Krista Michael
Mrs. Cooker
ENG-101-038
2 December 2014
Santaria Sacrifice Practiced in the United States of America and abroad, ritualistic animal sacrifice is a component of the Santería religion. Santeros, practitioners of the Santería religion, accept this as a necessary part of their church. Attempted denial of religious freedom has led to the sensationalism of animalistic offerings but they are a small part of the religious observance. Aversion to bloodletting, ignorance and misinformation have led to the misrepresentation of Santeros as dangerous members of society and Santería itself as a communal danger. An Afro-Cuban religion, Santería is a Spanish word that translates as devotion to the saints. It is also known as Regla de …show more content…
Although the Santeria religion doesn't have the concept of sin in the Christian sense, Olorún knows about a person's actions on earth and measures out aché in accordance with their behavior. The individual is expected to be a good son, daughter, father, mother and community member. In Santería each person is believed to choose their own destiny before birth but has free will. There is no moral judgment attached to right or wrong behavior, but the importance of living ethically is obvious in a community setting. Each person is responsible for their actions; God and the saints will help only those who choose to help themselves. Aché is neutral in nature, being neither good nor evil. In order for good to exist evil must also be present. Drumming and dancing ceremonies are very important in Santaria because they sometimes lead to trance possession by Santeros. Possession allows for direct communication with the saints. Santaria teaches that the dead are to be respected, not feared. Egun are invisible companions who live among us and intercede on our behalf when we need help. In Santería ceremonies, the opening drumming pattern is dedicated to the egun, but living people remain seated and do not dance. Egun work with the saints to oversee and guide the progress of human …show more content…
Very few are fully initiated as a Santaro as this is a full time calling. When someone feels that they have an imbalance in their Aché it is the Santaros who perform a consultation called a Consulta. This ceremony uses prayers and petitions to the saints asking for intervention and divine help. These Consultas take place in a house temple, or ile, which contains an altar. Divination rituals are often performed using cowry shells. The Santaro throws them and discerns meaning from their pattern. Advice is given and is generally considered to be good for one month. Proper interpretation is essential as the reputation of the Santero depends on it. Ritualistic offerings often include liquor and tobacco smoke and may include the sacrifice of a goat or chicken. These offerings are given in the hope that the saints will intercede on behalf of the supplicant and rebalance their