Post by ifayomi on Nov 14, 2006 10:56:34 GMT -5
The top of these is from my Godmother Iyanifa Fayomi Falade Aworeni, the others are also people I know, this is convo, concerning Christianity etc. These points about righteousness etc. are valid
Osunkoya-Ifayomi
Ela moyin Aboru, Aboye, Abosise, giving honor and praise to
Olodumare, Eleda,Ela-Irunmila, Irunmole, and Egungun Ile those whose
life's journey carved the road we now walk.
As with any religious theology or spiritual way of life; there is
behavior engendered with the corpus that can be consider either good
or bad as it is regulated by the people who practice the behavior in
relationship to the religious dogma.
While it is true as African Diaspora people, we were subjected to the
religion of the captors of our-my people. In the US and in some of
the other diasporic countries, it was a given that we serve the same
god as the captors and yet, when practicing our own from our various
lands of origin because of the immense power and difference we were
discouraged harshly for practicing the religion of our Ancestors.
However, we are a very spiritual people and emotionally charged with
the energy to serve a Creative force that would transcend the
condition we found ourselves in we either changed our religion of our
ancestors-syncretiz ation to have the freedom to serve our Gods
without harm or to practice this adopted religions of our captors
with the same vigor and trascending force as that of the religion of
our ancestors from Idoromuawuse.
We can however, in understanding what took place and how it is meeted
out by practicioners of the "other" religions when they commit the
bad behaviors towards us the Ifa Orisa practioner such as
condemnation, intolerance, prejudice, hatred, and note that these are
also behaviors that are an Esu mirror for us when we do likewise in
our practices in this tradition.
People Do People Things! We (generaliized but not all of us) have
had a tremendous lack of tolerance; we have displayed prejudice,
hatred, condemnation, intolerance, that we have accuse to being the
very painful and hurtful acts displayed against us.
People in our tradition are being discriminated against and brought
physical harm because we believe in Ifa. Orunmila in his missionary
journeys was brought physical harm as well as his students for this
practice.
We have the embodiment within Odu Ifa of Irosun Awoye, the remedy for
maltreatment where Ifa will fight our battles for us however, it also
is the embodiment for forgiveness of those who choose to be our
enemies.
Therefore we, as practioners of Ifa must be very careful in our
prouncements of this chant of Ifa for if we are found in want in
conducting the same behaviors then we will find Ifa in our road
because it does not condone willful and bad behaviors or criminality.
The itan in summery says that there was one of Irunmila's students
omo-oko'fa that was send to Iwoye(town) and he returned always with
tales of beatings and maltreatment. This went on for a very long time
(17 years) until Irunmila decided to visting the town and investigate
the charges. He asked the towns people why they hurt Igunnugun his
student and they answered Irunmila with a confirmation and beating
worse than the ones they gave his student. This story can be found
in Oloye FAMA's workd of Practioner's Handbook for the Ifa
professional.
It is not a profound thing to note that the beauty of all world
religions is that they all have a common thread of love, forgiveness,
aligning one self to the higher good and vibration of the Universe.
It is also unique to show that there are many examples of the
violation of the righteous principles and laws; developed to ensure
your behavior to the higher good if followed.
The power of Ifa is that our rememdies are within the corpus of Ifa
to thwart those detractors and criminals who will hate us because we
do not believe what they believe but we too must be mindful that we
are held to a higher standard.
It is true we have our religious organization in place here and
abroad but our people must absolutely abide by the principles of
Olodumare as set forth in Odu Ifa or we too will suffer what those
enemies who scourge us in unrighteous behaviors if we commit the same
as they. This is why we support and work hard in our studies and
more so that we benifit from the blessing of Ifa because our behavior
is sweeter than oyin as the Deity Iwa was proclaimed.
Ire
Iyanifa Fayomi Falade Aworeni
--- In ifaolokun@yahoogrou ps.com, "Shirley" <alorde55@.. .> wrote:
Alafia,
I hear often many folks that feel as you do that sense their
ancestors where force to practice christianity they will not
practice
or evn in some cases do they honor these ancestors.
while I now don't attend any christian church I do have family
still do. I also have Ancestors that where devote Christians. From
time to time I have been ask by them why I want to attend church or
why I walk around wearing African clothes all the time.
There are those I would take time to talk about the religion with
an
other I ignore. It is almost like a second sense you just seem to
know who is a open vessel and sincere about their desire to
understand and those who no matter what you explain to them they
will
continue on their path.
