Umbandism combines religious believes and practices from traditional African societies, native Brazilian religions and Catholicism. It also depicts heavy Spiritualism with significant resemblance to Candomble. The history of Umbanda has it that it started in Brazil under Zelio Fernandino. Over the years, it has spread to neighboring Uruguay and Argentina.
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.
Catholic influence has seen some of the followers believing that certain catholic saints emit some forces or powers that are called orixas. These energies or forces are considered divine. Faithful also seek the intercession of spirits of their deceased relatives and friends. Their rituals involve interacting with them.
The pillars of Umbandism include reincarnation and Karma. This is clearly seen in their rituals that include intercession by dead ancestors. Karma is a principle that signifies that nothing bad goes unpunished by nature while good things are always rewarded.
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.
Zelio is credited with founding Umbanda in the early 1900. His influence emanated from his psychic powers under Kardec Allan. This enabled him to depart with a sizable number of followers while he was still based in Rio de Janeiro. Umbandism is tainted with some of the practices by followers of Kardec. The native Brazilian influence was not authentic since it borrowed heavily from the African slaves.
It is on November 08, 1908 that Zelio, at 15 years of age, formed Umbanda. His psychic power enabled him to manifest in two spirits. This was not convincing to followers of Allan but it gave him a starting point. His religion gained momentum in the 1930s after political turmoil shook Brazil. The citizens wanted a unifying factor which they found in Umbanda. They considered it the most authentic manifestation of the Brazilian culture.
There are priests and priestesses in Umbanda temples who interact with spirits on behalf of worshipers. The temples are built like the Catholic churches and are called terreiros. Their worship ceremonies are characterized by dances, eating and drinking. There are sacrifices made to God and accompanied by chanting. For visitors to join the group, they are likely to have manifested a spirit.
Despite Umbandists identifying with Catholicism, many religious groupings consider them ungodly. In particular, the Catholic Church is opposed to the worship of spirits and mockery of sainthood. While evangelicals can be credited for enhancing spiritualism among the faithful, they consider their way of practice inappropriate and insist that it causes possession by demons.
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.
Catholic influence has seen some of the followers believing that certain catholic saints emit some forces or powers that are called orixas. These energies or forces are considered divine. Faithful also seek the intercession of spirits of their deceased relatives and friends. Their rituals involve interacting with them.
The pillars of Umbandism include reincarnation and Karma. This is clearly seen in their rituals that include intercession by dead ancestors. Karma is a principle that signifies that nothing bad goes unpunished by nature while good things are always rewarded.
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.
Zelio is credited with founding Umbanda in the early 1900. His influence emanated from his psychic powers under Kardec Allan. This enabled him to depart with a sizable number of followers while he was still based in Rio de Janeiro. Umbandism is tainted with some of the practices by followers of Kardec. The native Brazilian influence was not authentic since it borrowed heavily from the African slaves.
It is on November 08, 1908 that Zelio, at 15 years of age, formed Umbanda. His psychic power enabled him to manifest in two spirits. This was not convincing to followers of Allan but it gave him a starting point. His religion gained momentum in the 1930s after political turmoil shook Brazil. The citizens wanted a unifying factor which they found in Umbanda. They considered it the most authentic manifestation of the Brazilian culture.
There are priests and priestesses in Umbanda temples who interact with spirits on behalf of worshipers. The temples are built like the Catholic churches and are called terreiros. Their worship ceremonies are characterized by dances, eating and drinking. There are sacrifices made to God and accompanied by chanting. For visitors to join the group, they are likely to have manifested a spirit.
Despite Umbandists identifying with Catholicism, many religious groupings consider them ungodly. In particular, the Catholic Church is opposed to the worship of spirits and mockery of sainthood. While evangelicals can be credited for enhancing spiritualism among the faithful, they consider their way of practice inappropriate and insist that it causes possession by demons.
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