7.08.2008
Brazilian State Confiscates Anti-Candomble Book
The state of Bahia in Brazil has confiscated all copies of the book "Yes, Yes! No, No! Reflections on Healing and Liberation" on the grounds that it makes false and prejudicial statements about the Afro-Brazilian religions of Candomble and Umbanda, and incites readers to destroy their objects of worship.
"A judge in the state of Bahia, Brazil, has ordered the confiscation of a book written by Catholic priest Jonas Abib, in which he condemns witchcraft as immoral. The book, "Yes, Yes! No, No! Reflections on Healing and Liberation," warns readers against the dangers of the occult, which includes the "Afro-Brazilian" religions known as "spiritualism." According to Fr. Abib's website, the book has gone through 81 printings and has sold over 400,000 copies. "Father Jonas, like Paul, dares to denounce works of darkness, making the reader aware of mind control, yoga, astrology, magic, and the invocation of the dead, revealing the truth about works of darkness, with which it is urgently necessary to separate," says a summary of the book posted on the same site.
The confiscation of a work is a pretty serious action, but it seems that the book by Jonas Abib, a Charismatic Catholic priest, went head-to-head with the state of Bahia's constitution. Bahia is the birthplace of Condomble, and the faith is explicitly protected.
"Public prosecutor Almiro Sena, however, has accused Abib of "making false and prejudiced statements about the spiritualist religion as well as religions from Africa, like Umbanda and Candomble, as well as a flagrant incitement to destruction and disrespect for their objects of worship." He added that the violation was more serious because "the State Constitution (of Bahia) says that it is the obligation of the state to preserve and guarantee the integrity, respectability, and permanence of the values of Afro-Brazilian religion." Ricardo Augusto Schmitt, a criminal court judge in the city of Salvador, Bahia ruled in favor of the prosecution in May, and ordered the confiscation of all copies of the book from book stores in the state."
Without that clause in the state constitution, the work could not have been confiscated. This doesn't affect the work's status in Brazil's other states. The ruling will most likely be appealed by the book's publisher, and the confiscation has incited claims that Bahia is trying to regulate the free exercise of Christianity.
"Federal Deputy Miguel Martini denounced the latest ruling on the floor of the nation's Camber of Deputies (the lower legislative house), and expressed his concern that Brazil is beginning to censor the beliefs of Christians. 'Where is this country going?" he asked. "There is a bill under consideration in the Senate that seeks to limit the expression, on the part of Christians, of their Biblical and Evangelical convictions. And now there is a (court) decision, which clearly should be appealed. I am certain that it will be overturned, because the publisher's juridical board has already taken legal action.'"
Obviously, a scenario like this would be all but impossible in America, where the First Amendment usually trumps attempts to control the publication of hateful or inaccurate information (otherwise Chick Publications would be out of business). We tend to error on the side of freedom, though if your work is proven to be defaming (something difficult to do), the writer and publishers can lose quite a bit of money from awarded damages until the work is removed from the shelves.
So the big question here is if Abib knowingly committed libel, or if he was merely giving his (religiously-informed) opinion of the Afro-Brazilian faiths. In other words, would an American court find the work libelous? Could a tort be filed against them? Should any state enshrine the "permanence" of a faith? What do you think?
Labels: African diasporic religion, Bahia, Brazil, Candomble, Christianity, free speech, law, Religion, Umbanda
6.06.2008
Let Us Convert Uncontacted Tribes!
A major news story making the rounds has concerned photos of an "uncontacted" indigenous tribe in Brazil, sparking debate over the treatment and rights of these isolated communities. While some, like Peruvian oil and gas interests, contest that there is no such a thing as an "uncontacted" tribe, others, most notably Survival International and CIPIACI, have urged the Brazilian government to ensure the protection of their territory.
Uncontacted Indians in Brazil, May 2008
© Gleison Miranda/FUNAI
"There are more than one hundred uncontacted tribes worldwide, with more than half living in either Brazil or Peru. All are in grave danger of being forced off their land, killed and decimated by new diseases. Survival has launched an urgent campaign to get their land protected..."
Now a third party, evangelical Christian missionaries, have weighed in on the subject of these tribes. Unsurprisingly, they want to foray in and "contact" them with the love of Christ, damn the consequences (such as decimating them with disease).
