Raul Canizares offers a truly unique perspective in this book - that of not only an active member of the religion of Santeria, but of a high-ranking member of that religion. . . . This book should be in the library of every religious educator, I know it will have a prominent place on my own library shelves.
"The author of this newest Santeria text is both a scholar of the faith and a devotee. Is there a tougher balance to maintain when writing about any religion? The fact is, Canizares executes the balancing act with considerable precision and charm, making this perhaps the finest introduction to the increasingly popular religion since Joseph Murphy's Santeria: an African Religion in America (Beacon, 1988)."
"Raul Canizares has written an insightful overview of this religion."
"A fascinating journey of a little known religious order that puts forward the perception that Santeria is a thoughtful and deliberate response of a thinking people to a hostile social environment."
"Canizares pierces through Santeria's outer shell to discuss its gods and initiations, rituals, history and legacy. . . . The narrative comes alive with anecdotes from the author's own involvement."
"The finest study in English to date of a faith on the brink of becoming a world religion."
"Canizares pierces through Santeria's outer shell to discuss its gods and initiations, rituals, history and legacy. . . . The narrative comes alive with anecdotes from the author's own involvement."
"A fascinating journey of a little known religious order that puts forward the perception that Santeria is a thoughtful and deliberate response of a thinking people to a hostile social environment."
"Raul Canizares paints a colorful picture of Santeria's oral traditions and musical connections, and raises the curtain of mystery on a vivid and vital faith."
"The author of this newest Santeria text is both a scholar of the faith and a devotee. Is there a tougher balance to maintain when writing about any religion? The fact is, Canizares executes the balancing act with considerable precision and charm, making this perhaps the finest introduction to the increasingly popular religion since Joseph Murphy's Santeria: an African Religion in America (Beacon, 1988)."
"Raul Canizares has written an insightful overview of this religion."
"The author of this newest Santeria text is both a scholar of the faith and a devotee. Is there a tougher balance to maintain when writing about any religion? The fact is, Canizares executes the balancing act with considerable precision and charm, making this perhaps the finest introduction to the increasingly popular religion since Joseph Murphy's Santeria: an African Religion in America (Beacon, 1988)."
"The finest study in English to date of a faith on the brink of becoming a world religion."
“Raul Canizares offers a truly unique perspective in this book - that of not only an active member of the religion of Santeria, but of a high-ranking member of that religion. . . . This book should be in the library of every religious educator, I know it will have a prominent place on my own library shelves.”
"A fascinating journey of a little known religious order that puts forward the perception that Santeria is a thoughtful and deliberate response of a thinking people to a hostile social environment."
"Canizares pierces through Santeria's outer shell to discuss its gods and initiations, rituals, history and legacy. . . . The narrative comes alive with anecdotes from the author's own involvement."
"Raul Canizares paints a colorful picture of Santeria's oral traditions and musical connections, and raises the curtain of mystery on a vivid and vital faith."