Maryam T.
asked • 02/26/21Provide a definition of syncretism and indicate how it helps us understand religion.
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Mr C. answered • 03/20/21
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Given the definition of syncretism in a religious context, we would see that it ‘exhibits the blending of two or more belief systems into a new system, or the incorporation of beliefs from unrelated traditions into a religious tradition.’ [Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_syncretism] What is important to recognize and distinguish in this case is the difference between traditions and Tradition. In a treatise addressing the renewal of monastic tradition by Claude Peifer, OSB., we find traditions as the aspects of a culture, including rituals, dress, cuisine, etc. that account for the richness, habits, even the identity of that culture. Whereas, the Tradition of the Church has the distinction of embodying ‘the transmission from generation to generation of the whole life of the Church: of the word of God by which it was originally constituted; or worship by which we respond to God’s summons; of faith and doctrine and moral standards and government; of interior obedience to the Spirit who presides over the transmission.’ [Source: Peifer, Claude, Reclaiming the Monastic Tradition, St. Bede Abbey, Peru, 1991]
Since Vatican II, some criticism has arisen arguing that a form of syncretism has diluted the overarching Tradition of the Church by tearing down definitive barriers of protocol and allowing new or alternate traditions to filter in. Again, we call certain points to our attention when we elaborate on the small innuendos that are celebrated in slightly different ways at a Mass as an example. The changes in music ministry, the types of media incorporated, and even the language of the ceremony embracing the vernacular of the culture where the religion is practiced, all become aspects of ritual or the traditions that are blended into the new Post-Vatican II system, if you will, but ultimately the Tradition of seeking, embracing, recognizing, honoring, serving, and loving the real presence of the founder of the Church, namely Jesus Christ, is unaffected and remains unchanged by such fads as relativism and syncretism.
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Sorita D.
The Mixing Process He goes on to explain that it followed the importing of slaves from Africa: “Arriving in Brazil, the blacks [slaves] were catechized [taught basic Catholic doctrines] in a vague way, [and] were, at least, baptized. However, they understood nothing of that religion which was forcibly taught to them.” What did the black slaves do? They went through the motions of this new religion, but in their minds and hearts continued to worship the gods they remembered from back home in Africa. The result? Gradually, “Catholicism changed into . . . a way of disguising his traditional beliefs: in reality, the [Catholic] saint was not worshiped, but rather the corresponding orixá [African deity] behind it. Catholicism became merely a front to hide a secret ritual. . . . In the syncretism, Christianity furnishes only the Portuguese words; all else is fetishism,” according to Bastide. A similar thing happened with the native Indians. Another historian wrote: “The natives of this country, although taught the Gospels for a long time, are no more Christians now than they were at the time of the conquest. . . . In present-day Bolivia and the south of Peru, the old pagan divinity Pacha-Mama (Mother Earth) still remains alive, although absorbed into the Virgin. . . . In Mexico, veneration of the virgin of Guadalupe has its roots in the cult of the goddess Tonantzin (Mother of the gods).”—Mecanismos da Conquista Colonial, by Ruggiero Romano. William H. Prescott, historian of the conquest of Mexico, added regarding the Indians in that country: “It is only required of him to transfer his homage from the image of Quetzalcoatl, the benevolent deity who walked among men, to that of the Virgin or the Redeemer; from the Cross, which he has worshipped as the emblem of the god of rain, to the same Cross, the symbol of salvation.”—History of the Conquest of Mexico, by William H. Prescott. While Catholic ritual was thus being grafted on to African and native forms of worship, non-Christian beliefs were filtering back into Catholicism. Waldemar Valente says: “Catholicism . . . became spotted with superstitious ideas, with absurd beliefs, with magical-fetishist concepts.”—Sincretismo Religioso Afro-Brasileiro. Is It Good or Bad? How do you view such a religious mixture? Some may be offended, feeling it is a corruption of Christianity. Others, though, may view it as no bad thing. Throughout history, countless victims have died in religious wars, crusades, persecutions and riots. What is happening in Brazil, they may say, is at least better than that! Others, again, may wonder what all the fuss is about. They could point out that the Catholic religion itself is a product of at least three religious traditions: Biblical Christianity, Greek philosophy and the popular pagan religions of the Middle East and Europe. How was that? The Catholic Church teaches that the Bible is the Word of God, and from this come many of the names and concepts it uses in worship. However, Catholic theologians were strongly influenced by the philosophies of the ancient pagan Greeks, and this colored their teachings. For example, the doctrine of the inherent immortality of the human soul does not appear in the Bible. (Ezekiel 18:4, 20) However, it was taught by the Greek philosophers and is now a fundamental doctrine of Catholicism.What It Leads To For example, in the days before Jesus Christ walked the earth, the Israelites attempted to mix the beliefs of their pagan neighbors with their worship of Jehovah God. As a result, they got involved in sex worship, “sacred” prostitution, even child sacrifice. This led Jehovah God to withhold his protection, and they became easy prey for the empire-building Assyrians. (2 Kings 17:16-18) Why such an extreme reaction? The reason is obvious. The worship Jehovah gave to the Israelites promoted high moral standards. When observed faithfully (without mixing in pagan teachings), it protected them physically, as well as spiritually, and prepared them for the coming of the Messiah. Adding pagan elements degraded it, just as adding polluted water to fresh water will pollute the fresh water. The same holds true for Christian worship. The apostle Paul warns: “Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers [those who do not believe in Jesus Christ]. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? . . . Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols?” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16) Consider how history has proved the wisdom of Paul’s words. Christianity is a whole. It is a way of life involving our relationship with God, and it includes Bible-based beliefs—particularly with regard to the place of Jesus Christ in God’s purposes—a code of conduct touching all aspects of life and a special responsibility to spread the faith to others. Compromise in any part weakens the whole. Thus the willingness to compromise that allowed the entry of pagan doctrines also allowed unchristian immorality, cruelty, oppression, and so forth. As a result, some of the worst atrocities in history have been committed by people claiming to be followers of Christ. Only those who have striven to hold to Bible Christianity in all its facets—doctrine as well as conduct—have been able to maintain the high standards of apostolic Christianity. In view of this, a sincere person would share the concern of the Catholic theologian who said: “Speaking objectively, syncretism is not justified because it perverts the Word of God, . . . syncretism is very deplorable.”—O Estado de São Paulo, by D. Estevão Bettencourt. Jehovah’s Witnesses feel that way, too. They believe that everyone today should be free to choose how he worships. But they also believe there is only one true religion, the one based on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ. How can we identify that religion? The apostle Paul pointed to “the holy writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation.” He went on to explain: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.”—2 Timothy 3:15-17. Hence, Jehovah’s Witnesses go to the Bible to learn of the true religion. In doing so, they avoid the kind of syncretism that is happening today in Brazil. They also avoid the syncretism that occurred hundreds of years ago, which brought hellfire, the immortal soul, the Trinity, images, the cross and other pagan beliefs into Christendom’s system of worship. If syncretism that “mutilates” doctrine is wrong today, surely it was also wrong hundreds of years ago.10/19/21