The Voodoo religion was actually perfectly civil. The strange Voodoo powers like being able to cause harm by stabbing a doll was in fact invented by colonizing invaders to make them seem like barbarians. So in reality, the 'powers' are delusional figments of a Western imagination.
Voodoo has powers - powerful powers, and I respect the practitioners of Voodoo as being similar to the practitioners of my own religion, which is Witchcraft, (or Wicca)
Voodoo, like Wicca, seeks to attune the worship per to the internal ability to contact the gods and goddesses of the world, or the earth -to natural deities, and to the powers that dwell within oneself, that the monotheistic religions would deny.
People practice Voodoo because it works. Voodoo gives control, rather than being subject to the whims of a petulant Godhead.
Voodoo, like Witchcraft, has been demonized by followers of other religions, purely because the other religions believe in a Devil - a Lord of evil. Voodoo, and Wicca, recognize that there is a nasty side to life, and a good side. We do not make the nasty side into a God -we simply acknowledge that it exists, is ultimately subordinate to Light, and we do not fear it.
I look forward to seeing the comments of Voodoo practitioners on this site.
People don't worship voodoo. They practice it. It is a religion practiced chiefly in Caribbean countries, especially Haiti, synchronized from Roman Catholic ritual elements and the animism and magic of slaves from West Africa, in which a supreme God rules a large pantheon of local and tutelary deities, deified ancestors, and saints, who communicate with believers in dreams, trances, and ritual possessions.
In other words... its a religion. Why does anyone follow any religion? And it just so happens that this one is full of curses and things that can be quite handy.
Note: Voodoo can be very dangerous. You can easily cause harm to yourself and others when trying to practice. Do not try it at home.
Vodou is a monotheistic religion. It is a family/community based religion. We honor our ancestors and serve the Law. The Law are not gods only Bondye is God. Bondye is distant from us so the Law were made to be intermediaries between us and Bondye. The Law are like angels or saints.
Movies have given people a false image of what VDUoieally is. Zombie, curses, evil, not part of vodou. There are Bokors that work with the left hand or with malevolent magic. However, most Bokors are not initiated into a vodou religion. Many Mambos and Hougans (priests) take oaths not to harm others.
Here are a couple websites for you to look at for more information:
http://www.sosyetedumarche.com/Vodou_Info/Vodou/vodou.html
http://www.freewebs.com/danbalawedo/whatisvodou.htm
http://www.vodouspirit.com/x-cart/customer/pages.php?pageid=28
Has voodoo powers?