I truely feel each head will find their path. I try always to
respect
this . I don't like people who try to push their way down other's
throat. I hate this my way is the only way ideaolgy.
What is done in Nigeria will not nescessary work at all here in
America. I feel it would help us a lot on how people veiw religion
if
we would change our behavior and actions. I woul dlike to see more
unity . priest acting more respectful. If we want folks to view us
a
a religion an d not a cult.
-- In ifaolokun@yahoogrou ps.com, Iya Ayoola karadepriestess@ >
wrote:
Aboru, Aboye, Abosise Chief Aluko and List Members:
Alafia. This is an excellent subject Chief Aluko. I
really appreciate you bringing it up. I struggle with
the subject of Jesus because there are millions in
America who practice and identify with Christianity.
> > There are even some in our faith who still worship
Jesus. An Elder in the Ifa tradition once told me
that because African-Americans have so many ancestors
who were Christian, this religion resonates for them.
That made perfect sense.
As for me, after my research revealed to me that my
ancestors were forced to practice Christianity and
that Christianity derives from Kemetic (Egytian)
theology that was colonized and changed by Greek,
Roman and European invaders, I could no longer
practice any form of Christianity in a formal sense.
This was hard because my father was a Christian
minister (and a doctor by trade).
I do however, recognize that there are many good
positive effects of Christianity in people's lives.
On most days I try to honor people's individual
spiritual calling despite what I know from a
However, it is hard when Christians demonize our faith
and call it devil worship out of ignorance and fear.
I work hard to debunk the myths through doing
educational talks at colleges, churches and cultural
institutions around the country. But sometimes I feel
the struggle is too hard and I just be quiet.
I'd like to know how others deal with attacks and
condemnation by Christians? Particularly in Nigeria
where the missionaries are on a crusade--how are you
dealing with it? What strategies do you recommend?
Blessings,
Ifalade (Iya Ta'Shia)
--- chiefaluko@ wrote:
point of clarification, when you say the orisha
people love their JESUS do
you mean as their god? are you talking about the
Santeria/Palo people.
We in the Orisa community call Olodumare our God and
we know him as the
creator. an his humble servant Orunmila, who
advocate truth as the way of life.
and once we know the truth we must abide by it if we
don't them we becomes the
victim.
It wasn't until the early 1800 that people of
African descend was allow to
be Omo Jesu (by force). my question is what was your
ancestor doing prior to
that time. Who did they worship?
Chief Aluko
Osunkoya-Ifayomi
Ela moyin Aboru, Aboye, Abosise, giving honor and praise to
Olodumare, Eleda,Ela-Irunmila, Irunmole, and Egungun Ile those whose
life's journey carved the road we now walk.
As with any religious theology or spiritual way of life; there is
behavior engendered with the corpus that can be consider either good
or bad as it is regulated by the people who practice the behavior in
relationship to the religious dogma.
While it is true as African Diaspora people, we were subjected to the
religion of the captors of our-my people. In the US and in some of
the other diasporic countries, it was a given that we serve the same
god as the captors and yet, when practicing our own from our various
lands of origin because of the immense power and difference we were
discouraged harshly for practicing the religion of our Ancestors.
However, we are a very spiritual people and emotionally charged with
the energy to serve a Creative force that would transcend the
condition we found ourselves in we either changed our religion of our
ancestors-syncretiz ation to have the freedom to serve our Gods
without harm or to practice this adopted religions of our captors
with the same vigor and trascending force as that of the religion of
our ancestors from Idoromuawuse.
We can however, in understanding what took place and how it is meeted
out by practicioners of the "other" religions when they commit the
bad behaviors towards us the Ifa Orisa practioner such as
condemnation, intolerance, prejudice, hatred, and note that these are
also behaviors that are an Esu mirror for us when we do likewise in
our practices in this tradition.
People Do People Things! We (generaliized but not all of us) have
had a tremendous lack of tolerance; we have displayed prejudice,
hatred, condemnation, intolerance, that we have accuse to being the
very painful and hurtful acts displayed against us.
People in our tradition are being discriminated against and brought
physical harm because we believe in Ifa. Orunmila in his missionary
journeys was brought physical harm as well as his students for this
practice.
We have the embodiment within Odu Ifa of Irosun Awoye, the remedy for
maltreatment where Ifa will fight our battles for us however, it also
is the embodiment for forgiveness of those who choose to be our
enemies.
Therefore we, as practioners of Ifa must be very careful in our
prouncements of this chant of Ifa for if we are found in want in
conducting the same behaviors then we will find Ifa in our road
because it does not condone willful and bad behaviors or criminality.
