Kail Magico-Religious Groups and Ritualistic Activities

A Guide for First Responders
Erscheinungsjahr 2012
ISBN: 978-1-4200-5187-2
Verlag: Taylor & Francis
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 168 Seiten

A woman lays unconscious on the floor surrounded by charcoaled symbols, burning candles, a bowl of viscous red liquid, and an array of dried herbs. Was this a healing ritual gone wrong or just straightforward foul play? Increasingly, first responders must deal with foreign practices and cultures that are often disturbing in their unfamiliarity. Understanding cultural variations and nuances can make the difference between much-needed emergency treatment and the aggravation of an already sensitive situation.

The first book of its kind, Magico-Religious Groups and Ritualistic Activities: A Guide for First Responders provides a cultural bridge for emergency personnel when interacting with various magico-religious cultures. More than just a litany of artifacts, rituals, and symbols, this valuable book draws from cultural anthropology and religious studies to unearth hidden meanings and place the information in a context relevant for the first responder. It offers crucial keys for improving communication, assessment, and treatment in culturally sensitive situations.
Beginning with an introduction to the importance of trans-cultural communication, the book devotes subsequent chapters to the common and contrasting elements of several magico-religious groups. It considers the practices of Neo-Paganism, Santeria, Bantu religion (Palo Mayombe), Voodoo, and Curanderismo. The book separates fact from fantasy regarding sacred spaces and dates, ceremonies, group structure, sacred objects, cultural taboos, and beliefs about sickness and healing. It also includes a detailed review of the common herbs used in healing and ritual, as well as a glossary of cultural terms and an index of symbols.
Promoting functional cultural competency, this book gives public service agencies and emergency responders the tools to properly assess situations, open lines of communication, protect cultural diversity and beliefs and, above all, provide effective emergency treatment.

Zielgruppe

First Responders-EMS, Fire and Police Officers, Emergency Room Personnel, Medical Examiners, and Forensic Theologists

Autoren/Hrsg.

Kail, Tony M.

Fachgebiete

• Medizin | Veterinärmedizin Medizin | Public Health | Pharmazie | Zahnmedizin Medizinische Fachgebiete AINS Notfallmedizin & Unfallmedizin (inkl. Notdienste)
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Spezielle Soziologie Kriminalsoziologie
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftssektoren & Branchen Dienstleistungssektor & Branchen Sicherheitsgewerbe

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction

First Responders

View from the Patient’s Perspective

Risks for First Responders

Solutions

An Introduction to Religious Culture for Responders

Cultural Competency

Anthropological Terms

Magico-Religious Cultures

Neopaganism

Beliefs and Practices

Neopaganism

History of Wicca

Traditions

Group Structure

Ritual Tools

Rituals and Ceremonies

Holy Days

Sacred Spaces

Health and Sickness

Articles of Comfort

Responder Issues

Santeria (Regla de Ocha)

History of Santeria

Beliefs and Practices

Group Structure

Rituals and Ceremonies

Holy Days

Sacred Spaces

Healing and Sickness

Articles of Comfort

Responder Issues

Palo and Kongo Religions

Bantu Traditions

Beliefs and Practices

Sacred Spaces

Group Structure

Articles of Comfort

Healing and Sickness

Responder Issues

Voodoo

Beliefs and Practices

Group Structure

Ritual Tools2

Ceremonies

Sacred Days

Sacred Spaces

Health and Sickness

Responder Issues

Curanderismo

Beliefs and Practices

Group Structure

Healing and Sickness

Responder Issues

Closing Issues

Behavior

Language

Patience

Communication

Appendix A: Index of Symbols

Appendix B: Glossary of Cultural Terms

Index