ABSTRACT
Christianity was the only religion permitted on the island of Cuba during the era of slavery. However, the Catholic Church did not have much of a presence in the rural areas that enslaved African people labored in. Although it is a community-based religion, there is no official location that all santeros will call a place of worship. Like Santería, the foundations of the Shango religion derive from Yoruba methodology. Orisha cosmology is fundamental to the religion, and there is an understanding amongst worshippers that Olodumare is the supreme god, who gave way to the creation of the universe and the Orishas who protect each aspect of it. Vodou in Haiti became a practice beginning in the 16th century. The primary objective of Vodou is to heal. Vodou is based on the worship of deities, created by one God, Bondye. Animal sacrifice only forms a very small part of the ritual practices.
