Respect for different beliefs

“Dad, I’m scared…

“What are you afraid of, daughter…?”

“I heard noises back there… strange creaks, maybe they’re dead…” I replied, perhaps because of the horror stories of an evil lullaby, or a movie seen at odd hours.

—Let’s see what it’s about, let’s go to the patio, never fear the dead, better distrust the living, they can indeed be capable of doing harm… I wish I could see my dead mother, if they went out, I would have seen her by now.

We went to the patio and, indeed, there were some cans, some plastic and hanging clothes that, in the breeze, really sounded like something disturbing, but it was nothing supernatural.

That shock we feel when we perceive threat is a defense mechanism. When we study we choose what to believe, according to our state of consciousness, when we behave like sheep, without questioning ourselves or knowing, we are easy prey, we are vulnerable and subject to being subjugated by the limiting points of view of other people.

The motto of these times is to know, if we can deepen and verify what we have learned. For behavior professionals it is essential to know the cultural heritage of the peoples in order to connect, establish rapport and be empathic with people of different beliefs who are users of their services, remove the veil of mystery of unfairly demonized spirituality.

The state of consciousness of each one will lead them to link with the culture with which they resonate and best suit them. When we study the fundamentals there is nothing to fear, apart from the practitioners and some leaders, similar in political ideals, in theory, seek the welfare of the community. In spiritual practices, some rituals and deities are similar in form, such as Venus representing love. Mars war, man. There is a similarity with Oshun in the Yoruba religion, Cuban Santeria. He reigns over the sweet waters of the world, the streams, springs and rivers, personifying love and fertility. It is appealed to by seeking financial or material support. She syncretizes with the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre. She wife of Changó, Orisha of thunder, lightning, justice, dance and manhood (Mars in astrology).

Legend has it about Oshun who, with her white dress, went through many tests of poverty, went to the river and was smudged yellow. Hence the yellow color that identifies it. For remaining devoted and grateful to her Father, God rewarded her with riches.

Similar in Dominican popular religiosity; Anaisa Pie, patron saint of love, syncretizes with Santa Ana, companion of Belié Belcán, San Miguel, strength and justice (planet Mars).

The Catholic saints are intermingled with the different deities brought by the slaves in the times of the conquest, the new spiritual expressions resulting from these combinations can be observed in their cults to the rhythms of African drums and Catholic Salves songs. There is a link between the normal and the supernatural in popular religiosity. Altered states of consciousness and much more are seen, not far from the spiritual gifts expressed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10.

Respect for different beliefs