Chapter I I

The search for new meaning be effective, or change

maladaptive. Yet inthe Ic
to the wodd as it exists.

Mechonisms of cultu
Generally speaking, r
isolated from outside ir
occurs through the pfo
ness of something that
using the technology a
Societies do not exis
Small-scale societies are being drawn more and more into the larger, often more com- munities beyond their
plex, wodd. In doing so, they are exposed to many influences that result in change- technologies, social or
'We
both positive and negative. have much to learn from these societies, including the ideas and new technolc
effects of culture contact, how cultures change over time, and how new religions come similar problems, solu
into being. This is a starting point from which to look at cultural and religious change invention might be ad,
in the larger-scale cultures in which we live. Our comparative study of various reli- from one society to an
gious systems and our understanding of basic anthropological principles now place us diffuse than are social a
in a position to analyze aspects of our own culture from an entirely new perspective. one culture to anotheq
This is what we will attempt to do in this chapter. trart, a process called g
'We
This chapter discusses several topics. will begin with a study of the process of When a ffait diffuset
culture change, especially in the context of outside influence resulting from economic, lesser degree to becom
political, and social exploitation. 'We will see how the processes of change can lead to use of a hallucinogeni<
the demise of a culture or adjustments for survival. In many contact situations, the Yet how that drug is us
dominated culture reacts with the formation of new religious movements that fre- the drug is used, who u
quently combine cultural elements from both the dominant and dominated societies. to fit into the cultural s
Such revitalization movements not only are found among tribal peoples but also form
the basis of today's Western religions, including many new religious movements.
Such movements are always affected by existing cultural ideologies and raise many Accultu rotion
questions, including how new religions will be perceived by the society atlarge. Sometimes, however, d
than sporadic contact d
Adaptation and change political andl or econon
cally and economically
Throughout this book we have seen examples of how religion reinforces a society's the societies will becor
culture and worldview. Religious institutions also provide mechanisms for dealing dominate the other the
with the inevitable stresses that are part of living. In general, religious practices tend ordinate one. The domi
to be very conservative. This conservatism is derived from their sacred nature and the technology and wealtl,
fact that a society's belief system is usually considered to be ancient-that is, it was the subordinate culturc
practiced in the old time by the ancestors. too rapid to properly ir
However, change does occur. Infact, change must occur if a society is to endure. This process is refen
The world does not exist in a steady state. Changes happen in the climate, in the this type is said to be a
availability of food and water, in the presence of hostile peoples on one's borders. If and sees cans of soda, r