"It’s hard to understand how providing medical care and literacy is exploitation, especially among indigenous groups where the life expectancy of men and women is lower than average and suicide rates among youth are alarmingly high, but New Tribes and other mission organizations may face increasing opposition as governments like Venezuela’s and Brazil’s restrict outside access to tribes. In the process, those governments seem to be promoting the ideology of the “noble savage” and assuming it’s in the best interests of indigenous people to have no access to the modern world, or to the gospel."
The article also casts aspersions on Venezeula for kicking them out, despite a long history of missionary groups (particularly New Tribes Mission) committing acts of ethnocide, espionage, and outright insurrection in the country. These Christian missionary groups are also not fond of the recent Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the United Nations, which enshrines the right to religious integrity.
"The UN Declaration, adopted in September of 2007, grants broad national rights to natives and contains language that could cause problems for ... missionaries."
What sorts of "care" and "literacy" would groups like New Tribes Mission provide if allowed to evangelize these Indians? Here is a quote from a typical "teaching session" given to a recently contacted tribe.
"As John taught about the Ten Commandments he held up a mirror, showing the Ayores how he could look into it and see himself. Then he took mud and spread it all over his face. The people thought it was hilarious, but John brought out the seriousness of the lesson. He told them how, in the mirror, he could see the dirt all over his face and that God's Law was like a mirror. It showed people how they are dirty (sinful) before God."
You see, indigenous people need to be taught that they are dirty sinners (under constant divine surveillance), and that only conversion will get them "clean". I can't see how we could deny the missionaries this opportunity, after all, according to Pope Benedict they are "silently longing" for it! So remember, according to missionaries, cultural and religious integrity, freedom from diseases they have no immunity to, and land rights come second to the old carrot/stick scenario of "progress" in exchange for your soul.
Labels: Brazil, Christianity, conversions, Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, indigenous, Peru, Venezuela
6.02.2008
Paulo Coelho's Pagan Past (and Future)
The Telegraph in India interviews Ipsita Roy Chakraverti (India's most prominent Wiccan) concerning international best-selling author Paulo Coelho's spiritual life. Basing her assertions on the recent English translation of Coelho's 1990 book "Brida", Ipsita claims that Coelho is a Wiccan, like herself.
"There's more to Paulo Coelho than meets the eye. The Brazilian writer whose bestselling books are said to have a life-enhancing effect on millions across the world is a “wiccan” and a “mystic”. Coelho’s wicca link was brought under the scanner by Calcutta’s own wiccan Ipsita Roy Chakraverti at a book-reading session of his latest release Brida. Not only does Brida dwell on wicca, Coelho himself is a practitioner of the pagan religion that worshipped the Mother Goddess around 25,000 years ago, confirmed Ipsita."
If true, this would certainly be big news (the American equivalent would be Starhawk publicly outing an author of Toni Morrison's stature), except that it isn't. At least it isn't wholly true. If you look at Coelho's Wikipedia page, you'll find that the Brazilian author seems to be a part of some sort of mystic Catholic order. However, in the author's past, he was a student of the occult and in the 1970's tried to start a Aleister Crowley-influenced "alternative society" with Brazilian rock star Raul Seixas.
"Through Coelho, Seixas was introduced to the work of controversial English mystic Aleister Crowley, which influenced their collaboration. The influence extended not only to music, but also to plans for the creation of the "Alternative Society," which was to be an anarchist community in the state of Minas Gerais based on Crowley's premise: "'Do what thou wilt' shall be the whole of the Law." The project was considered subversive by members of the Brazilian military, which imprisoned all prospective members of the group. Seixas and Coelho are reported to have been tortured during their imprisonment."
However, Ipsita Roy Chakraverti's chronological mistake might turn out to be a subtle form of prophesy. In Coelho's latest book, "The Witch of Portobello", the author seems to be growing disillusioned with Catholicism, and explores the re-emergence of Goddess religion.
"A new witch-hunt is starting to gain ground. This time the weapon isn’t the red-hot iron, but irony and repression. Anyone who happens to discover a gift and dares to speak of their abilities is usually regarded with distrust. Generally speaking, their husband, wife, father or child, or whoever, instead of feeling proud, forbids all mention of the matter, fearful of exposing their family to ridicule."
So who knows, perhaps Paulo Coelho's Pagan past may eventually become his future.
