RELS200 Exam 4

Adura

Prayer

Ayanmo

personal destiny or fate

Ifa

The divination system of the Yoruba religion, believed to be revealed to humanity by the gods

Babalawo

priest

Iyalawo

priestess

Odu

The original prophets in Yoruba religion

Agbo

Bitter herbs used to expel germs andworms from the body as medicine

Iwa Pele

Living a good and moral life• Respecting other persons as well as thenatural world

Orunmila

the god of knowledge; prophet that developed and spread the Ifa divination system; second only to olodumare

Prothero on Yoruba Religion

Problem: Disconnection

Solution: Reconnection

Technique: Divination, sacrifice, spirit/body possession

Exemplar: Orunmila; the alaase (one who controls Ashe)

Oduduwe

god and first king of the city of Ife; brother of Obatala, historical figure

Olodumare

The Supreme God

Ashe

universal spiritual energy

Orun

heaven

Aye

Earth

Orisha

The hundreds of various Yoruba deities who are the main objects of ritual attention

Elegba

messanger god

Ogun

god of iron and war

Yemoja

Mother of Water

Oshun

Orisha of unconditional love. River divinity

Shango

Deified ruler of medieval Oyo. Orishaof drum and dance

Oya

Guardian of cemeteries

Ajogun

Negative forces/spirits

Emi

The individual soulcreated by Oludamare• Eternal soul

Ori (Head)

The other soul/destiny. Not eternal

Atunwa

reincarnation within the family

Santeria

Cuban religion that combines Catholic and West African beliefs

Obatala

creator of world in human form -elder of the Orisha

Candomble

New World religion with roots in West Africa - particularly Yoruba culture - which is prominent in Brazil

Bondye

the Haitian Creole term for God, which literally means the most benevolent Supreme God

crypto-culture

hidden culture

Isese

root of tradition

Iyalawo

"Mother of secrets/priest," the Yoruba female priest

New Age Spirituality

Includes a very diverse range of beliefs and practices that have grown rapidly since the 1980's, they reject external authority and traditional sources of religion.

Yorubaland

A cultural region encompassing southwest and north-central Nigeria as well as south and central Benin

Age of Aquarius

A new age awakening characterized by spiritual growth, enlightenment, and a shift in collective consciousness, often associated with astrology.

Alternative healing

A holistic approach to health and wellness that emphasizes natural remedies, spiritual practices, and unconventional therapies, often used in conjunction with or as an alternative to traditional medicine.

Aura

The energy field surrounding a person, often associated with their emotional and spiritual state, which can be perceived by some as a colorful glow.

Aura Cleansing

A practice intended to remove negative energy and rejuvenate the aura, often involving techniques like meditation, crystals, or sound healing.

Cartomancy

The practice of using cards, often tarot or oracle cards, to gain insight, predict the future, or explore psychological states.

Channeling

The practice of communicating with spirits or entities, often allowing a person to convey messages or insights from beyond.

Crystal Work

The use of crystals for healing, energy enhancement, and spiritual growth, often incorporating meditation and intention-setting.

Diffused Monotheism

A belief system that recognizes a singular divine entity while acknowledging multiple avenues or expressions of the divine. It typically emphasizes the unity of God across various faith traditions.

Divination

The practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown, often through supernatural means such as tarot, astrology, or other rituals.

Dowsing

A type of divination employed in attempts to locate ground water, buried metals or ores, gemstones, oil, claimed radiations

Ile-Ife

The site where the god Obatala first created the earth and where the first humans were fashioned.

Reiki

Japanese form of energy healing that uses a practitioner's hands to channel "universal life force energy" into a recipient's body to promote relaxation and healing

How New Age religion differs from the more traditional religion

New Age religion is individual and flexible, with no fixed texts or traditions. It blends ideas from many religions and focuses on personal experience, inner healing, and self-chosen spiritual paths rather than established doctrines.

Be able to articulate Yoruba cosmogony, including concepts of reincarnation

Yoruba cosmogony teaches that Olodumare is the supreme creator who formed the world and gave each person a unique destiny. Humans are connected to their ancestors, and reincarnation (atunwa) means a soul can return within the family line, continuing relationships across generations.

Articulate debates surrounding questions of religious authenticity

Debates about religious authenticity ask who gets to decide what counts as “real” religion and whether authenticity comes from origins, texts, leaders, or changing lived practice.