The Faces of the Gods: Vodou and Roman Catholicism in Haiti [Hardcover]

Leslie G. Desmangles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1992

Vodou, the folk religion of Haiti, is a by-product of the contact between Roman Catholicism and African and Amerindian traditional religions. In this book, Leslie Desmangles analyzes the mythology and rituals of Vodou, focusing particularly on the inclusion of West African and European elements in Vodouisants' beliefs and practices.

Desmangles sees Vodou not simply as a grafting of European religious traditions onto African stock, but as a true creole phenomenon, born out of the oppressive conditions of slavery and the necessary adaptation of slaves to a New World environment.

Desmangles uses Haitian history to explain this phenomenon, paying particular attention to the role of the seventeenth- and eighteenth-century maroon communities in preserving African traditions and the attempts by the Catholic, educated elite to suppress African-based "superstitions." The result is a society in which one religion, Catholicism, is visible and official; the other, Vodou, is unofficial and largely secretive.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Vodou is an integral part of life for Haitians, providing a system of beliefs and practices that give meaning to life. The author (religion and area studies, Trinity Coll., Hartford) offers a historical perspective to Vodou in Haiti that shows the blending of Vodou with European and African religious traditions to create a religion indigenous to Haiti. Desmangles details four periods within Haitian history during which the process of "symbiosis" has allowed various religions to coexist without becoming one religon. He illustrates this point through the conceptual use of mythology in which Vodou deities are compared with Roman Catholic saints. Thus Haitians are able to attend Catholic Mass to talk about God and attend a Vodou ceremony to honor one of its deities. Recommended for more specialized collections.
- L. Kriz, Sioux City P.L., Ia.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

With this book Desmangles has made a significant contribution to providing a scholarly understanding of Vodou.

Sociology of Religion

An accessible, comprehensive overview of the folk religion of Haiti known as Vodou. . . . Highly recommended.

Choice

Likely to be the authoritative study on this topic for years to come.

Stephen D. Glazier, University of Nebraska at Kearney --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 218 pages
• Publisher: University of North Carolina Press (December 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807820598
• ISBN-13: 978-0807820599
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,982,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent study of Catholicism's Influence on Vodou, May 1, 2003

By 

Kenaz Filan (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Faces of the Gods: Vodou and Roman Catholicism in Haiti (Paperback)

There is a tendency among many Neopagans and Wiccans to distance themselves from Christianity and Christian symbolism. Among the African Diaspora traditions, this is far less common. At a Fet (Vodou ceremony), one frequently sees statues of saints standing in for the lwa -- and may even see festivals in honor of popular saints like St. Clare and St. Philomena. These religions have been strongly influenced by Roman Catholicism, and retain many of the symbols and preconceptions found in that venerable faith.

Desmangles is one of the first scholars to study these connections at length. His book provides solid historical evidence of Catholicism's role from the earliest days of Vodou, when Haiti was still St. Dominique and slavery was still the order of the day. He discusses how the Haitian Revolution led to the official Catholic Church pulling out of Haiti... and how an unofficial group of "priests" took over. Less educated than their predecessors, and less concerned with orthodoxy, they helped join Catholicism and Vodou together in the Haitian mind. Even after the return of Official Catholicism, and several "anti-superstition campaigns," this juxtaposition has not been erased.

If you're looking for a how-to guide (i.e. "How to Cast Spells," "How to be a Super Elite Voodoo Houngan"), you will be disappointed. If, on the other hand, you are looking for a solid and well-researched guide to Haitian Catholicism and its impact on Haitian Vodou, you'll be more than satisfied with this book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Concise and understandable., December 17, 2002

By 

bamaMuaddib - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Faces of the Gods: Vodou and Roman Catholicism in Haiti (Hardcover)

Vodou, while shrouded in mysticism and magic for many U.S. citizens is a rich and storied traditional practice and way of life in Haiti, with its variations of Santeria in Cuba and manifestations in Brazil and other Latin America.

Leslie Desmangles' stance on Vodou and Roman Catholicism being in a symbiotic relationship is interesting, and he defines the relationship adequately, though I would disagree with that assessment. However, his descriptions and depictions of Vodou to the Haitian practitioner are impressive and are much easier to read than Maya Deren's prose (though it is beautiful and rich as well).