The itan in summery says that there was one of Irunmila's students
omo-oko'fa that was send to Iwoye(town) and he returned always with
tales of beatings and maltreatment. This went on for a very long time
(17 years) until Irunmila decided to visting the town and investigate
the charges. He asked the towns people why they hurt Igunnugun his
student and they answered Irunmila with a confirmation and beating
worse than the ones they gave his student. This story can be found
in Oloye FAMA's workd of Practioner's Handbook for the Ifa
professional.
It is not a profound thing to note that the beauty of all world
religions is that they all have a common thread of love, forgiveness,
aligning one self to the higher good and vibration of the Universe.
It is also unique to show that there are many examples of the
violation of the righteous principles and laws; developed to ensure
your behavior to the higher good if followed.
The power of Ifa is that our rememdies are within the corpus of Ifa
to thwart those detractors and criminals who will hate us because we
do not believe what they believe but we too must be mindful that we
are held to a higher standard.
It is true we have our religious organization in place here and
abroad but our people must absolutely abide by the principles of
Olodumare as set forth in Odu Ifa or we too will suffer what those
enemies who scourge us in unrighteous behaviors if we commit the same
as they. This is why we support and work hard in our studies and
more so that we benifit from the blessing of Ifa because our behavior
is sweeter than oyin as the Deity Iwa was proclaimed.
Ire
Iyanifa Fayomi Falade Aworeni
--- In ifaolokun@yahoogrou ps.com, "Shirley" <alorde55@.. .> wrote:
Alafia,
I hear often many folks that feel as you do that sense their
ancestors where force to practice christianity they will not
practice
or evn in some cases do they honor these ancestors.
while I now don't attend any christian church I do have family
still do. I also have Ancestors that where devote Christians. From
time to time I have been ask by them why I want to attend church or
why I walk around wearing African clothes all the time.
There are those I would take time to talk about the religion with
an
other I ignore. It is almost like a second sense you just seem to
know who is a open vessel and sincere about their desire to
understand and those who no matter what you explain to them they
will
continue on their path.
I truely feel each head will find their path. I try always to
respect
this . I don't like people who try to push their way down other's
throat. I hate this my way is the only way ideaolgy.
What is done in Nigeria will not nescessary work at all here in
America. I feel it would help us a lot on how people veiw religion
if
we would change our behavior and actions. I woul dlike to see more
unity . priest acting more respectful. If we want folks to view us
a
a religion an d not a cult.
-- In ifaolokun@yahoogrou ps.com, Iya Ayoola karadepriestess@ >
wrote:
Aboru, Aboye, Abosise Chief Aluko and List Members:
Alafia. This is an excellent subject Chief Aluko. I
really appreciate you bringing it up. I struggle with
the subject of Jesus because there are millions in
America who practice and identify with Christianity.
> > There are even some in our faith who still worship
Jesus. An Elder in the Ifa tradition once told me
that because African-Americans have so many ancestors
who were Christian, this religion resonates for them.
That made perfect sense.
As for me, after my research revealed to me that my
ancestors were forced to practice Christianity and
that Christianity derives from Kemetic (Egytian)
theology that was colonized and changed by Greek,
Roman and European invaders, I could no longer
practice any form of Christianity in a formal sense.
This was hard because my father was a Christian
minister (and a doctor by trade).
I do however, recognize that there are many good
positive effects of Christianity in people's lives.
On most days I try to honor people's individual
spiritual calling despite what I know from a
However, it is hard when Christians demonize our faith
and call it devil worship out of ignorance and fear.
I work hard to debunk the myths through doing
educational talks at colleges, churches and cultural
institutions around the country. But sometimes I feel
the struggle is too hard and I just be quiet.
I'd like to know how others deal with attacks and
condemnation by Christians? Particularly in Nigeria
where the missionaries are on a crusade--how are you
dealing with it? What strategies do you recommend?
Blessings,
Ifalade (Iya Ta'Shia)
--- chiefaluko@ wrote:
point of clarification, when you say the orisha
people love their JESUS do
you mean as their god? are you talking about the
Santeria/Palo people.
We in the Orisa community call Olodumare our God and
we know him as the
creator. an his humble servant Orunmila, who
advocate truth as the way of life.
and once we know the truth we must abide by it if we
don't them we becomes the
victim.
It wasn't until the early 1800 that people of
African descend was allow to
be Omo Jesu (by force). my question is what was your
ancestor doing prior to
that time. Who did they worship?
Chief Aluko