Umbandism is a blend of traditional Brazilian, African, Catholicism and spiritualism. It has close resemblance with Candomble but differs on several aspects. Despite the history of Umbanda tracing it to Brazil, it has spread into Uruguay and Argentina. The founder is Zelio Fernandino and dates back to early 1900.
Followers this religion across the three countries do not have a strictly uniform belief system. In fact, most followers regard themselves as Catholics. However, there are common believes that act as a uniting factor. They include the belief in as supreme deity who is called Zambi or Olorum. Zambi has several representations that are manifested in daily life.
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.
Two central tenets of Umbanda are reincarnation and karma. This explains their constant interaction with the spirits of their dead ancestors. By karma, they believe that the good deeds a person performs will return or turn back to him in one way or the other.
The origin of Umbandism appears to be an attempt to reconcile Catholicism, Spiritualism and Brazilian traditional religion. The aspect of spiritualism is heavily manifested in communication with dead acquaintances and relatives. Within their temples are psychics and mediums who talk to ancestors on their behalf. It is Catholicism that gifted them the belief in one God while native Brazilian religion, blended with African rituals after years with slaves, gifted them the Orixas.
The founder Zelio Fernandino is believed to have lived in Rio de Janeiro around 1900. He was a psychic and therefore had spiritual or extra ordinary powers and influence. It is by combining the Brazilian religion, which was heavily influenced by slave from African, and modern spirituality, e. G. That of Allan Kardec, that he came up with this religious movement.
On November 08, 1908, Zelio was 15 years of age and had gathered in Rio together with other followers of Allan. There was a seance that was taking place. Zelio could manifest into two spirits but the two were considered inferior to those of Allan. Zelio began the process of autonomy from Allan but this did not yield much. Political turmoil in the 1930s caused many Brazilians to seek indigenous religion and Umbanda provided the perfect alternative.
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.
Opposition against Umbandism comes from Protestants, Catholics and evangelicals on different grounds. Catholics oppose what they consider as mockery of sainthood beyond regarding their Spiritualism as pedestrian. Evangelicals are opposed to their practice of spiritualism and consider it demonic. Their numbers have stagnated with little or no expansion.
Followers this religion across the three countries do not have a strictly uniform belief system. In fact, most followers regard themselves as Catholics. However, there are common believes that act as a uniting factor. They include the belief in as supreme deity who is called Zambi or Olorum. Zambi has several representations that are manifested in daily life.
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.
Two central tenets of Umbanda are reincarnation and karma. This explains their constant interaction with the spirits of their dead ancestors. By karma, they believe that the good deeds a person performs will return or turn back to him in one way or the other.
The origin of Umbandism appears to be an attempt to reconcile Catholicism, Spiritualism and Brazilian traditional religion. The aspect of spiritualism is heavily manifested in communication with dead acquaintances and relatives. Within their temples are psychics and mediums who talk to ancestors on their behalf. It is Catholicism that gifted them the belief in one God while native Brazilian religion, blended with African rituals after years with slaves, gifted them the Orixas.
The founder Zelio Fernandino is believed to have lived in Rio de Janeiro around 1900. He was a psychic and therefore had spiritual or extra ordinary powers and influence. It is by combining the Brazilian religion, which was heavily influenced by slave from African, and modern spirituality, e. G. That of Allan Kardec, that he came up with this religious movement.
On November 08, 1908, Zelio was 15 years of age and had gathered in Rio together with other followers of Allan. There was a seance that was taking place. Zelio could manifest into two spirits but the two were considered inferior to those of Allan. Zelio began the process of autonomy from Allan but this did not yield much. Political turmoil in the 1930s caused many Brazilians to seek indigenous religion and Umbanda provided the perfect alternative.
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.
Opposition against Umbandism comes from Protestants, Catholics and evangelicals on different grounds. Catholics oppose what they consider as mockery of sainthood beyond regarding their Spiritualism as pedestrian. Evangelicals are opposed to their practice of spiritualism and consider it demonic. Their numbers have stagnated with little or no expansion.
No comments:
Post a Comment