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
Voodoo embeds in U.S.
Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by dianetavegia, Aug 12, 2003.
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I am very surprised that PETA hasn't jumped all over this one! :confused:
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Squire Robertsson AdministratorAdministrator
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.
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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.
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I agree with you. If animals can be slaughtered for consumption, they can be slaughtered for ritual. -
Slaughter is slaughter (even though there may be different methods). If they can be slaughtered for one thing; why not EVERYthing? -
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~
Diane -
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] -
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 -
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 -
Diane, are you talking about the one where they determined the family spent too long reading the bible daily?
Gina -
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.
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Baptist Believer Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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)
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. -
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Or am I misunderstanding your point? -
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....
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>>>>>FYI: For all you students of history, Thomas Jefferson was not as intellectually astute as Alexander Hamilton. <<<<<<<
Many would disagree with you on that! -
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?
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