Syllabus
Introduction: introduction into the study of Afro-Caribbean religions. European colonization of the New World: political and historical context, colonization strategies of European powers, Roman Catholic and Protestant churches in colonial Caribbean.
Africa and the New World: transatlantic slave trade, characteristics of Atlantic slavery, religions and cultures of Western Africa, Herskovits theory of African survivals. Haitian Vodou: past and present context: Haitian revolution and roots of Vodou, Christian churches and Vodou.
Haitian Vodou: religious beliefs and rituals, organization and authority, religious syncretism. Cuban Santería: past and present context: Yoruba traditions in Cuba, Cuban revolutions and Afro-Cuban religions.
Cuban Santería: religious beliefs and rituals, organization and authority, divination, Yoruba religion in he Americas. Brazil: past and present context: Afro-Brazil religious scene since the end of 19th century (Candomble, Macoumba, Umbanda, Qimbanda).
Candomblé de Bahía: purity of tradition, memory and ethnographic knowledge; beliefs and rituals, organization and authority. Trinidad: Spiritual Baptists: history, sources and origin of Spiritual Baptists, characteristics, rituals (baptism, mourning, worship).
Jamaican Revival churches: past and present context; Protestant churches and mission among slaves, Revivalism (characteristics, worship). Jamaican Rastafarians: sources, origins and development of the Rastafari movement; religious beliefs and rituals, organization, ethics.
Internationalization of Rastafari. Afro-Caribbean religions at home and in diaspora.
Conclusion: differences and similarities, methods and theories in the study of Afro-Caribbean religions.
Annotation
The course Afro-Caribbean Religion focuses on historical roots, development and present expression of selected
Afro-Caribbean religions, as well as on theoretical concepts used for their description and/or analysis. The course is primarily for students of the Study of Religions; it presupposes basic knowledge concerning study of religions, cultural anthropology, sociology of religion and theology. Students will get an overview of Caribbean religious traditions in a wider historical and cultural context, which will enable them to describe, compare and explain difference among several Afro-Caribbean religions. Students should be also able to assess the impacts of slavery, colonialism and racism on the position of Afro-Caribbean religions at home and in diaspora.
Distance learning of the course Afro-Caribbean Religions will be held online (via Google Meet) in the scheduled time of the lecture.