the society is to survive, it must adapt and change to meet the challenges brought acculturated communit
about by this changing world. ceased to have its own
However, we should not think of a society as a perfectly tuned machine meeting The ability of one
stress and change in its stride. Sometimes changes occur too slowly or too quickly to technological, economi
 or d1ryrnb oot ro {
Surlaaru euIqJBIrr P
lqSnorq sa8ualPqr
JI 'sJaPJoq s(auo uo
eqt uI'aleurrlc aql
'alnpua 01 sI dlalJol
sel,\ ll 'sr leql-lua
eqr PUE alnl?u PeJf,r
eql sI &alJos luEuIIuoP aql'auo elBuIPJo pual saf,Ilf,EJd snoF
Suqeap JoJ stusru"
alnllnf, lueunuoP agr J3I{lo 3ql aleuruoP
s,dlarcos e seJJoJuI
-DIIod Fnbe f,14e1arc sorlelros rpoq JI r
aumsse rq8ru dpiros auo'seurlncB luof 'a8re1 re draP
Jeqleu 'asuelul eJoru sI JeqlouE uo eJnllnJ ,(uBur asre: pue sa
uonunun))v 'sluarueloru sno€
ruroJ osle mq saldo
'serlerJos Paleurulol
'3rnllnf, 3ql Jo '{eI^PJro/( aql -3JI reql sluaus^ol
perslle 3q aql 'suorlenlls lJsr
sFnllr qJI ol peal uec a8ueqc
'dnor8 3u 6lrurouole uror; 3u1
NeJ ar
aqr sdeqra4 'eJnqnf, 8ur'trece'r eql ,
ol alnllnf, euo ruoJt sesn;tlP llen v uel{l6' ;o ssacord ap 1o
ro latBar8 e ol POJellB ue{o sI lr-'ragloue
'o
'uoisngp snlnums Pallef, sseJoJd e'l1ea
'elrloedsrad ll.eu d
teapt tu
A\au p slualur dlatcos Surrrtala; aqt sn aoeld rrr'ou saldtr
-rlal snoIrBA ;o dP
e8ueqr sno€l1ar p
aruoo suor8rlal /r{au
eqr Sutpnlcut'saua'
ut llnsal
-a8uegc
-uroJ eJotu uago 1
rueJeJtIP qll^\ seJnllnf, Jaqlo Jo eJualsxe
-ruof, re sn
'tu au
tuoslad
f,o
-ate^\v
sef,uangul ePlslno tuory PalBIosI
a8uegc IEuJeluI 'elull JeAo dyvrols a8ueqc ol Pual PuE
,11iucr3o1oug)er serlelros '8ur>1eads Ilerauag
ete lBtp
dlarnele*q o, p.rri aldu'l
atuoqt arnlfn, Jo suts;uoqre61
'slslxe lI sB PIJOA\ eql ol
llarcos e 1 trmr 3uo1 eqf ut la 'a'rUdePBIEuI
aar3ap etuos ol ldepe lsnur 1t 'elruns o1 sr
nedde r.3.t"q, salulle.,'os 'il" l€ JnJf,o lou seoP o3ueqr lo 'alqcatJa aq
,r" ,iq,
gg1 8u;ueau l au ro, qlJeas aql
2tt The s€rtdl fior ns ole ning
History oftlodott
established, it
ThecounrTof Hei
society to the o
which was discovr
culture might I
French colony. (Tl
group might u ts actlons'
Dominican RcPuh
Some societies are very receptrve to new
The French col
onto their own religion'Ifhy not add wha Caribbean, larplt
and activities relat
cultivation is vert
om on West Africa.
The slaves soon
into another might seem strange' C
exclus
slave rebellions- k
ihut -.-b.r, oither. religions are
other
beliefs. However' we all slaves had to b
rvhen a person converts, f,. o, ,h. gives up all former religious
of the surrounding baptism ceremonl
beliefs
,"* i' Ci"pt., 9 how eu.r, th.s. ,.ligio.ti adopted some landowners allowr
cultures du vaguely aware of t
In many rituals
their African relig
the basis o For ex
:a
In 1790 the fea
a Shinto shrine to ask for blessings on the first black rePubli
be buried in a Buddhist ritual' Small-scal: lishment of a rePr
Lrigio", practices with a degree of ease. However, Christian missionaries, for example'
-exclusion. diplomatic recogn
deriand One of the most stressful aspects of the presence of missionary from the rest of d
activity is the pressure to give up one's former religion' tions with Haitq t

