Year 9 - Religious education
Candomblé and Brazilian spirituality
Christianity: how have the experiences of the Global South shaped it?
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils will examine how Christianity has been challenged by, and adapted to, cultures and the experiences of the Global South. Focussing on Africa and South America, pupils will look at theologians and practices that have emerged and the challenges they have made.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain the history of Candomblé and understand some of the ways it is practised.
Key Notes
- Candomblé is an Afro-Brazilian religion, shaped by Indigenous beliefs and Catholic influence.
- It developed as spiritual survival during enslavement, blending Orisha worship with Catholic practices.
- Despite oppression and legal bans, Candomblé endured through oral tradition, music, and ritual.
- Through divination, priestesses seek messages from the Orishas to guide people through life's challenges and decisions.
- The faith honours connection - to nature, ancestors, and the divine.
Vocabulary To Learn
- ancestors: a family member from the past who has died, believed to offer guidance and protection
- divination: a practice for understanding spiritual guidance and finding one's Orisha
- nation: a branch or denomination within Candomblé
- Orishas: a divine ancestor or spirit; intermediaries between humans and the supreme god, Oludumaré
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Candomblé always embraces Catholic elements.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the lesson in two key points.
Candomblé is an Afro-Brazilian religion, shaped by Indigenous beliefs and Catholic influence. It developed as spiritual survival during enslavement, blending Orisha worship with Catholic practices.
2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'ancestors'
a family member from the past who has died, believed to offer guidance and protection.
3. Correct this common mistake.
Mistake: Candomblé always embraces Catholic elements. Correction: Candomblé is an ancient African faith shaped by enslavement. While some include Catholic elements for tradition or protection, many focus purely on African roots. It's a living, evolving religion adapting to each generation's needs.
More Lessons In This Unit
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