Labels: Aleister Crowley, books, Brazil, Catholicism, India, Ipsita Roy Chakraverti, New Age, occult, Paganism, Paulo Coelho
4.23.2008
Umbanda Turns 100
The Miami Herald does a profile on the Afro-Brazilian religion of Umbanda, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Founded in 1908 after a teenager was possessed by an indigenous spirit named Caboclo das Sete Encruzilhadas ("Indian of Seven Crossroads"), the faith now boasts around 8 million devotees in Brazil, with a variety of off-shoots and unique traditions.
A practitioner possessed by the spirit of the Caboclo Sete Flechas.
"Umbanda has been a natural fit for a country where many believe in the everyday presence of spirits and omens. What's drawn the interest of international scholars is the religion's unmistakably Brazilian bent, which has won it fame as the country's only home-grown faith. Umbanda's Brazilian focus is most obvious in its pantheon of spirits, which includes popular folk figures such as the rogue, who's a fixture of street culture here; the freed slave known as the preto velho; and an indigenous warrior known as the caboclo, who can appear adorned with feathered headdresses and bows and arrows. Worshipers also can be possessed by someone from the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia, a cowboy from southern Brazil or a poor ranch hand. In its use of Brazilian folk mythology, it'd be as if worshipers in the United States were possessed by cowboys, astronauts and blues singers."
While Umbanda thrives and spreads around the world, in Brazil the faith is coming into conflict with the growing Pentecostal churches, who see their religion as devil-worship (anti-Umbanda "exorcisms" are often performed). Despite these problems, Umbanda provides a sort of spiritual therapy for adherents, and is a uniquely Brazilian manifestation of the myriad African syncretic faiths.
"At Friday's ceremony, dozens of people paid $4 each to ask worshipers embodying the spirits about everything from how to get a pay raise to what to do about an unfaithful spouse. The questions commonly sparked long discussions reminiscent of therapy sessions ... Cardoso said she joined the religion at age 17 after a possessed worshipper held her hands and cured her of a mysterious illness. She said she hasn't been sick in the nearly seven decades since then, a miracle she credits to the spirit world. 'Everyone has their faith, and Umbanda has been the faith of many Brazilians for many years,' she said. 'And it's worked for many of us.'"
Looking at Umbanda, you have to wonder what many of the modern Pagan faiths now flourishing in places like Britain, America, and Australia, will look like in fifty years. Will we mushroom to nearly ten million (or more, by some estimates), and become a major cultural force like Umbanda? If that comes to pass, what will we (and our faiths) look like? Whatever our eventual fate generations from now, we can learn a lot from looking at our "cousins" in faiths like Umbanda, Vodou, and Santeria. So happy anniversary to Umbanda, may they continue to thrive.
Labels: African diasporic religion, Brazil, Paganism, Umbanda
2.12.2007
Soap Features Brazilian Wiccans in Ireland
It isn't just America that likes to feature Witches on television. Proving perhaps that Brazil is a bit more daring in most areas of life, Brazilian company Globo Television is shooting a new Irish-Brazilian soap opera featuring a trio of Wiccans.
Malu Mader, Maria Flor, and Fernanda Vasconcellos as three Irish Witches
"Provisionally called Eterna Magia (Magic Eternal) the plot will centre on a provincial town in the Forties and Fifties, and will tell the story of the Sullivan sisters, who are three witches that support the Wicca religion - thus the Celtic connection ... The story will also deal with historical Irish emigration to Brazil, where many families of Irish descent still live ... "Ireland was chosen because of its rich history of witches and Celtic people. The country has important characteristics to be introduced to Brazilian public," said the spokesperson."
A Portuguese Wikipedia entry on the soap delivers a cast list, and some further plot developments. Involving, of course, a romantic interest from all three sisters in the same man!
"[The soap] will [tell] the history of three pretty sisters: Eva, Mariana and Sarah Sullivan, followers of the religion of Wicca. They could be happy, if they did not have a great problem: they are all passionate for the same man. [The] history of the soap will be inspired by Wicca, one of the traditions of the witches, and unfolds itself around a perfume store/factory, where most of the characters will work."
Here is what the writer of the soap, Elizabeth Jhin, explains as her motivations behind the ambitious television show.
"My intention is to make a novel that speaks of magic, therefore always I was interested myself for the subject. Moreover, I believe that we need a good dose of dream and fancy".
The real question now is, how does one get to see this program in America?
Labels: 2007 Wicca Alamanac, Brazil, Ireland, Magic Eternal, Paganism, Soap Opera, Witchcraft