of isolation that
although manY h
Syncretism and the maloritY '
Theprosinvolvethecompletereplacementof.one
trait by of a new trait. There often is a reworking
Vodou beliefs
of the tr ncretism' Syncretism is a fusing of traits from
permit the retention of
time, Vodou is in manY
two cultures to form something new and yet, atthe same
new torm' and Vodou ligrrals
the old by subsuming the old into a
previously in this text everal examples of syncretism, such as the of deities called I
Altars are constrr
origins of Halloween and
and sacrifices are
of Shinto and Buddhism i
roles in Vodou rit
Africa. In this section we will be looking
The lwa canb
through the process of syncretism'
Rada and the Pet
would be very fa
Hoition Vodou very ancient. In <
out of the slave
Vodou is a religion that is found in the co
the early nineteet
is a religion that is extremely rich in s
with death.
in ritual. Vodou grew out of several Table 11.1 list
religions of the Fon, K more complicater
language of DahomeY manifestations. E
is used largelY bY outs rules, and partic
"serve the sPirits."
pue srf,afqo lerrslqd dpo 1ou epnlJur sloqurds osoql .sloquls reFcrued pue ,se1nr
aqs Jo eq qlH^\ relo surer.uop l0leuosrad relncrued e seq dlrap qJEg .suorlelseJrupru daqr reqr des dlarar
lueJeJJIp ut .reodde sanrep dueur asneoeg 'alqer aql ur u^/r\oqs sr upql palecqduroc eroru IuJol aql 'JaAOr!ro11
qJnru sr uortenlrs aql 1e^e^&\oH .omy lueuodrur orour eqlJo oruos srsr1 I.II elqeJ uoc eqr uroJJ setuoJ
'qrEeP q1I^4' aqt dlprcadsa cecrr3;1
palelJosse asoql aJp soml Io dnor8 luelrodurr raqtouy 'drnluar qlueeleuru dlree aql seloJ lpJluet Suldeld
uI uollelosl 1o porred oqr Surrnp pareadde tsrg due14 'acuarredxa a^EIS eql Jo tno
l1 'urodsulp uprtrpH
uroq 'errlrasse pue alrsserSSe are daql .soml ozrirlr.d er{l ele lsprluoJ u1 .luercue zfuazr
aq or rq8noqt arc pue sorlrep ueJr{V erc oseqJ .eqnJo1 E ol rerTrr.uBt d.rarr ag pFo^\
lerll saqroP Jo slsrsuoJ uoq2uou epEU ar1J 'suorleu to ,uoq?upu olralad arlf pue epe1
er{t eJE lueuodrur lsour ozlu eqJ .suoeqlued lera,res olur pepr^rp eq ueJ oml eqj-
roleu reld rrsnu pu' eru'C .(1.11 arn'rg ) oml arpaseadde ,ot"Tt:T:irhlJ$fJ Psr.urot ere. a tBgl s
", pal]nJlsuoJ ere sJEtlV ur suor8rlar snouaSrp
s8urrago pue 'slrrrds qlr^{ pesnJur aJE leql srcefgo SururBluoc
'(5 usrlarcur(s oqr ePnlf,
raldeq3 aos) eqnrol eqtJo oqstrc oql ot relrurs are rlrrq^\ .omlpellyr serlrep
Jo aql se qcns (ursrlarc
uoeglued Pseq nopo1 uEI1IEH 'slentrr uerrrtv lsa/N elquasar dlasolc slpnlg nopo1 pup
'sarlrap erups aql 1o dueur sdrqs;ozu, l1 .uor8rlar uetrr{V lsal( E sderu, dueu ur sr nopo^
Jo uortuelal aql lrrur
sJatpq nopo11 ruoJt slreJl Jo 3ursry
Sunlrorrra.r E sr uaqo
'noPo^ ecrlcerd oslE sf,rlorpE3 passal0rd;o dlrroleur eql pu€ ouo Jo tuauracelder a
'Suorrs surerueJ nopo^ re^ 'peqsqq€rse ueaq e^pq saqf,JngJ lu€rseloJd dueur q8noqrp
.drlunoc JrTor{rpJ e ,(geurruou sr rlreH ,{epo1 .padolarrep nopo^
leql uorlelosr Jo
por.rad srqt Surrnp sp^\ tI '09gI llrun urnler rou prp ,(3rap rrToqleo fqre11 q1r.Ll suorl
-EIer tJo elorg pu? togI ul slsarrd slr pelleJer uEsDEA er.lJ 'plro.^d eql
Jo lser eql uroJJ
pet€losr arueJeq nreH tlnseJ B sV .erurl auos JoJ pleqqlr^\ sem uorlruBocar rrleuroldrp dreuorssrur Jo aJuasa
pue 'srogq8reu str qrur repdod tou se,la, selels-xe to pauroJ cqqndar p
Jo tuaurqsrl 'aldruexa roy'sar:euo
-qplse eqJ 't6gI ul acuepuadapur slr porelrep .plrol6. aqr ur cqqndar >lJelq rsr5 1Keu elElrr.urssE 01 3l
aql 'rlrc11 a133nr1s pa8uolord e ;eqy .ssed ot atuer llo^er^\eNe^EIs parEOJ er+ O6LI uI pue 'lenlrr uensuq3
'suor34er uEJrryV Jreql ol IaAEJI lq8tu auoar
errlrerd ol Panulluof, ,(eqr rnq (usIJrTorllBJ to steuel Jrseg lsoru aql
Jo eJE^ E dlen8e,r uo eJoru sruelsds sno
erue)aq se^Bls aql eurt JoAO 'esod.rnd srql JoJ puEI Jrar{r uo slsarrd pe./vrolle sJaud\opuel
A4.at esnef,eg 'uollcnrlsur snor8qar ou Jo alilrl ualr8 arazrr sarrels 1(uoruarac usrldeq Surpuno:rns erlt Jo s
E ueql raqlo 'taa 'uor8rlar rrloqre3 eqt ur papnrtsur pup paatdeg aq ot peq se^els
IJE arrr trala,,r,tog .slellaq
lBrp POeJleP lueururerroS qJueJd eql lfunluar qluaelue^es alel aqr uI .suoqleqet a^€ls 'suor8rler rer{ro
Jo sle
Jo Jeal luBlsuoJ ur pa^rl oqrrr 'stsruolo3 qJuaJc aql perequnulno uoos sa^BIS er{I ur dreuorsnl)xe JJp rt
'Eorrtv lselN uor8rlar euo ruo{ slua
ruor; lq8norg eJe/[ sel€ls Jo sraqrunu e3re1 pue .alrsuelur roqel drarr sr uonelrllnf,
auecre8n5 'runJ pue sesselotu Jo uorpnpoJd aqr se qcns .re8ns ol polBIeJ sertr^rl3e pue eq deur Ientrr uertsrn
uolle^Illn3 le8ns o1 pelBJIPeP ernlprrr8e uonelueld to asneoeq dle8rel 'ueaqgrre3 saruoJag uJqo Poc
aqt ur soruoloJ lsa{,lJrJ eql Jo euo oruef,eg dgentuana urpH Jo duoloc_ qtuerC eql or Po8 uSlaro; Intra^
('Jrlqndou ueJru[uoc uraqr ge.r3 ol alqp err
eqr ;o drrunoc Sulleeds-qsrued5 aqr sr depol e1oruudsr11 to lser eql) duoloc qruerJ
B eueceq FIaH'L69l uI 'Z6VI ur sngrunloJ raqdorsrrq3 dg parerocsrp se.,la qrlq^,\ SuDeururop aqr pue 3
'e1orueds41 ;o pu€lsr ueaggrJeJ eqr Jo pJrrlt uJolsa^\ aql sardnoco rlrpH
Jo drlunoo eq1
PelEurruoP P asnEJeq
nopollJo t{to7s11q euo luory .{\ou ol em
997 turueeu ro, qrreas eq1
^^au
 !n }e l- of

