03356nam a2200529Ki 4500 ocn880147962 OCoLC 20200709060127.0 m d cr cnu---unuuu 140519s2009 nmu ob s001 0 eng d N$T eng rda pn N$T 9780826347343 (electronic bk.) 0826347347 (electronic bk.) 9780826347336 0826347339 (OCoLC)880147962 780215 (N$T) s-bl--- BL2592.U5 H35 2009eb OCC 036020 bisacsh REL 017000 bisacsh 299.6/72098153 22 N$TA Hale, Lindsay. Hearing the mermaid's song : the Umbanda religion in Rio de Janeiro / Lindsay Hale. Albuquerque, [N.M.] : University of New Mexico Press, 2009. 1 online resource (xvi, 192 pages) text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Includes bibliographical references (pages 176-184) and index. "The Umbanda religion summons the spirits of old slaves and Brazilian Indians to speak through the mouths of mediums in trance. Its practitioners worship African gods, often calling them by the names of Catholic saints; simultaneously embrace the concepts of karma, reincarnation, and Christian charity; and believe in the capacities of both modern science and ancient magic. A relatively new religion dating to the beginning of the twentieth century, Umbanda has its origins in Rio de Janeiro and its surrounding urban areas where Afro-Brazilians, many ex-slaves or the descendants of slaves, practiced versions of the religion handed down to them by their ancestors. Umbanda's popularity has grown tremendously over the past century, attracting not only those who seek the assistance of spirits in solving problems in their lives, but those in pursuit of a path to a rich spiritual life and a fellowship of faith and service." "Over the course of nearly a decade, Lindsay Hale spent countless hours attending rituals and festivals and interviewing participants of Umbanda, immersing himself in this fascinating religious world. In describing its many aspects and exploring its unique place within the lives of a wide variety of practitioners, Hale places Umbanda spiritual beliefs and practices within the broader context of Brazilian history and culture."--BOOK JACKET. Description based on print version record. Umbanda (Cult) Brazil Rio de Janeiro. Spirit possession Brazil Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) Religious life and customs. Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) Social life and customs. BODY, MIND & SPIRIT / Spirituality / Paganism & Neo-Paganism bisacsh RELIGION / Comparative Religion bisacsh Electronic books. Print version: Hale, Lindsay. Hearing the mermaid's song 9780826347336 (DLC) 2009012684 (OCoLC)317698541 EBSCOhost http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=780215 EBSCOhost EBSC 780215 cpp1723AUTO 02 N$T 54819 54819