Synopses & Reviews
A revealing window into the secret and seductive world of Santeria. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; A Santeria priest discloses information never before revealed to outsiders. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; Removes the veil of occultism from Santeria to show it as a highly spiritual, thriving religion. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Initiated into the Santeria priesthood at the age of seven, Raul Canizares unveils in andlt;iandgt;Cuban Santeriaandlt;/iandgt; the secret and seductive world of this rapidly growing, yet largely misunderstood, Afro-Cuban religion. With the knowledge of an insider and the insight of a scholar, Canizares astutely examines the practice of Santeria, revealing many of its hidden dimensions while simultaneously providing a fascinating account of its unique textured mix of African, Cuban, and Catholic traditions. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The Cuban-born author describes the practices and rituals of the followers of Santeria--from magical herbal prescription and healing to spiritism and animal sacrifice--and explains how for many years the religion has been maintained under the guise of Catholicism to avoid religious persecution. Most initiates are sworn to a code of silence, but Canizares believes that the time has come to move Santeria, a religion of beauty and resilience, out of the darkness and into the light so that a more accurate picture of this rich tradition can emerge.
Review
andquot;Canizares pierces through Santeria's outer shell to discuss its gods and initiations, rituals, history and legacy. . . . The narrative comes alive with anecdotes from the author's own involvement.andquot;
Review
andquot;A fascinating journey of a little known religious order that puts forward the perception that Santeria is a thoughtful and deliberate response of a thinking people to a hostile social environment.andquot;
Review
"The finest study in English to date of a faith on the brink of becoming a world religion." William J. Heim, Ph.D., University of South Florida
Review
"Raul Canizares has written an insightful overview of this religion."
Review
andquot;Raul Canizares paints a colorful picture of Santeria's oral traditions and musical connections, and raises the curtain of mystery on a vivid and vital faith.andquot;
Review
"Canizares penetra a través de la capa exterior de la santería para hablar de sus dioses e iniciaciones, rituales, historia y herencia. . . . La narración resulta animada gracias a las anécdotas referentes a las propias experiencias del autor." < i=""> NAPRA Trade Journal <>
Review
"Hasta la fecha, es el mejor estudio en idioma inglés sobre una fe que está a punto de convertirse en una religión mundial." < b=""> Dr. William J. Heim <> , Universidad de Florida del Sur
Review
"Raul Canizares paints a colorful picture of Santeria's oral traditions and musical connections, and raises the curtain of mystery on a vivid and vital faith."
Review
"The author of this newest Santeria text is both a scholar of the faith and a devotee. Is there a tougher balance to maintain when writing about any religion? The fact is, Canizares executes the balancing act with considerable precision and charm, making this perhaps the finest introduction to the increasingly popular religion since Joseph Murphy's Santeria: an African Religion in America (Beacon, 1988)."
Review
and#8220;Raul Canizares offers a truly unique perspective in this book - that of not only an active member of the religion of Santeria, but of a high-ranking member of that religion. . . . This book should be in the library of every religious educator, I know it will have a prominent place on my own library shelves.and#8221;
Review
"The finest study in English to date of a faith on the brink of becoming a world religion."
Synopsis
A revealing window into the secret and seductive world of Santeria.
- A Santeria priest discloses information never before revealed to outsiders.
- Removes the veil of occultism from Santeria to show it as a highly spiritual, thriving religion.
Initiated into the Santeria priesthood at the age of seven, Raul Canizares unveils in Cuban Santeria the secret and seductive world of this rapidly growing, yet largely misunderstood, Afro-Cuban religion. With the knowledge of an insider and the insight of a scholar, Canizares astutely examines the practice of Santeria, revealing many of its hidden dimensions while simultaneously providing a fascinating account of its unique textured mix of African, Cuban, and Catholic traditions.
The Cuban-born author describes the practices and rituals of the followers of Santeria--from magical herbal prescription and healing to spiritism and animal sacrifice--and explains how for many years the religion has been maintained under the guise of Catholicism to avoid religious persecution. Most initiates are sworn to a code of silence, but Canizares believes that the time has come to move Santeria, a religion of beauty and resilience, out of the darkness and into the light so that a more accurate picture of this rich tradition can emerge.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 146-148) and index.
About the Author
Raul Canizares (1955-2002) was head of the Santeria Temple Orisha Consciousness Movement in Manhattan and the author of andlt;iandgt;Shango: An African-American Titan.andlt;/iandgt;
Table of Contents
andlt;bandgt;Cuban Santeriaandlt;/bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;iandgt;Walking with the Nightandlt;/iandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Preface andlt;BRandgt;Acknowledgments andlt;BRandgt;Foreword by William J. Heim andlt;BRandgt;Introduction andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 1andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Mantilla andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 2andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Legacy andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 3andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Evolution and Survival of Santeria andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 4andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Hierarchy andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 5andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Syncretism or Dissimulation andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 6andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Santeria's Orishas andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 7andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Oro: Divine Music andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 8andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Santeria and Espiritismo andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 9andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; Ebbo: Sacrifice andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 10andnbsp;andnbsp; The Secret of the Werewolf andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 11andnbsp;andnbsp; Ewe Orisha: The Use of Herbs and Plants in Santeria andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 12andnbsp;andnbsp; Charada China andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 13andnbsp;andnbsp; The Dark Side of Santeria andlt;BRandgt;Chapter 14andnbsp;andnbsp; Santeria: World Religion? andlt;BRandgt;Appendix Iandnbsp;andnbsp; Blacks in Cuba: An Overview andlt;BRandgt;Appendix IIandnbsp; Ifa andlt;BRandgt;Glossary andlt;BRandgt;Bibliography andlt;BRandgt;Index