion was introduced by the missionaries who accompanied the Portuguese explorers and settlers of Brazil. Brazil has the largest number of baptized Roman Catholics on Earth — about 80% of Brazilians claiming to be Catholics. However, about 20% of the population of Brazil actually attends Mass on a regular basis. Popular traditions of Roman Catholicism in Brazil include pilgrimages to the Appeared Lady, Senhora Aparecida, the patron saint of Brazil. Other prominent festivals include Cà ...

Including:

• Religion in Brazil - African Religions
• Religion in Brazil - Other Religions

Read more here: » Religion in Brazil: Encyclopedia - Religion in Brazil

African religions are distinct to African ethnic groups. In certain respects the term is awkward as traditional African religions have a wide cultural variety that makes virtually any overall statement a sweeping generalization, but the majority of African religions do share some commonalities. There is no universal aspect found in all African religions. Not all people of African descent are known to follow these gods, however. Many tribes in Africa have been converted to Islam and the Nation of Islam group tries to convert Afr ...

Including:

• African religions - Animism
• African religions - The ancestors
• African religions - Spiritual Harming and Healing
• African religions - Rituals
• African religions - Intermixture with other religions

Read more here: » African religions: Encyclopedia - African religions

Brazil obtained 37% of all African slaves traded, and more than 3 million slaves were sent to this one country. The Portuguese were the first to initiate the slave trade, and the last to end the slave trade. Starting around 1550, the Portuguese began to trade African slaves to work the sugar plantations once the native Tupi deteriorated. During the colonial epoch, slavery was a mainstay of the Brazilian economy, especially in mining and sugar cane production. The Clapham Sect, a group of Victorian Evangelical politicians, campaigned d ...

Including:

• Afro-Brazilian - History
• Afro-Brazilian - Origins
• Afro-Brazilian - Cuisine
• Afro-Brazilian - Religion
• Afro-Brazilian - Capoeira
• Afro-Brazilian - Music
• Afro-Brazilian - Famous Afro-Brazilian musicians
• Afro-Brazilian - Other groups

Read more here: » Afro-Brazilian: Encyclopedia - Afro-Brazilian

In Yorùbá mythology, Shango (Xango), or Changó in Latin America, is perhaps the most popular Orisha; he is a Sky Father, god of thunder and the ancestor of the Yoruba. In the Lukumí (O lukumi = "my friend") religion of the Caribbean, Shango is considered to be the center point of the religion as he represents the Oyo people of West Africa. The Oyo Kingdom was sacked and pillaged and its residents brought in chains as slaves to the Caribbean and Brazil. All the major initiation ceremonies (as performed in Cuba, Puerto ...

Read more here: » Shango: Encyclopedia - Shango

Syncretism is the attempt to reconcile disparate, even opposing, beliefs and to meld practices of various schools of thought. It is especially associated with the attempt to merge and analogize several originally discrete traditions, especially in the theology and mythology of religion, and thus assert an underlying unity. Syncretism is also common in literature, music, the representational arts and other expressions of culture. (Compare the concept of eclecticism.) There also exist syncretic politics, although in politi ...

Including:

• Syncretism - Social and political roles
• Syncretism - Origin of the word
• Syncretism - Syncretism in Ancient Greece
• Syncretism - Syncretism in Rome
• Syncretism - Syncretism in Christianity
• Syncretism - Syncretism in Islam
• Syncretism - Syncretism in the Bahá'í Faith
• Syncretism - Syncretism in the Caribbean
• Syncretism - Syncretism in the Enlightenment
• Syncretism - Modern syncretic religions
• Syncretism - Modern syncretic social movements

Read more here: » Syncretism: Encyclopedia - Syncretism

The Yoruba (native name Yorùbá) are the largest single ethnic group in Nigeria. The Yoruba constitute approximately 24% percent of Nigeria's total population, and number upwards of 30 million individuals throughout the region of West Africa. They share borders with the Nupe and Borgu peoples in the northwest, the Esan and Edo to the southeast, the Igala and other related groups to the northeast, and the Egun, Fon, and other Gbe-speaking peoples in the southwest. While the majority of the Yoruba live in the south-west of Nigeria, there are also substantial Yoruba communities i ...

Including:

• Yoruba - Odùduwà
• Yoruba - Yoruba mythology
• Yoruba - Yoruba cities
• Yoruba - History
• Yoruba - Precolonial Social Organization
• Yoruba - Culture
• Yoruba - Sports
• Yoruba - Famous Yoruba People
• Yoruba - Language Links
• Yoruba - Pictures

Read more here: » Yoruba: Encyclopedia - Yoruba

The term witchcraft (and witch) is a controversial one with a complicated history. Witchcraft is viewed differently in different cultures around the globe. Used with entirely different contexts, and within entirely different cultural references, it can take on distinct and often contradictory meanings. Each culture has its own particular body of concepts dealing with magic, religion, benevolent and harmful spirits, and ritual; and these ideas d ...