:_n Role

Legba As me A
dtresfrd.
and dte s
b the fin
greeed i
Danbala Lvo d rz
Ayida Danbab
and
Wddo lrq his u
sPrrn

fuwe Protecto

Ezili Lwo d le
Dantd modprtr
modter:
Ezili Freda Lwo of Io

Gede Lwo d de
trickster

Aaaka Lwo o[ ag

Lasirdn Female h
brings hx
patron d(
Figure l/.1 Vodou altar. This replica of aVodou alar was set up as part of the exhibit "sacred Arts of Ogou Lwo of v*
Haitian Vodou" at the American Museum of Natural History in NewYork,Vodou priest mighc pn
Sauveur St. Cyr is seen in front of a painting of the /wo Azaka/St. lsidore, the lwo of agriculture.

artistic motifs, but also particular ways of speaking and music and dance movements. were imported to
'West
Each lwa is known to be partial to certain foods that are used as offerings. In general, fusion of Afri
the Rada lwa like things that are "cool," such as candies and sweet drinks; the Petwo Slavery lasted lor
lwalike things that are "hot," such as strong drinks like rum and spicy foods. in the New World r

An example of syncretism is the association of parricular lwa with Catholic saints slaves as well as cot
and manifestations of the Virgin. Symbolism in the chromolithographs (colored post- mutual aid societie
ers) used by early priests who attempted to bring Christianity to the slaves *", ,e.n societies, and todal-
",
symbolic of the deities. Perhaps the oldest and most venerated of the deities is Danbala, States. In the Unit,
the Rada serpent deity. His domain is rain, fecundity, and wisdom. Danbala is depicted Angeles, the religio
as Saint Patrick, who is pictured on the chromolithographs with snakes at his feet. In charms, herbs, and
Vodou art, Danbala is often seen with his wife Ayida wEdo, the rainbow serpent. Santeria deities. <

