Santería: Correcting the Myths and Uncovering the Realities of a Growing Religion
"A practitioner as well as a scholar, Clark provides an introduction to the religion that was developed in Africa and brought to the Americas, and is part of the Orisha worship religious system. She treads a middle ground between the inaccuracies of popular sensational works, and the technical terminology of specialist academic studies."-Reference & Research Book News"Clark provides an accessible, sympathetic introduction to an often-misunderstood religion, Santeria. Intended for seekers or those with no background in the religion, the book even provides instructions on worship etiquette. In ten brief but clear chapters, Clark takes the reader from the origins of the religion in Africa (chapter 2) to a discussion of its mythologies and deities or orishas (chapter 4), to an explanation of its rituals of divination (chapter 7) and initiation (chapter 8), to a consideration of its future in the US (chapter 10). The book is best in explaining how Santeria is different from yet appropriates other Caribbean religions--Spiritism (Espiritismo) and Palo Monte--as it morphs into Santerismo….A useful glossary lists Spanish and Yoruba words used in the religion. Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates, general readers."-Choice"Clark, who is both a scholar and a practitioner of Santeria, does a very good job of explaining both the concepts and the rituals in such a way that even those not initially receptive to this tradition will at least come to understand the rather sophisticated thinking behind it….This is a very clear and informative book on an important and growing religion that would be valuable in any library."-Catholic Library World