Connections Between Christianity and Voodoo

Although Christianity preaches so strongly against Voodoo, I have noticed many similarities between the two religions. For example, both religions acknowledge Moses(represented in Voodoo by the God Damballah) and Aaron as religious figure. The only difference between the two is whom the phenomenons he produced were given credit. In example, when Aaron’s staff was turned into a snake in response to the pharaoh’s request to see a miracle(Ex 7:8-13). Christianity attributes this act to God and Voodoo attributes this act to magic. In voodoo, there is thought to be a spell to hypnotize snakes so that they become stiff and people were able to carry them like rods and then wake them out of the trance. In the passage in Exodus referenced above, it says “Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake…”(Ex 7:11-12) The use of the term “magicians” indicates that there must have, in fact, been a known way to hypnotize snakes. However, later in the passage it is said that Aaron’s snake had eaten all of the other snakes, indicating its superiority. The same is true in Voodoo tale, however, unlike, Christianity where the power of the snake is said to have come from God, the superiority of Aaron’s snake is said to have come from a higher magic than that of Pharaoh’s magicians.


In addition to similar religious figures, Voodoo also shares the use of elements and symbols such as Holy Water and a cross. Another similar aspect between the two is the inhabitance of a spirit inside a mortal body. During Voodoo rituals, it is not uncommon for a person’s body to become inhabited by a loa, or spirit. “This was believed to be a valuable experience, warding off illness and misfortune.”( http://www.neworleansghosts.com/voodoo.htm) Loas are the spirits of passed ancestors, and are treated much like saints are in the Catholic church.

This process can be compared to presence of the Holy Spirit said to reside within Christians. The Holy Spirit is meant to be a guide and protector, similar to the loa. Again, similar to this idea is the possession of humans by demon spirits. Although this is not a beneficial type of possession, it is the same idea of a celestial being entering and taking control of a human being.

When Voodoo migrated from Africa to Haiti with the slave trade, it came into contact with Catholicism by the European settlers. Therefore, Voodoo has come to integrated many aspects of Catholicism into its practices. For example, even though Voodoo has its own set of deities and loas, the images used to portray them are actually the images of saints used in the Catholic church. For example, the picture of St. Patrick(patron saint of Ireland) is used to represent Damballah Ouedo, the supreme God of Voodoo. His picture is used because it is the only one in which there are snakes; Damballah, who symbolizes Moses, bears the symbol of the serpent, another frequently used symbol in Christianity—however, the serpent is used to represent Satan.

By nature, people are afraid of what they do not know or understand. Clearly, there are many similarities between Christianity and Voodoo, many which I have not even mentioned. I think that with so much in common it is ok not be afraid of Voodoo and to accept it as a religion searching for meaning in the same way that Christianity and Judaism and Islam are searching for meaning. I believe that if more people could see how similar Voodoo is to their own religion, their images would not be so distorted by the media and it would be more accepted and understood. I am not saying that I believe in Voodoo, but I am beginning to understand it as a legitimate religion.


Works cited:


Life Application Study Bible: New International Version. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, Inc., 1991. Print.

Neale., Hurston, Zora. Tell my horse voodoo and life in Haiti and Jamaica. New York: Perennial Library, 1990. Print.

Smith, Kalila K. "New Orleans Voodoo, Voodoo in New Orleans, Marie Laveau, Voodoo." New Orleans Ghosts, New Orleans Vampires, New Orleans Voodoo, Marie Laveau, at New Orleans Ghosts! Web. 05 Nov. 2009. .