Introduction
Today, religion has become one of the major sources of spiritual support and unity for society. People need to believe in something to maintain similar purposes and lifestyles. Among a variety of existing religions, Santería is commonly practiced in Cuba and promoted worldwide due to immigration. Santería is polytheistic, meaning the presence of multiple deities in this religion. It is based on the elements of local religion, the Yoruba, and Catholicism (Lavery, 2021). In this presentation, the case of the Forrest Community Center (FCC) will be used to explain the effectiveness of Santería for promoting equality in diverse populations and recognizing gender roles and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA) minorities. The faith of Santería presupposes identity neutrality and the density from God, which more or less approves the FCC approach.
Santería’s Features
Santeríans believe in the orisha deities, the gods with whom people need to interact through different techniques. Despite similar elements from other religions, e.g., Yoruba (the hierarchy of deities) and Catholicism (the sacramental system), Santería is known for its unique features, namely divination, sacrifice, initiation, and mediumship. Santeríans use cowry shells and coconuts as the major divination objects to obtain information from the oricha (Wirtz, 2018). Animal sacrifice is another critical element in Santería to offer animals to their deities to be blessed at birth, marriage, or death. To join the religion, its potential members should take the initiation procedure to promote triadic equivalence between the orisha, an individual, and objects (Wirtz, 2018). White colors are preferred as a sign of purity and the importance of the aura’s cleansing effect (Roca-Martínez, 2021). Finally, communication with deities requires attention and preparation, and mediumship is a part of Santería’s faith to be possessed by a spirit and share information.
Spirituality
Santería is based on several important aspects of spirituality for people to develop their relationships with gods. Santeríans expect to obtain help from different orishas deities to organize their lives, manage their rituals, and follow their destiny. The connection with ancestors (deceased spirits) guides the believers. Santeríans use different objects as the means of communication with spirits; thus, it is wrong to say that they talk to shells, stones, or fruits. Finally, people are encouraged to respect nature and consider it a physical embodiment of orishas in rivers, flowers, and the environment. Natural forces cannot be ignored because they become the main sources of divine energy.
Flexibility
One of the most interesting aspects of Santería is its flexibility. Despite its regular presence in the lives of the Cubans, the believers are free to change their interests. The reasons for Santería’s flexibility are rooted in its eclecticism or the presence of different sources of spirituality. On the one hand, orishas are the deities from the Yoruba dogma. On the other hand, Santería is the faith of the slaves, meaning the hierarchy of the relationships between people and their masters, which is a sign of Catholic traditions (The history of Santería, 2021). Together with the population’s development, new adaptations and changes in Santería become possible. The believers recognize different sources of attachment – natural objects or deceased spirits. Santería is open to new beliefs, depending on people’s needs and expectations. Still, one common denominator – orisha worship – unites Santeríans and explains similar rituals and obligations.
Rules and Guidelines
Santería is not a complex religion, with a few rules and regulations to be followed. There are no specific scriptures to be obligatory read and respected by Santeríans, and all information is passed in oral communication and during the rituals. People do not have particular places where Santería is practiced, and most altars and meetings are organized at home (Lavery, 2021). There are no age or gender restrictions that define the appropriateness of the practitioner. The only requirements are to pass an initiation process for seven days (as the seven is a sacred number in Santería) and to wear white clothes as a sign of purity and devotion (The history of Santería, 2021; Roca-Martínez, 2021). During the initiation, a person is assigned to one orisha who will help and guide them during their lifetime.
Santería and Gender Issues
Santería originated in Cuba to unite enslaved Black people and give them new rights and spiritual freedoms. There are no particular gender-based restrictions, and people of both genders could accept this faith, being assigned to a particular orisha. Santeríans have many male and female gods for which they create their altars at home. For example, Ochún is a female orisha, the goddess of love, with a bronze bell for dancing ceremonies (Wirtz, 2018). The FCC approach is based on female inclusion in leadership and management, which does not contradict the chosen religion. Santería welcomes both male and female figures, and regarding the offered review of the main features, no controversies between Santería and the FCC are revealed.
Santería and LGBTQIA Rights
Not many communities are ready to recognize and support LGBTQI rights and demonstrate unbiased attitudes. The FCC chooses to celebrate all identities, respect minorities, and offer financial support to all individuals in need. Santería is an African-Cuban religion where no scriptures are promoted, but attention is paid to initiation processes and communication with orishas (Wirtz, 2018). Communal participation is determined by deities’ possession, and Santeríans have to identify their roles and responsibilities, following their gods’ instructions. The goal is to help people accept their selves and avoid the impact of the existing social systems. Personal freedoms, various gods, and personal interests characterize the chosen religion. Financial fundraises are highly practiced by Santeríans, and regarding their positive attitudes towards gays, lesbians, and other authorities, it seems appropriate to initiate funds to support LGBTQI communities as a part of the FCC practice.
Discrimination Based on Religious Affiliation
Today, many groups experience discrimination based on religious affiliation even though this practice remains unlawful. The most common examples of such unfair treatment are not hiring people, not offering a promotion or financial rewards, and imposing an obligatory dress code, which contradicts some religions. There are many ways to avoid this type of discrimination in modern society, including additional employee training, communication with all team members, and promoting specific policies to support people’s beliefs and religious preferences.
Equitability, Diversity, and Inclusion
Everyone should consider diversity, Equitability, and Inclusion (DEI) issues in modern communities. The main recommendations to support equal and unbiased relationships are promoting equal employment and payment opportunities and free communication between employees. Some organizations may create special training programs to educate people about various religions and responsibilities. Sometimes, additional attention to obligatory holidays and rituals should be paid. Finally, when people gather feedback about their DEI practices, they can learn what is expected and obtained from the organization at the moment.
Conclusion
Religion cannot be ignored today because it contributes to a better understanding of human life. Santería is one of the best examples of how not to discriminate against people according to their demographic characteristics and personal interests. Santeríans promote equal opportunities for all individuals and a free choice of deities. The chosen religion positively responds to the FCC approach to support female leadership and LGBTQI issues. Its main idea is to focus on self-awareness and interpersonal cooperation when people learn from each other and respect their interests and beliefs.
References
The history of Santería. (2021). University of Oslo. Web.
Lavery, K. (2021). Factsheet: Santería in Cuba. United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Roca-Martínez, S. (2021). Ashé! Daymé Arocena: Santería, cultural contestation, and the politics of remembrance. A Contracorriente: Una Revista de Estudios Latinoamericanos, 19(1), 209-228.
Wirtz, K. (2018). Materializations of oricha voice through divinations in Cuban Santería. Journal de la Société des Américanistes, 104(104-1), 149-177.