1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Voodoo embeds in U.S.

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by dianetavegia, Aug 12, 2003.

Top Posters
Page 1 of 2
  1. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Voodoo embeds in U.S.

    PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Voodoo, Santeria and other religions with African roots are drawing followers in the United States among immigrants and black Americans interested in their ancestry, their leaders say.

    But their practice can result in clashes with neighbors and police over rituals such as animal sacrifices and drumming — especially since they are conducted mostly at home, in residential neighborhoods.

    "This is a country founded on freedom of religion," said George Ware, an organizer with the National African Religion Congress. The group, organized five years ago, has members from a half-dozen religious groups and was meeting last week in its home base in Philadelphia.

    Mr. Ware said mainstream religions "are all given room and space to function within this country, and we are asking for the same."

    When voodoo practitioners held an annual ceremony honoring their ancestral spirits at midnight, neighbors in a sedate section of Philadelphia called police as drumming started.

    "We are not happy about the noise, because we don't want to disturb the neighborhood," Mr. Ware said. But "we have a spiritual obligation to continue."

    Police and neighbors decided to tolerate the noise. But citations over noise ordinances and animal sacrifices have landed in court, at least once reaching the U.S. Supreme Court.

    In 1993, the high court outlawed a Hialeah, Fla., ordinance banning "ritual animal sacrifice," saying its language violated the First Amendment's religious freedom clause because it applied only to the religious slaughter of animals.

    "Noise ordinances tend to be generally upheld, because they apply to any kind of noise, from loudspeakers to advertising vehicles on streets to rock music to religious celebrations," said Mark Rahdert, a constitutional law professor at Temple University.

    African religions also are grappling with some of the same issues that divide their mainstream counterparts {edited here to remove material not appropriate for this board.}

    About 3,000 people from the United States, 17 African countries or countries in which African religions have gained a foothold attended the conference.

    The groups are creating religious texts from the spiritual stories that have been passed down orally in nonliterate societies. Mr. Ware said they are building relations with neighbors and police.

    "We are making progress," he said. "Today if people call and complain about our organization, the police explain to them that we are only organizing our right to practice religion."

    http://www.worthynews.com/zone.cgi?http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030811-100221-1989r.htm
     
    #1 dianetavegia, Aug 12, 2003
  2. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2003
    Messages:
    44,448
    Likes Received:
    1
    I am very surprised that PETA hasn't jumped all over this one! :confused:
     
    #2 I Am Blessed 24, Aug 13, 2003
  3. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
    Administrator

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2000
    Messages:
    15,371
    Likes Received:
    2,405
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Diane, voodoo has been a part of the scene in many areas of these United States for decades. (I'll hazard well over 150 years.) Now, it is coming out of the back alleys and cane fields.
     
    #3 Squire Robertsson, Aug 13, 2003
  4. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2003
    Messages:
    7,751
    Likes Received:
    0
    If animals can be slaughtered for the dinner table, they should be able to be slaughtered for sacrifice (as humanely as possible). I know when cattle are sacrificed in Moslem countries (at least in Bangladesh), the meat is distributed to the poor as charity.
     
    #4 Daisy, Aug 13, 2003
  5. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2001
    Messages:
    21,321
    Likes Received:
    0
    Don't forget, in the OT times, animal sacrifice was commonplace. That was so even with Mary and Joseph, who went to the temple with sacraficial doves. Many Jews still practice this today.

    I agree with you. If animals can be slaughtered for consumption, they can be slaughtered for ritual.
     
    #5 Johnv, Aug 13, 2003
  6. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2003
    Messages:
    44,448
    Likes Received:
    1
    Doesn't it stand to reason then, that they can be slaughtered for clothing?

    Slaughter is slaughter (even though there may be different methods). If they can be slaughtered for one thing; why not EVERYthing?
     
    #6 I Am Blessed 24, Aug 14, 2003
  7. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    I was more shocked about VooDoo being taught to young children by parents who are 'returning to their heritage' instead of worrying about the animals~

    I did a web search when I first saw this and brought up some pages teaching black parents chants, spells and info about pagan gods.

    Diane
     
    #7 dianetavegia, Aug 14, 2003
  8. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2003
    Messages:
    7,751
    Likes Received:
    0
    Well, they are legally slaughtered for clothing...so I'm not sure of your point here ~ I take it that the ritual sacrifice should be permitted in your opinion? You agree with me?

    As for everything, it is still, rightfully IMHO, illegal to slaughter for sheer amusement and sadism.

    [editted to add: oops! Diane slipped in before me]
     
    #8 Daisy, Aug 14, 2003
  9. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2000
    Messages:
    16,944
    Likes Received:
    1
    In a free country it should be allowed, but how far can we responsibly take religious freedom?
    Some believe a wife can be beat or murdered for disobedience or unfaithfulness.
    What happens when a religion believes in human sacrifice?
    What happens if your religion calls for punishment such as cutting out your tongue for lying, or cutting off your hand if you steal?
    Where do we draw the line on religious freedom, and who is making that decision?
    What if they simply teach their children that this stuff is the right way to act, but they don't physically do the human sacrifices and such? Does that equal child abuse to teach a child human sacrifice is a divine command?
    Gina
     
    #9 Gina B, Aug 14, 2003
  10. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Gina, But I'll bet you the farm that children services won't be watch dogging these families like they accost the Christian families who insist on proper behavior and Bible study. Remember the recent case in S.C.?

