Spanning the gamut from "Aaron" to "Zwingli," this dictionary includes nearly 3,000 entries written by about sixty authors, all of whom are specialists in their various theological and religious disciplines. The editors have designed the dictionary especially to aid the introductory-level student with instant access to definitions of terms likely to be encountered in, but not to substitute for, classroom presentations or reading assignments. - Publisher.

A journalist in Washington becomes possessed by a voodoo spirit which uses him to assassinate an exiled Haitian leader, part of a plan by a Haitian faction to take power on the island. By the author of U.S.S.A.

Searching for Spirituality is an introductory course on forty of the world’s most practiced or most misunderstood religions. Originally born out of author Robyn Lebron’s efforts to create a Christian education course for her husband’s congregation, this easy-to-follow reference guide to international religious beliefs is designed to reduce the fear and skepticism that often comes when we encounter belief systems different than our own, with the ultimate goal of promoting peace and spiritual unity throughout the world. Covering a broad array of different faiths, from mainstream Christian denominations to Buddhism to Islam, Searching for Spiritual Unity breaks down each religion into eleven categories to allow for easy comparative discussions: history, doctrine, God or gods, the role of Jesus Christ, worship practices, infant baptism or blessing, confirmation or initiation, marriage, death and afterlife, judgment, and any special doctrines. Also included are pages for taking notes and comparison charts that can be used as a quick “at a glance” reference. Did you know that ... • pagan beliefs almost line up perfectly with Christian concepts? • voodoo dolls are not commonly used by those who practice Voodoo? • Muslims believe in Jesus Christ’s mission? • the fastest growing religion today is also one of the youngest? Take the challenge to educate yourself, and replace skepticism and fear with peace and understanding.

Syncretism - the fusion of different beliefs into one religious system - has long been controversial in scholarship. It is widely held that religion, culture and ethnicity are pure entities that may become mixed in encounter and lead to impure, hybrid forms. 'Syncretism in Religion' presents a selection of essays committed to solving the problems of syncretism. The essays reflect the full breadth of religious traditions that could be called syncretistic. An overview of the historical background of syncretism is given, alongside classical readings from the history of religion, definitions of syncretism in relation to theories of power, and an assessment of the future of the subject. This volume brings together the work of authors who have made significant contributions in the field, some appearing for the first time in English. It will be of interest to any student or scholar of religion, philosophy or anthropology concerned with the dynamics of cultural contact and change.

The thematic project ‘New Orleans in the Atlantic World’ was planned immediately after hurricane Katrina and focuses on what meteorologists have always known: the city’s identity and destiny belong to the broader Caribbean and Atlantic worlds as perhaps no other American city does. Balanced precariously between land and sea, the city’s geohistory has always interwoven diverse cultures, languages, peoples, and economies. Only with the rise of the new Atlantic Studies matrix, however, have scholars been able to fully appreciate this complex history from a multi-disciplinary, multilingual and multi-scaled perspectivism. In this book, historians, geographers, anthropologists, and cultural studies scholars bring to light the atlanticist vocation of New Orleans, and in doing so they also help to define the new field of Atlantic Studies. This book was published as a special issue of Atlantic Studies.

Benin is a country of wonder and mystery, fitting all levels of adventure and comfort. Its unique mixture of culture, history, geography, and wildlife provides the ultimate West African experience. From thrilling zemidjan moped rides to spotting hippos from dugout canoes, traveling across Benin will surely stimulate visitors' senses and broaden their horizons. Erika and Felicie, the authors, lived, worked, and played in Benin for over two years while attached to the Peace Corps. They experienced this fascinating country like few outsiders have before and created a national network of locals who all contributed their own specialty and unique insight for this book. To see the real Benin and to travel like a local, this book is a must. - Discover Cotonou's lively markets and nightlife. - Explore the settlements along the mighty Mono River and hike in the picturesque granite hills of the central Collines region. - Lounge on the sunny, palm-fringed beaches of Grand Popo before exploring the historical cities of Ouidah and Abomey. - Embark on a veritable wildlife safari in the national parks of the north, and marvel at the vast plains of the Sahel in the upper Atakora and Alibori regions. - Enjoy the resilient spirit, charm, and vitality of the Beninese people who will captivate visitors and keep them coming back for more.

A scientific investigation and personal adventure story about zombis and the voudoun culture of Haiti by a Harvard scientist. In April 1982, ethnobotanist Wade Davis arrived in Haiti to investigate two documented cases of zombis—people who had reappeared in Haitian society years after they had been officially declared dead and had been buried. Drawn into a netherworld of rituals and celebrations, Davis penetrated the vodoun mystique deeply enough to place zombification in its proper context within vodoun culture. In the course of his investigation, Davis came to realize that the story of vodoun is the history of Haiti—from the African origins of its people to the successful Haitian independence movement, down to the present day, where vodoun culture is, in effect, the government of Haiti’s countryside. The Serpent and the Rainbow combines anthropological investigation with a remarkable personal adventure to illuminate and finally explain a phenomenon that has long fascinated Americans.

This extraordinary reference covers witches, shamen, voodoo priests and priestesses, and oracles; provides the low-down on pentagrams, exorcisms, coven rituals, and conjuring spirits; and tells how to cast spells for protection, invisibility, and illness prevention. Illustrations.