Umbandism is a combination of religious believes borrowed from Catholicism, African tradition religion and native Brazilian religion. It has an added flavor of Spritualism and also closely resembles Candomble. The history of Umbanda dates back to 1900 with the origin being Brazil under Zelio Fernandino. During its expansion years, it spread to Argentina and Uruguay.
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.
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.
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.
The precise date for formation of Umbanda is said to be 08, November 1908 during a seance in Rio. Zelio, the psychic, was 15 years of age. He had the power to manifest in two spirits that followers of Allan regarded as inferior. This did not deter him from commencing the journey towards own religion. It did not gain momentum until 1930 when Brazilians needed a unifying factor during political turmoil. The religion by Zelio was the only authentic Brazilian focal point they could find.
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.
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.
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.
The precise date for formation of Umbanda is said to be 08, November 1908 during a seance in Rio. Zelio, the psychic, was 15 years of age. He had the power to manifest in two spirits that followers of Allan regarded as inferior. This did not deter him from commencing the journey towards own religion. It did not gain momentum until 1930 when Brazilians needed a unifying factor during political turmoil. The religion by Zelio was the only authentic Brazilian focal point they could find.
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