    I didn't keep the link to the families teaching their children about santeria, etc.... It was upsetting. Completely turning from God to worship of many gods.

    Diane
     
    #10 dianetavegia, Aug 14, 2003
  11. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2000
    Messages:
    16,944
    Likes Received:
    1
    Diane, are you talking about the one where they determined the family spent too long reading the bible daily?
    Gina
     
    #11 Gina B, Aug 14, 2003
  12. Artimaeus

    Artimaeus Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2002
    Messages:
    3,133
    Likes Received:
    0
    This country wasn't founded with ANY intent whatsoever in protectong the "religious freedom" of pagan, satanic, demonic, and heathen worshipers of false gods. Was God tolerant of such practices in the land of Israel? I am not suggesting, at all, that we respond as God told the Israelites to. I am stating that if God disapproved strongly of these kinds of heathen practices then there is not a Christian alive who can legitimately defend them. If you think you are more compassionate, and tolerant, and loving than God then you are indeed warped.
     
    #12 Artimaeus, Aug 14, 2003
  13. InHim2002

    InHim2002 New Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2002
    Messages:
    899
    Likes Received:
    0
    Like all other freedoms - you right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins
     
    #13 InHim2002, Aug 14, 2003
  14. Baptist Believer

    Baptist Believer Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2002
    Messages:
    10,729
    Likes Received:
    787
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I think Thomas Jefferson, among others, would strongly disagree with you:

    But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. -Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782.

    Where the preamble declares, that coercion is a departure from the plan of the holy author of our religion, an amendment was proposed by inserting "Jesus Christ," so that it would read "A departure from the plan of Jesus Christ, the holy author of our religion;" the insertion was rejected by the great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mohammedan, the Hindoo and Infidel of every denomination. -Thomas Jefferson, Autobiography, in reference to the Virginia Act for Religious Freedom (the precursor to the First Amendment religion clause)

    1.) The United States is not Israel. We have no covenantal relationship with God as a nation.

    2.) Those who support the God-given right of religious freedom (that is, the ability to chose against God) are by no means defending or supporting the false doctrine or heathen practices of those who reject the Creator.

    3.) Passing legislation against these heathen practices or enacting persecution against it will not change their hearts (it fact it may harden them) and will not make genuine converts. Their worship will likely continue (just driven “underground”) and they will remain just as lost as before.

    4.) It is the church’s responsibility to take the gospel to these people and confront their false religion on a level “playing field”. If the people of God will spread the gospel to these people with compassion and the power of the Holy Spirit, God can do great things in their hearts and lives and they can become genuine disciples of Christ.
     
    #14 Baptist Believer, Aug 14, 2003
  15. Artimaeus

    Artimaeus Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2002
    Messages:
    3,133
    Likes Received:
    0
    I think Thomas Jefferson, among others, would strongly disagree with you:</font>[/QUOTE]I sit corrected. My statement was way too broad and generalized and as a result, indefensible.
     
    #15 Artimaeus, Aug 14, 2003
  16. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2003
    Messages:
    7,751
    Likes Received:
    0
    Um, God liked animal sacrifice; He used to require it.

    Or am I misunderstanding your point?
     
    #16 Daisy, Aug 14, 2003
  17. chargrove

    chargrove <img src=/chargrov.jpg>

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2003
    Messages:
    153
    Likes Received:
    0
    FYI: For all you students of history, Thomas Jefferson was not as intellectually astute as Alexander Hamilton. Anyone know if he ever said anything about this matter? I can't recall from my Western Civ. days at the university....
     
    #17 chargrove, Aug 15, 2003
  18. Artimaeus

    Artimaeus Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2002
    Messages:
    3,133
    Likes Received:
    0
    Daisy, I don't blame you. After being called on it and re-reading it, I don't understand it either. :confused: My father used to call that getting your tongue wrapped around your eye tooth and can't see what your saying. :D What I would rather my point had been, was that I was surprised that more Christians aren't speaking out againt this rather than defending their political rights.
     
    #18 Artimaeus, Aug 15, 2003
  19. Peter101

    Peter101 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2003
    Messages:
    518
    Likes Received:
    0
    &gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;FYI: For all you students of history, Thomas Jefferson was not as intellectually astute as Alexander Hamilton. &lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;

    Many would disagree with you on that!
     
    #19 Peter101, Aug 15, 2003
  20. Daisy

    Daisy New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2003
    Messages:
    7,751
    Likes Received:
    0
    Artimaeus,

    Is their right to worship and practice their religion a political right? Do you think that that right should be reserved only to Christians & Jews?
     
    #20 Daisy, Aug 15, 2003
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 2
Loading...