cretism as the Haia

Sonterio with particular sair
Saint Barbara.
other religious movements, similar in form and function to vodou, developed Although Santeri
throughout the Caribbean,Brazil, and other parts of the New world where slaves the name was orig
 se^€ls eraq^\ Plrolil
se ,ryres daqr reqm alou ol qsrued5 eqr dq pasn 'a.,lrlerotad [1pul8lJo sE.lfr elupu eql
.urrou4 dluoururoc lsotu 1v\ou sr [q eureu eqf sr Pualuoc q8noqfly
uorSrler sqf qlrg,r\ padola,rap 'nopon
'eJeqJEg lurEs
sr o3ueq5 pue
ssaparrew rures sr elel8go 'ra1e4 lure5 sr unSg :sluIES relncBred qlul
palerf,osse aJB .saru?u Bqnro rraqr dq u..r,rou>I 'oqstto eql'pml UEI1IEH aql s? tuslleJc 'luadras l\oqurB
-uds eures oql ,(6 rardeq3) oolst,to arusu eqnro^ agr dq palpo 'serlraP €IreluEs
-'uor8rTeJaqrJosJs^\ollotdqpasnslPrJelBluJaqloPuu'sqraq'surreqc
^\oqs uJ 'laeJ slq lE sa{Pus
panrdep sr PpquEC'r
feqf seJots Jo 'selruelog Jo lxaluoc eql uI uaas uaqo lsorusr uor8rlar aqt'sela8uy
iles 'solBls 'epqueq sr seurap ar
soT s€ qcns .suorlepdod crueds4l e3re1 qlr^{ s€erB ut s31€1S PelFn 3qr uI
sB uaes se^\ seAPIs JIF
peliun eqr Sulpnlcur 'p1ro,1tr na51 aql uI sBere reqlo ol P?erds seq r1 fepor pue 'sorletcos -rsod parolor) sqde.d
.sEeJE ueqrn uI sgnlf,
esaql ,o tno padole,lap ErJalu€s IEIf,os Pu" sellalJos PIE I€nlnu
slurEs JrloqleJ qll^\
snorJEA PuP SBOJB snoulElunolu alolueJ uI seAEIS Paeg Jo sellruntutuoJ sP IIei sB seAPIs 'sPooJ ,brds p
(eurrl srql Ig 'ge gf uI
peert to Jaglunu a3rc1 e ore,ry\ eral{l Parmf,ro PIrolN 'v\oN oql uI
o^ued eqt lslutrp raa
i""iol, qrp"a5 rsEI srqr Jo aruepuadapul .pleH ur ueql Eqn) ur ra3uol parsel d^re,re15
'urslf,I1oqtED qsruedS pue 'eqnrol dllreurud 'suor8qar UPJITFV rselN Jo uorsnt 'leraua8 u1 's8ulrago
'sluetua^otu eJueP P
p r.uoJ, eqn3'ur'padole^3p ErJslues.suonelueld e3re1 aqr >IJo^& ol palrodurr aralt
'a.rnt;nrl.rte 1o Dry aqr'a/
rsa;ld nopol'lro1l aN
tq;uepleg 1o sJEr,o JoDelo.rd xqtlut suv
Jo Por)es,, rlqlqre e
onlq Pu? Pau saue['r5 spJol s 'uoJl 'eJlJ &aqlgur pw J?A ro D 4l noSg
su?r)lsnur 1o Agep uo;red
uoterp e qrlm JOJJ![n L(euou.t pue 1rn1 stutrq
olrq^A'onl€ ?quEh'}s 'qs!} 'sPreu.lJoN :?es otp,o o,ry eleulaJ u?Jrsrl
uluaP adrd
aroPlsl '}s '3eq ,lre.Bs lPq l PrlS e.rrn1 nrr.rte 1o o,r't1 qezv
'al!ql 'uaaJ9
sual auo
tursslu sasselt uns
'req dot'sauoq ssoJ) &1ep rets>1c1.tl
.JalEoq :ql€oP,o D 4l oPa9
eld.rnd'pqg lauqEg 'ls Pu€ llnls'ssorJ
SA oJJOS seAoP
arlq^ 5luld 'sJal ou'su?eH Anxn; pue alol ,o D/'J EPaJI !llzl
,o euuoP€N
sJaqloul
euuoPPr\1 ;o .roralo.rd :pooqraqlou Qlu?cl
JolorlllnN )|]PE eql 8rd )|Jelq'alq !?eH PUE &llluel ,o D ',t'l il23
qsg e 3u1p1oq aJIDP S,lEJltlJP?
uaeJ9 r.]ruln 'ls 'sllaqs leoq prqu ees re sd;qs ro JoDaloJd er'tV
turds
arlue s,doqs;q oquleJ aqr sl ert^ slt{ :o^1, OP?M
^
alo ep1{y pue
'oloq tu;tnqt;1 ro lsePlo oqr sl PlequEc
'l oquleJ ?uedta5 'lr1;pe1 pue ll€Juler lo D^4-l Pl€quEc
ar!qM lrurPd 'rs
lPnllJ u! Paraert
eq ol Dttl lsJU eql sl
eqBel ';e.rnleu.redns aql pue
pa.r 'arro;1el JalsooJ sueurnq uaa^ laq Ploqsarqr
'etuerg relad ?s 'ed1d'saqrrru3 aqrlo uelp.rent aql sy eqtal
slolo) sD ueas qoguls
noPoAuPlllEH to D q oql l'l I anot
159 Butueeu l ou roj qrJBas aql
258 The search for new meaning
----------------
an unusual amount of attention being paid to the Catholic saints as opposed to Jesus against by the
Christ. The proper name for the religion is Regla de Ocha, or Rule of the Orisha, community arr
although Santeria is used as well. The religion is also known for being secretive.
Relatively little information about beliefs, rituals, and symbols is released to the
general public.
The origins o

