Breaking The Power Of Voodoo & Witchcraft in Haiti
Voodoo worshippers in Haiti are a common sight. Millions of Haitian people live under bondage of voodoo power and witchcraft.
But there is no darkness where the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ cannot shine.
On today’s edition of Truthtalk Live, guest-host Robby Dilmore (aka) “The Christian Car Guy” welcomes Pastor Ignace Augustin.
It may seem hard to believe, but Pastor Ignace (seen here with with his family) was once caught up in voodoo worship and witchcraft himself. Pastor Ignace came face to face with gospel and was not only radically changed, the Lord opened a door for him to go to bible college in the U.S.
After graduation, he returned to Haiti and founded Bethanie Evangelical Mission. Today the mission supports an orphange, medical clinic, bible school and is also involved in radio ministry, well-digging and reaching the Haitian people with the gospel.
20 Comments on “Breaking The Power Of Voodoo & Witchcraft in Haiti”
Actually, it’s called Vodou[In Haiti].
It originated in West Africa, and it’s not even half as scary as the movies and religious fanatics would have you believe. In the American Deep South it came to be called “voodoo”, and it has two related practices called Hoodoo and Santeria.
I find that nothing is quite as scary as what the religious fanatics would have you believe, from voodoo to health care reform.
[Smile]
Actually Kash, the coming financial collapse of our country is FAR WORSE than anything religious fanatics are going on about. In fact did you know that just TODAY the dollar dropped to…
Oh wait, thats Mike’s job.
In other thoughts…does it not ocurr to some of you missionaries and evangelicals that so-called “witchcraft” might have an important socio-cultural place within these peoples’ heritage and community, and that for these people to divest themselves of such a heritage and practice might be tantamount to religious and cultural self-destruction?
On a nicer note, much of the aid and support (Orphanages, clinics, etc) that you all bring to these people is invaluable. And I know you don’t only provide it on condition of acceptance of Christianity. I just hate the thought of any religion, culture or practice being destroyed by Christian “missions”. I know it’s not the reason you go over there, but it can often be an undesirable consequence.
Jean Brierre, a Haitian undersecretary of state, concerning visitors to his land of Haiti: “Most of them cannot realize that Voodoo, or Vodun as we also call it, isn’t black magic at all but a benign religion practiced by more than ninety per cent of our people—a religion which in their view does not prevent their being also good Catholics. A Haitian who goes to a Voodoo houmfort, or temple, on a Saturday evening participates in the rites all night, then goes to a Catholic church and attends Mass early the following morning. . . . If you’ll look into it, you’ll find that many of the Voodoo gods and goddesses, or loas, as we call them, have their counterpart in Catholic saints.”
In New York City, Roman Catholic Church officials recently admitted to doubts as to whether they should take action against santeria, a cult originating in Cuba that—like voodoo—has a mixture of Catholic and African religious beliefs. Santeria practices include such things as altars in the home, special clothing, charms and potions, spiritism and animal sacrifices. Estimates of the number of adherents in New York City run as high as 300,000, according to the Daily News of January 6, 1983. Why the hesitation to act? Admits Catholic Church official Francisco Dominquez: “Some of these are practices that are abberations of the Catholic faith. But if you say it’s junk, you’re getting rid of a lot of people.”
Santeria is extremely popular down here in southern Florida, too.
Isn’t freedom of religion great?
God Bless America!
My sister studied Santeria as part of classes she had to take on the occult. She was at the time a Miami Metro Dade Police officer working in the Abused Children’s division. After 27 years with the department, working in different divisions, she retired. Most of her years were spent investigating cases involving child abuse. The stories she told me just about made me sick. Anyone that thinks these are cultural practices which should be preserved just do not know what they are talking about.
BTW, I am of Cuban descent and have some relatives that practice certain elements of Santeria. Even as a child I found it rather strange. Even my mother was superstitious about certain things. She believed that having sea shells in the house would bring bad luck. Of course every time I went to the beach, which was often living in Miami when bus fares were 5 cents, I brought home as many seashells as I could sneak into the house. For me it was a game, for her it was agony everytime she came across my little collection.
I recall one time when I had a particularly bad accident at home and had to be taken to the hospital for stitches. My mother said, “See what having those seashells in the house did!” From then on I gave all my teachers, at those I did not like, seashells. As I recall, not a single one of the teachers I disliked ever missed a day of school.
