James T. Houk: Spirits, Blood, and Drums

<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000" link="#0000FF" vlink="#CC0000" alink="#CC0000"><center><hr width="350" size="1" align="center" noshade>An anthropologist demystifies a fascinating , eclectic Caribbean religion<hr width="350" size="1" align="center" noshade><p><a href="https://cdcshoppingcart.uchicago.edu/Cart/ChicagoBook.aspx?ISBN=9781566393492&&PRESS=temple" target="_top">Buy this book!</a> | <a href="https://cdcshoppingcart.uchicago.edu/Cart/Cart.aspx?PRESS=temple" target="_top">View Cart</a> | <a href="https://cdcshoppingcart.uchicago.edu/Cart/Cart.aspx?PRESS=temple" target="_top">Check Out</a></p><p><img src="983_reg.gif" height=200 border=1 vspace=4></p></center><h1>Spirits, Blood, and Drums</h1> <H2>The Orisha Religion in Trinidad</H2> <h3>James T. Houk</h3> <P>cloth 1-56639-349-3 $71.50, Nov 95, <FONT COLOR=#990033>Out of Stock Unavailable</FONT> <br>paper 1-56639-350-7 $33.95, Oct 95, <FONT COLOR=#990033>Available</FONT> <br>Electronic Book 1-43990-376-X $33.95 <FONT COLOR=#990033>Out of Stock Unavailable</FONT> <BR> 256 pp 5.5x8.25 11 tables 2 map(s) 3 figures 16 halftones </P><BLOCKQUOTE><I>"When I began my work in Trinidad, I remained a curious bystander during the first summer of my fieldwork. When I returned for a year-long stay, I gradually moved into the active participant group. Finally, after my initiation and once I began serving as a drummer, I moved up. ...My movement from the fingers to near 'center stage' occured as my knowledge of and experiences in the religion grew."</I> <br>&#151<b> James T. Houk</b>, from Chapter 9<I></I></BLOCKQUOTE> <p>James Houk's field work in Trinidad and subsequent involvement in the Orisha religion allows him a uniquely intimate perspective on a complex and eclectic religion. Originating in Nigeria, Orisha combines elements of African religions (notably Yoruba), Catholicism, Hinduism, Protestantism Spiritual Baptist, and Kabbalah. A religion of spirits and spirit possession, ceremonies and feasts, churches and shrines, sacrifices and sacred objects, Orisha is constantly shifting and unstable, its practice widely varied. As a belief system, it is a powerful presence in the social structure, culture, and, more recently, the political realm of Trinidad. <p>Houk carefully examines the historical forces that have transformed Orisha from a relatively simple religion in colonial Trinidad to an abstruse mix of belief, ritual, and symbolism. The voices of worshippers and Orisha leaders spring to life the intensity and power of the religion. Houk's own recounting of participation in many of the mystical ceremonies, including taking on the important role of drummer in several feasts, his initiation into Orisha, and his exceptional field research provide fascinating details essential in understanding the development of this Caribbean religion. <BR> <h2>Excerpt</h2><P>Excerpt available at <a href="http://www.temple.edu/tempress">www.temple.edu/tempress</a></p> <BR> <h2>Reviews</h2> <p><i>"This welcome study gives much needed attention to the various roots and influences within the Orisha complex in Trinidad and serves to establish James Houk as a leading scholar of African-Caribbean religions. Must reading for Trinidad specialists. Highly recommended."</i> <br>&#151<b>Stephen D. Glaxier</b>, University of Nebraska <BR> <h2>Contents</h2><P> <p>List of Tables and Illustrations <br>Preface <br>Acknowledgments <p><b>Part I</b> <br>1. Orisha Experiences <br>2. Religion, Postmodernism, and Methodology <br>3. The Setting <p><b>Part II</b> <br>4. African Roots of the Orisha Religion <br>5. Catholicism and the Orisha Religion <br>6. The Spiritual Baptists <br>7. Hinduism and the Kabbalah <p><b>Part III</b> <br>8. Spirits and Spirit Possession <br>9. Social Organization of the Orisha Religion <br>10. The <I>Orisha</I> and Their Abodes <br>11. The <I>Ebo</I>, Feast for the Gods <p><b>Part IV</b> <br>12. The Orisha Religion as an Open System <br>13. Syncretism and Electicism versus Africanization <br>14. The Transmission of Religious Knowledge in the Orisha Religion <br>15. The Transformation of the Orisha Religious System <p>Appendix A: A Demographic Estimate of Spiritual Baptists <br>Appendix B: A Demographic Estimate of Orisha Worshipers <br>Notes <br>Glossary <br>References <br>Index </P><BR> <H2>About the Author(s)</H2> <P><b>James T. Houk</b>, an independent scholar, holds a Ph. D. in anthropology from Tulane University and has published several articles on Caribbean religion.</P> <BR><H2>Subject Categories</H2> <p><A HREF="/tempress/anthropology.html" TARGET="_top">Anthropology</a> <BR><A HREF="/tempress/latin.html" TARGET="_top">Latin American/Caribbean Studies</a> </p> <p align="center"><a href="https://cdcshoppingcart.uchicago.edu/Cart/ChicagoBook.aspx?ISBN=9781566393492&&PRESS=temple" target="_top">Buy this book!</a> | <a href="https://cdcshoppingcart.uchicago.edu/Cart/Cart.aspx?PRESS=temple" target="_top">View Cart</a> | <a href="https://cdcshoppingcart.uchicago.edu/Cart/Cart.aspx?PRESS=temple" target="_top">Check Out</a></p><p><font face="Arial" size="1"><a href="copyright.html" onMouseOver="window.status='Web Copyright Policy';return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''" title="Web Copyright Policy">©</a> 2015 <a href="http://www.temple.edu" target="new" onMouseOver="window.status='Link to Temple University home page';return true;" onMouseOut="window.status=''" title="Link to Temple University home page">Temple University</a>. 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