Scholarly Paper Help:

[GirlieGirl]

Okay All,

I need help. I am drawing a blank... I have to write a paper pertaining to one of the following or similar:

Suggested Paper Topics (though not limited to these):


Iconicity, Traditions, Gendered (Re)configurations

Writing Female Subjectivity

Liberatory Poetics for the 21st century

Caribbean Crossings: Canons, Language, Genre, Transnationalisms

Film and Women's Participation

Theater and Women's Authorships and Participation

Becoming Public: Women Writers as Intellectuals Re-defining Boundaries

Identity, Family Re-formulations

Caribbean Women's Diasporic Texts and Re-Readings

Reggae, Rastafarian, and Others as Cultural Aesthetics

Belief Systems: Voudou, Santeria, Shango, Pocomania/Kumina, Others

Place/Displacement/Exile

Resistance vs. Reinscription

Contemporary Travel Literature/Tropes

Does anyone want to provide in creative ideas??? I would like to utilize my being in the DR as part of this paper..... hellllllllllllllllllllpppppppppp!

 

[Texas Bill]

There is a rather small publication called "The World's Living Religions" by Hume. Sorry, but I don't recall his full name. It was published sometime in the 50's by a British company, I think!
Howsomever, it covers Judism. Islam, Jainism, Zoriaster, Christianity, and a couple of others.
Since I read it in the 50's, I don't recall many of the specifics, but it was a very good reference on comparative religion, covering many of the similariries between them.
You might query the Library of Congress in the USA, since I seem to recall a reference to same on the credits page.
Good luck and let me know what you find out.
Also go to "Roman Empire" on the web for references to their religion. And I'm sure there are references, discourses on Christianity, Islam, Judism and others as well.
Texas Bill

 

[GirlieGirl]

Texas Bill

Thank you so much.. this is a very good start. I have til December to get my abstract in... so I am hoping to find some good material on a variety of subjects so that I can submit several abstracts to see which one the panel likes the best.

 

[GirlieGirl]

Another Question

Besides Santeria and VouDou what are other forms of Pagan Practices that exist on the Island of Hispaniola?

 

[Tony C]

First off Santeria and VooDoo are not Pagan practices.
They are both Christian based religions.

VooDoo is found in Haiti and it is a mix of Christianity with African tribal Religions.

Santeria is similar but more Christian based. It is from Cuba. Some people in The DR use the word "Santeria" as a catch all phrase for any of a myriad of beliefs and superstitions.

Shango I assume is referring to the name of one of the Saints in Santeria. It is correctly spelled "Chango". It is not a religion.

 

[GirlieGirl]

Well...

Tony C...

All of the research I have done says that VouDou and Santeria are classified as Pagan Practices, although they were derived from roman catholicism and christianity.

"Vodou combines elements of Roman Catholicism and tribal religions of western Africa, particularly Benin, primary pagan religion of Haiti."

"The name by which the religion is now most commonly known, "Santeria," is a pejorative term first applied by the Spanish to the religious practices of the peasantry. It was used as a derogatory reference to the unusual amount of devotion and attention paid to the Catholic Saints, often in preference to Jesus Christ. This term was again used in Cuba to identify the "pagan" religion."

Could it be wrong?


As for the Shango... I am unsure, that list was copied from my assignment document from my professor.

 

[Tony C]

Well?

Whats your definition of Pagan?

Websters defines pagan as:
Main Entry: pa?gan
Pronunciation: 'pA-g&n
Function: noun

1 : HEATHEN 1; especially : a follower of a polytheistic religion (as in ancient Rome)
2 : one who has little or no religion and who delights in sensual pleasures and material goods : an irreligious or hedonistic person

You can make a case for the first defintion being applied to Santeria as they do worship various saints but then you would have to apply the term Pagan to Catholics as well.

Most people in the US today use the word "Pagan" as a derorgatory term refering to a non-Mainstream religion.

BTW you can apply the 2nd Defintition to me.

Tony C. The DR1 Pagan

 

[Jon S.]

One of my neighbors was a 'Pagan'! Matter of fact his name was "Tony Pagan"........cool guy

 

[GirlieGirl]

Tony C

Well as defined by my moral and religious theory professor:

A pagan religion is classified as a religion not supported by the book (Bible, Book of Morman, Koran etc)

To tell you the truth Tony, now I am more confused than ever!

 

[Tony C]

Santeria follows the Catholic bible so according to your proffesor It is not a Pagan Religion.

I do not follow or believe in Santeria but it does upset me how people put it down without knowing anything about it except what they see in Bad movies on TV.

Santeria is a Christian Religion.
It is not Devil worship.
Santeria Does not allow the putting of curses or hexs on anybody.

Instead of the term "Pagan" why not use "Non-Traditional" religion or "non-Mainstream"

 

[mariaobetsanov]

Religion is part of the History dept.

Several years ago I took a course called the Worlds Greatest Religions, in preparation for teaching it meet one of my History requirement. Look it up on Googles, it will provide great leads and will most likely help you in writiing your paper.