santeria why is it seen so negatively?

no one actually understands what is.people want to assume its black magic witchcraft. that we kill people no what you guys are thinking of is voodoo and palomayombre we as santeros are forbidden to do negative work unless it is a last resort to save our own lives or the lives of other. we dont slaughter innocent creatures.get facts straight . we dont kill we protect we have to do good or are punished by our religion. we dont turn our backs on god. god and jesus run the show we just act with the supporting cast. not all traditions involve us killing somthing we offer rum and candy on mondays we offer penneys and coins in exchange for wealth and prosperity
why is it that the ignorance of people seems to cloak the truth that no one understands or even knows a thing about santeria and yet assumes its evil.
not saying voodoo and palomayombre are the same just saying that there not santeria.
soy hijo de chango

Because it's pancreatic and cannot be controlled by Christianity.

THE LURE OF
Santeria

SANTERIA has been a prominent religion in Cuba for many years. However, this form of worship has been gradually introduced to other countries. For instance, one of the main marketplaces in downtown Mexico City features shops that specialize in Santeria paraphernalia, such as crosses, candles, amulets, and fetishes. Most of these shops are known as botanic as, and they can be found in other large cities of the Americas. In New York City, botanic as are well advertised in the telephone book, having far more listings in the yellow pages than other religious stores.

Many people are attracted by the mysticism and exotic aura of Santeria. Elements of Santeria can be found in some popular Latin music and literature. Santeria is becoming more secular and cultural than religious, and it has been spread through Afro-Caribbean music and cultural events.
Origins in Ancient Africa

Santeria has the basic features and traditions of an ancient African religion practiced among the Yoruba in Nigeria. When Yoruba were taken to the Caribbean islands as slaves between the 1770's and the 1840's, they took their religion with them. Once in the New World, these Africans in bondage were forced to accept Catholicism, but they refused to give up their traditions completely. So they created a new form of worship with elements taken from both religions. Such a merging of religious practices is called synergism.

In an effort to worship according to their ancient beliefs, the slaves gave Catholic saints dual identities, each one corresponding to an African god with particular characteristics and powers. Thus, African gods and goddesses, called Irish, took on the names and forms of Catholic saints. However, the rituals, customs, and beliefs remained the same as those practiced in Africa. A Santeria priest in Cuba explains: "Syncretism allows us to worship the Catholic god on the altar, but what we see is the African god behind it."

Religions such as voodoo, Obeah, and Macumba are also made up of elements from Roman Catholic liturgy, sacraments, and sacred paraphernalia blended with spiritualistic practices from Africa. Because from the beginning the Catholic Church in Latin America prohibited African religions, Santeria had to be practiced in secrecy for a long time. Eventually the Catholic Church came to tolerate this synergism among the slaves.

How are you being any better than those people with your insinuations about Voodoo? Most Voodoo practitioners don't harm people either. "Voodoo dolls" are completely exaggerated by the media. Bokors only make up a very small percentage of Voodoo practitioners.

Voodoo and Palo Mayombe are completely separate traditions.

Some people fear what they don't understand or what they don't know. My mother, for example, is a fanatical Christian and the most hypocritical person I know Lil (I still love her dearly), she speaks so horribly about Santeros and Santeras, but she knows absolutely nothing about the rituals. Personally, I'm interested in the in the religion and before I make any ignorant assumptions I am going to study it.