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VOODOO
Its roots are believed to be varied and include the Fon, Mina, Kabye, Ewe, and Yoruba peoples of West Africa, from western Nigeria to eastern Ghana. In Benin, Vodun is the national religion, followed by around 80% of the population, or some 4½ million people.
Like most faith systems, the core functions are to explain the forces of the universe, influence those forces, and influence human behavior. Voodoo's oral tradition of faith stories includes genealogy, history and mythology, see
African Mythology (Pantheon.org).
On the other Hand, Voodoo is commonly used for the West Caribbean, especially Haiti, spiritual system ( Haitian Voodoo) which has evolved from the West African origins, see Haitian Mythology (Pantheon.org). The Vodoun religion was suppressed during slavery and Reconstruction in the United States, but maintained most of its West African elements.
Principles
The Vodoo Gods or spirits are called Loa (Lwa). They are somewhat akin to saints or angels in Western religions in that they are intermediaries between Bondye (Bon Dieu, or good god).
Teachings
Spiritual power can be gained when one is possessed by
a spiritual entity, i.e. a Loa.
Only a Voodoo priest called a
Hougan
or a Voodoo priestess called a
Mambo
can become possessed.
You have to be initiated and have to know the passwords
and handshake and so to recognize a rel one from a fraud.
The Vodou initiation is called a Kanzo and is aimed to invoke
possession and improve the ability of it's candidates to become possessed.
Both are considered as a healer or master of voodoo.
Services for which Houngans and Mambos are paid include spells called wanga,
ceremonies to heal people who have been made ill through magical means,
divination (usually with cards), ceremonies for particular lwa made at the
request of another person, and initiation ceremonies. Houngans and Mambos do
NOT charge people admission for the privilege of attending ceremonies, the
vast majority of which are open to the public. In cases where the ceremony is
private and magical as opposed to religious, the person requesting the magic
pays for the wanga, but not for the right to attend the ceremony.
For more take a look at rootswithoutend.org.
Ancient Texts
Teachings and traditions are passed orally.
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