Including:

• Witchcraft - Practices typically considered to be witchcraft
• Witchcraft - Etymology
• Witchcraft - European witchcraft
• Witchcraft - Middle Eastern witchcraft
• Witchcraft - Ancient Middle Eastern and Near Eastern beliefs
• Witchcraft - Witchcraft in the Tanakh Hebrew Bible Old Testament
• Witchcraft - Witchcraft in the New Testament
• Witchcraft - Jewish views of witchcraft
• Witchcraft - African witchcraft
• Witchcraft - Theories of Neopagan witchcraft
• Witchcraft - Additional Reading

Read more here: » Witchcraft: Encyclopedia - Witchcraft

In Christian folklore, the Sabbath (also known as "Witch's Sabbath") was a gathering supposed to have been celebrated by Satanists, witches and warlocks to honor the Devil, offend God, Jesus, the sacraments, the cross, and perform unholy rites. European records tell of innumerable cases of persons being accused or tried for taking part Sabbath gatherings, from the Middle Ages to the 17th century or later. However, there are no reliable reports on what actually happened during a Sabbath; and much of what was written about them m ...

Including:

• Sabbath witchcraft - The Sabbath in history
• Sabbath witchcraft - What has been said about the Sabbath
• Sabbath witchcraft - Ritual elements
• Sabbath witchcraft - Location
• Sabbath witchcraft - Dates
• Sabbath witchcraft - What is actually known about the Sabbath
• Sabbath witchcraft - Origins and connections
• Sabbath witchcraft - Hallucinogens
• Sabbath witchcraft - Old heathen rituals
• Sabbath witchcraft - Shamanism and African rituals
• Sabbath witchcraft - The Sabbath in art

Read more here: » Sabbath witchcraft: Encyclopedia - Sabbath witchcraft

The term New Age describes a broad movement of late twentieth century and contemporary Western culture, characterised by an individual eclectic approach to spiritual exploration. Collectively, New Age has some attributes of an emergent religion, but is currently a loose network of spiritual teachers, healers, and seekers. The movement is most visible where its ideas are traded—for example in specialist bookshops, music stores, and New Age fairs. The name "New Age" also refers to the market segment in which its goods and servi ...

Including:

• New Age - Definitions
• New Age - History
• New Age - Beliefs
• New Age - Quotations
• New Age - Lifestyle
• New Age - Underlying assumptions
• New Age - Language
• New Age - Critiques of the New Age
• New Age - Medicine
• New Age - Music
• New Age - New Age communities

Read more here: » New Age: Encyclopedia - New Age

Spiritism is a religious and philosophic doctrine established in France in the mid 19th Century by Allan Kardec. The term was coined by him as the specific name of the doctrine he was about to publish but, given the fact that the word was created from roots taken from the common language, it was soon incorporated into the normal use and has been used to name other doctrines as well, though the ...

Including:

• Spiritism - Spiritism and Related Religions
• Spiritism - Precursors
• Spiritism - Fox Sisters
• Spiritism - Spinning Tables
• Spiritism - Mesmerism
• Spiritism - An Overview
• Spiritism - Basic Books
• Spiritism - Doctrine
• Spiritism - Leading a Spiritist Life
• Spiritism - Organization
• Spiritism - The Role of Spiritism
• Spiritism - Spiritism as a Religion
• Spiritism - Spiritism as Science
• Spiritism - Spiritism and Other Religions
• Spiritism - Spiritism and Christianism
• Spiritism - Spiritism Through History
• Spiritism - Syncretic Religions
• Spiritism - See Also

Read more here: » Spiritism: Encyclopedia - Spiritism

The term Voodoo (Vodun in Benin; also Vodou or other phonetically equivalent spellings in Haiti; Vudu in the Dominican Republic) is applied to the branches of a West African ancestor-based spiritist-animist religious tradition. Its roots are varied and include the Fon, Ewe, and Yoruba peoples of West Africa, from western Nigeria to eastern Ghana. In Benin, Vodun is the national religion, and followed by around 60% of the population, or some 4½ million people. The word vodún is the Fon-Ewe word for ...

Including:

• Voodoo - The African Origins
• Voodoo - New World Traditions
• Voodoo - Haitian Vodou
• Voodoo - Demographics

Read more here: » Voodoo: Encyclopedia - Voodoo

African religions such as Candomblé have millions of followers, mainly Afro-Brazilians. They are concentrated mainly in large urban centers in the Northeast, such as Salvador de Bahia, Recife, or Rio de Janeiro in the Southeast. The capitals of São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul have fewer practitioners, mainly immigrants from the Northeast. In addition to Candomblé which is the survival of West African religion, there is also Umbanda which blends Kardecist Spiritism beliefs with African beliefs. Candomblé, Batuque, Xango a ...

See also:

Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Brazilian - History, Afro-Brazilian - Origins, Afro-Brazilian - Cuisine, Afro-Brazilian - Religion, Afro-Brazilian - Capoeira, Afro-Brazilian - Music, Afro-Brazilian - Famous Afro-Brazilian musicians, Afro-Brazilian - Other groups

Read more here: » Afro-Brazilian: Encyclopedia II - Afro-Brazilian - Religion