Posts
Umbandism combines religious believes and practices from traditional African societies, native Brazilian religions and Catholicism. It also depicts heavy Spiritualism with significant resemblance to Candomble. The history of Umbanda has it that it started in Brazil under Zelio Fernandino. Over the years, it has spread to neighboring Uruguay and Argentina.
All Umbandas do not follow similar religious practices. The discrepancies can be seen in the manner of worship in different areas. Surprisingly, many Umbandas consider themselves Catholics. It is a common belief among the faithful that there is a supreme deity who they refer to as Olorum or Zambi. He works through multiple manifestations or representations.
An example of an aspect borrowed from the Catholic Church is the belief that saints, who they refer to as orixas, provide magical or divine power and energy. Deceased relatives are part of daily worship and interact with the worshipers during rituals. They intercede on their behalf and have the power to influence daily life.
Karma and reincarnation are central tenets of Umbandism. This is exemplified in their worship when they seek the intercession of their ancestors and departed acquaintances. The belief in karma states that the good or bad human beings experience is a result of their deeds in the past.
Sociologists explain the origin of Umbandism as a blend of Brazilian, Catholic faith and Spiritualism. Spiritualism is manifested in their insistence on communicating with dead relatives and friends. In fact, intercession for the faithful happens through mediums and psychics. The idea of a Supreme Being and believe in saints were borrowed from Catholicism. Orixas came from Brazilian religions which were a blend of African practices imported during slavery.
It is Zelio who founded the religion in 1900 while in Rio de Janeiro. He acted as a psychic under Allan Kardec and therefore had influence over his followers. This explains the presence of spiritualism which resembles what the followers of Kardec Allan did. Brazilian religions had been influenced by slaves from African and were therefore not purely traditional.
It is on November 08, 1908 that Zelio, at 15 years of age, formed Umbanda. His psychic power enabled him to manifest in two spirits. This was not convincing to followers of Allan but it gave him a starting point. His religion gained momentum in the 1930s after political turmoil shook Brazil. The citizens wanted a unifying factor which they found in Umbanda. They considered it the most authentic manifestation of the Brazilian culture.
Temples used by Umbandas resemble the Catholic Church in design. The ceremonies are led by priests and priestesses who are the intercessors between the departed souls and the living. The rituals and sacrifices to Gods are conducted at the terreiros and involve dances, songs and offerings of food and drinks. There are chants to summon relevant spirits during sacrifices. Manifesting a spirit can warrant a visitor to join the religion.
Umbandism faces a lot of opposition from Catholics, Protestants and evangelicals. Catholics consider their idea of sainthood a mockery and do not support their worship of spirits. Evangelicals consider their approach to spiritualism pedestrian and demonic. Such challenges explain why their numbers seem to stagnate.
All Umbandas do not follow similar religious practices. The discrepancies can be seen in the manner of worship in different areas. Surprisingly, many Umbandas consider themselves Catholics. It is a common belief among the faithful that there is a supreme deity who they refer to as Olorum or Zambi. He works through multiple manifestations or representations.
An example of an aspect borrowed from the Catholic Church is the belief that saints, who they refer to as orixas, provide magical or divine power and energy. Deceased relatives are part of daily worship and interact with the worshipers during rituals. They intercede on their behalf and have the power to influence daily life.
Karma and reincarnation are central tenets of Umbandism. This is exemplified in their worship when they seek the intercession of their ancestors and departed acquaintances. The belief in karma states that the good or bad human beings experience is a result of their deeds in the past.
Sociologists explain the origin of Umbandism as a blend of Brazilian, Catholic faith and Spiritualism. Spiritualism is manifested in their insistence on communicating with dead relatives and friends. In fact, intercession for the faithful happens through mediums and psychics. The idea of a Supreme Being and believe in saints were borrowed from Catholicism. Orixas came from Brazilian religions which were a blend of African practices imported during slavery.
It is Zelio who founded the religion in 1900 while in Rio de Janeiro. He acted as a psychic under Allan Kardec and therefore had influence over his followers. This explains the presence of spiritualism which resembles what the followers of Kardec Allan did. Brazilian religions had been influenced by slaves from African and were therefore not purely traditional.
It is on November 08, 1908 that Zelio, at 15 years of age, formed Umbanda. His psychic power enabled him to manifest in two spirits. This was not convincing to followers of Allan but it gave him a starting point. His religion gained momentum in the 1930s after political turmoil shook Brazil. The citizens wanted a unifying factor which they found in Umbanda. They considered it the most authentic manifestation of the Brazilian culture.
Temples used by Umbandas resemble the Catholic Church in design. The ceremonies are led by priests and priestesses who are the intercessors between the departed souls and the living. The rituals and sacrifices to Gods are conducted at the terreiros and involve dances, songs and offerings of food and drinks. There are chants to summon relevant spirits during sacrifices. Manifesting a spirit can warrant a visitor to join the religion.
Umbandism faces a lot of opposition from Catholics, Protestants and evangelicals. Catholics consider their idea of sainthood a mockery and do not support their worship of spirits. Evangelicals consider their approach to spiritualism pedestrian and demonic. Such challenges explain why their numbers seem to stagnate.
About the Author:
We have all the detailed specifics about the best history of Umbanda on our related homepage. Simply use this link to reach the main site at http://ocaminhodosol.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment