Why is there so much ignorance about Santeria ?

I was born and raised in a bible thumping family. I came to the decision to research Santeria on my own and the whole "demonic" "devil worship" stuff is truly from outsiders looking in. Why is it that people always think their religion is the only way to go ? Like my friend says, "God was smart when he made religion, it's like high school. In high school you have many different groups of people, why are they there? To receive there H.S. Diploma." So, why is it that people like to judge rather than to do research ?

People fear what they don't understand, and sometimes their fear causes them to have a closed mind.

Probably the same reason there's ignorance about everything.

There is ignorance everywhere... even in the Santeria community.

I am currently a Iyar in the religion, crowned Obatala Ayaguna. I am also baptized in La 21 division (Dominican Vodou)... When I have explained this to certain people they've flipped out on me and said so many things talking down on it... But in reality, the same wars were being fought in Africa... The Dahomey people (which is where VDUoitems from) Vs. the Yoruba people (which is where Lukumi/Santeria stemmed from)... It's sad that these wars still exists... This santera disrespected a vodou Lwa (Candelo Cedife) and walked off and said she didn't have time to hear him as he was talking to her... But I BET you she wouldn't have done that if it were Shango instead...

Even with other bantu tribal stemmed religions that was brought by congolese slaves, even some santeros talk alot of stuff about Palo Mayombe... Often comparing it to others as "The Darkside of Santeria"... Or even some santeros saying that they should stay away from Palo just because...

Religious persecution goes alot of ways... But I know what you mean about Bible thumping Christians... When I first came back to work with no hair peaking out of my hat, dressed in all white, they asked me about my religion and one of my coworkers (who is very christian) proceeds to ask me "Why'd you do that for?" ... I even had this one lady (African American) that had met me at a training for work that said to me "I'm not pushing this on you, but I feel inspired to say that you know, Jesus Christ came down to earth to save our people from these 'rituals' that you practice..."

I sarcastically snapped back at her saying: "Ya know what saved OUR people from these rituals? It was a bunch of LAZY @$$ europeans who wanted to profit off of a new land that they found by accident... There were many attrocities that went down with OUR ancestors; they were kidnapped, raped, killed, treated as if they were not human... JUST to be SAVED from their 'rituals' that they were happily practicing before the Europeans arrived? ... Lady, I've read a few versions of the bible and I wouldn't blame Jesus Christ for 'saving our pepole' from these rituals..."

She was sooooo shocked... but i guess sometimes you have to put people in their places with education... (sometimes with sarcastic educational facts)