One reason for the secrecy is the use of animal sacrifice in ritual, which has led to Anthony Wall:
conflict between practitioners of Santeria and political authorities in the United States. ment.1 In the e
The issue is whether animal sacrifice should be permitted as part of the First Amendment acceptable ratr
protection of the free exercise of religion or whether it should be banned under statutes intolerable to r

preventing cruelty to animals. The matter has not been resolved, but most U.S. police holism and dr
organizations have become more understanding and permissive about this practice, and serve as a teml
the courts have generally upheld the right to practice animal sacrifice. Increasing e:
many of whic
amount of strt
Revitalization movements economic patt
Societies that are situated next to each other experience diffusion, the flow of culture For example, i
traits that are then adjusted to fit into the receiving culture. This is especially true if with the effeo
the two societies are roughly equal in terms of technology and economy. However, the Alcoholism, dr
situation often arises in which one culture is able to establish economic and political within the soci
dominance and superimpose itself on another. The situation can be a direct takeover, to destroy the i
as when one society conquers another and maintains economic, political, and military objects and sac
control, or it can be indirect, as when a missionary or an economic enterprise-a shoe tices of the dor
factory, for example-shows up in a community. A missionary or factory manager moYements ar|
might not have the political power of a conquering state but still represents a more Celtic revival i
technologically advanced sociery with things that people come to want and need. At this stage
The flow of events differs in each situation, but generally speaking, a massive intro- the members c
duction of items from a dominant culture can have a dramatic effect on the receiving margins of tha
culture. The end result could be the destruction of a culture. The people might survive, begins when ar
but they end up becoming a mere reflection of the dominant culture, living on the and takes step
fringes of that culture. Moreover, demoralization manifests itself in many maladaptive becomes contr
behaviors. or prophet, ar
One society might be totally assimilated into another, it might simply disappear as thought of as s
an entity, or it might exert itself and become a viable subculture within the larger People who
culture. Frequentlg however, there is a reaction that often manifests itself as a religious status, and att(
or secular movement known as a rcvitalization movement. flexible at firsq
A revitalization movement is one that forms in an attempt to deliberately bring about sets itself off, c
change in a society. The change is perceived as more bearable and satisfactory to those ment, if succe:
under pressure. The movement may be secular, but they are very frequently religious can become pa
movements, complete with mythology ritual, and symbolism, and may result in the culture. Or the
formation of a new religion. These are deliberate activities, frequently initiated by an disappears, ofi
individual or a small group that promises better times and solutions to the problems
that besiege the community or are perceived as a threat to the community,
Revitalization movements arise from a number of perceived stressful and often
Types of revi
'We
traumatic situations. These situations include political and economic marginalization can recogr
(loss of effective political participation), economic deprivation and poverty, and develop in soc:
malnutrition and high levels of chronic or epidemic diseases. There may also be less cultures is vasl
tangible stresses within the social structure that arise when a culture is discriminated a return to the