Ghosts Souls and Ancestors Power of the Dead

Ghosts, Souls, and Ancestors: Power of the Dead Voodoo & Vampires Ch 8 Lehman & Myers

Ghosts, Souls, and Ancestors: Power of the Dead n Religions universal belief of life after death n n Universal belief in immortality across cultures Degree of interaction of living vs. dead varies among cultures Human basic need to believe in ghosts & worship ancestors Two attitudes about the dead n Left the society n n Fear their return Ancestor as ghosts Power of the dead Remain active in society n A concern for ancestors by the living

Ghosts, Souls, and Ancestors n Why do people believe in these? n n n Duality: good vs. evil Explanation for misfortune Fear (social function): social control n n n Folklore Media Authority/power

Zombies n Voodoo (Vodoun) from Haiti n n Religious practice with priests and ceremonies. High reliance on secret societies Zombies are undead people animated dead by a Voodoo priest to become slaves. Ethno biologist Wade Davis investigated the drug n n Main ingredient was tetrodotoxin Causes paralysis Voodoo priest returns to dig up the body The terrified person obeys the priest without argument

Voodoo by n n 80 to 90% of people in Haiti- traditional religious system Voodoo- African based with Catholic influences n n n Mc. Carthy Brown 3 categories: lemo, lemiste, & lemarasa Languages Loosely organized priesthood Goal Urban vs. rural

Voodoo by Mc. Carthy Brown African Influence n Roman Catholic Influence n Voodoo Spirits n View of the person n The Dead n Ceremonies n Voodoo & Magic n

The Real Vampire by Barber Real vs. Media Portrayal n Scientific explanations for vampire conditions n Myths n Conclusion n