Oh, BTW Chris C, just as I expected the US dollar rallied today and gold pulled back. It is all part of the process; nothing goes straight up nor straight down. Gold is now forming a Swiss Staircase in its chart pattern. A very rare but powerful formation that shows it is in a strong bull market. My guess is that it will take the rest of the month forming this step before it launches on up to my first target of real resistence $1225. After a consolidation at that level, it will go to $1280 and then on to $1700 before it takes another rest. The US dollar has a long way to fall, regardless of what the talking heads say about a “Dollar Revival.”
One could say that the US dollar has been made into a puppet while Ben Bernanke and Tiny Tim Geithner mesmerize the world with their strong dollar chants, but continue to stick thousands of pins in the poor little thing.
Before you make a blanket statement that anyone who has a different opinion than you on this subject doesn’t know what they’re talking about, Mike…perhaps you should consider some of the horrible things other people have done in the name of their religious or cultural beliefs. Warren Jeffs (Mormon), Osama Bin Laden (Islam), The Catholic Church during the inquisition, not to mention the many charlatan televangelists who have essentially stolen money from their followers. it is a dangerous business to broad-brush an entire religion or people group based on the extreme, unethical practices of some of their more extreme followers.
If other human beings are being murdered or physically harmed by a religious or cultural practice, then I am personally against it. Otherwise, try to check your religious and ethical notions at the door when you learn about these other people. You may (*may*) find that their lives and beliefs are not so different from your own, or from the rest of us for that matter.
Mike could you perhaps share some “watered down” stories of child abuse that you were told by your sister and how they involved the religion of Santeria? I already knew that you were of Cuban decent from reading your posts. You mentioned it while arguing with Kash and MattF. about the economy on another thread.
Eloquently put Chris C.
I know its off topic, but I just wanted to let you all know that I got my swine flu vaccine this morning (along with my children) and we are all just fine. I scanned myself afterwards with my microchip reading at the vet clinic, and I’m pretty sure they didn’t implant a chip in me in a secret plot to take over the world. Still, I’ll let you know if I start zombie-walking and chanting “Universal health care…universal health care…universal health care.”
Chris: “Before you make a blanket statement that anyone who has a different opinion than you on this subject doesn’t know what they’re talking about”
My basic point was that my sister had to study Santeria and Voodoo as part of her training in abuse. She did not have to study, Hinduism, Buddism, Christianity, or Islam.
I agree with you Chris that any religion or set of beliefs can be bastardized, but some beliefs lend themselves to such practices more so than others. No doubt, the Inquision is not something the Catholic church should be proud of. The faith healing movement has also done great harm as people have not gotten medical treatments for illnesses and some have even died.
John: “Mike could you perhaps share some “watered down” stories of child abuse that you were told by your sister and how they involved the religion of Santeria?”
My sister had been retired now for almost 10 years, and it has been decades since we have talked about her experiences in that field, so it is hard for me to recall any details but I do remember her speaking of children, animal sacrifices and bloodletting. I have also lived my life away from family so it is not like we talked every day.
I do remember one story about a child that had numerous injuries (cuts and burns) on his body inflicted by people practicing the occult. I do not remember if it was due to Santeria or Voodoo. There were also cases of sexual abuse practiced by a specific group. Most cases investigated by the police had to do with animal cruelty. My sister only dealt with suspected child abuse cases.
Ah, well thanks anyways, Mike.
Cute, Kash[grin].
Hi. I realize that this topic is dead, but please can anyone who is adhering to both christianity and these other practices please tell me how they reconcile the things said in the old and new Testament with these practices? I am not over religious (in the common sense) and have taken no offense whatsover. Its just that I noticed that most of you are reasonable and am hoping to understand your views through some discussion. Again, I am not here to attack or condemn …
Welcome Keith[smile]!
Unfortunatly I am not the “right kind” of a person to help you with this, as I am not involved in either of these two theological belief systems. But perhaps someone better qualified will come along and help satisfy your curiosity.
Is their a connection between the 7.0 earthquake and witchcraft in Haiti, I am not saying yes or no, for I am not Christ, but it’s definitely food for thought.
Give it a few weeks, Keith.
FoodForThought, post 18,
Welcome to the website.
Do you mean, like, as if they deserved the earthquake and massive death toll because of the witchcraft in Haiti, FoodForThought? Is that what you are trying to imply?