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Syncretism of Catholic Christianity and West African Vodun from a theological-ethical perspective

Publication at Catholic Theological Faculty |
2021

Abstract

The paper presents the unique syncretism of Catholic Christianity and West African Vodun in Benin, Africa, and raises the problematic question of whether, in the context presented, it may be morally correct for a Catholic Christian to participate in Vodun rituals considered by outside Catholic observers to be witchcraft and thus cooperate with evil. In addition to introducing the syncretism of Catholic Christianity and West African Vodun and its theological basis, the paper introduces the relationship of the Celestial Church of Christ to West African Vodun and especially to the syncretism under consideration.

In the next comprehensive part, the paper presents a theological-ethical reflection of the set religious phenomenon, asks key questions, seeks answers and presents various positions and completely competitive ethical aspects. The issue is viewed from the position of a Catholic theologian and ethnographer who studied the syncretism under consideration in Benin.