Many people feel more comfortable seeking advice from a counselor affiliated with their religion. Being able to give advice directly related to a specific religion can be learned through online study. Students who have considered studying religious studies or counseling can combine their interests into one degree. Doing this allows students to train in pastoral counseling. This degree field leaves students with an assortment of online schooling opportunities.

The career focuses not only on the therapy of an individual but assisting them in their spiritual needs and development. This field places importance on the pastoral relationship that takes place through counseling. Professionals have a responsibility to have a solid understanding of the central meanings of life, and its principles based on their religious beliefs because they are representing their faith through counseling. Schooling trains students to have an integrated approach by combining traditional religious training with psychological thought processes. This design is set up to enable students to function as traditional counselors in a religious setting. Traditionally, ministers, rabbis, and priests fulfilled the role of a pastoral counselor. These individuals still make up the majority of pastoral counselors but the circle is widening to include professionals that have strictly earned a degree in this form of counseling.

Online training can be earned in a couple of ways depending on the personal career a student is striving for. Students that want to become ministers and rabbis will find that seminary school is the best option. Inside a seminary program students can focus on both pastoral studies and counseling. Students can also follow programs from a bachelor’s degree to a doctoral degree in seminary. If seminary is not the path students want to take there are some colleges that offer online training. Students need to keep in mind that some schools do not meet counseling licensing requirement. To gain licensure students may have to precede or follow up a program with more schooling. It is recommended that students research school requirements fully to obtain the right amount of training.

To step onto the right educational path outside of seminary school, students can enter counseling degrees at the undergraduate level to prepare them for master’s level work. Undergraduate training can be gained in areas that include marriage, family, social work, and clinical psychology. These degree programs give students knowledge in fundamental counseling procedures that they can build upon at the graduate level.

A popular choice is to continue education to receive a doctor of education in pastoral counseling. Since students already have a solid counseling background at this point coursework varies to include both pastoral courses and counseling courses. Counseling the addicted, biblical theology, empowering people, leadership, and management are a few courses that students may work through. A large amount of colleges require students to complete an internship. Internships provide students with practical and real world experience that is useful in future jobs. To finish out training students are required to write and defend a dissertation paper based on their understanding of both psychology and pastoral work. With this degree many students work in educational settings or set up their own private practice.

Counseling in this capacity trains individuals to work alongside their clients to help them get through personal issues. Students that are interested in counseling and working with people who share their faith should consider enrolling in a degree program. An accredited online degree in pastoral counseling is a perfect opportunity for students that want to follow their religious faith into a career outside of the traditional minister or rabbi role.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.

Copyright 2010 – All rights reserved by PETAP.org.

Dating someone with the same religious beliefs as you, can often result in a rewarding relationship where both you and your partner can share in the same values and traditions. It also means that if your dating becomes serious, you are less likely to have problems with family members disapproving of your choice. Of course, it shouldn’t matter if they disapprove of your date or not, but in all honesty, the opinion of anyone you respect or love will have an effect on you, which could lead to problems.

Regardless of which religion you belong to Muslim, Christian, Jewish, etc. you will discover that there are many ways you can connect with others who share your religion and are interested in perusing a relationship with you. You will find that this is an excellent way to begin dating, especially since it means that you already have something in common with your date.

Having one similar interest will help to create a solid conversation that is understood by both you and your date. Once you have broken the ice, you should be able to feel more at ease with one another, so you can begin exploring new topics that are of interest to the both of you.

Another advantage that you have when dating another person from your religion is that you can:

Attend Celebrations/Ceremonies Together – Since you share the same or similar religious background as your date, you may be interested in attending prayer services or other religious outings, and share in the traditions together.

Become a Member of Any Clubs or Groups – if your religious community has any activities or meetings, it might be a good idea for you and your date to attend and become involved in something that may not only bring you closer physically, but also spiritually.

On the other side of the coin, dating someone who is of a different religious background as you can also be quite the adventure. Although highly frowned upon in the past, more than ever, especially in the Western culture, people of different religions are dating and even marrying. Naturally, not everyone agrees with these proceedings, but when it comes to love, the only opinions that should matter is yours and your partner’s.

Therefore, regardless of whom you date, and what religion they follow, you can still keep up with the value and traditions that matter to you. If you and your date were meant to be, he or she will recognize what is important to you, as you should them. After all, although religions differ in beliefs and many other traditions, they all teach the importance and value of love.

A message implanted in the brain is done in such a way that people genuinely believe that it is their original thought or will. The brain can be stimulated by many external media, such as advertisements to purchase goods.

Brain virus can affect the way we live or even induce suicide. Religious beliefs are carefully selected brain viruses.

Throughout history people have committed atrocities in the name of their God.

Strong and weak people infected by the brain virus will react completely differently. Brain virus may use threats, fear, pleasure and other senses and desires in order to achieve and act upon the selected target.

Anti-brain-virus (ABV) is the personal ability to ignore and overcome implanted viruses. Phase I – implant, Phase II – evolve, Phase III – act.

ABV will go into action after it recognizes that a message on which we are about to act is a virus.The defence mechanisms against mind viruses can assist us in changing or eliminating those thoughts which are imposed upon us by the implanted viruses.

Certain memories fade faster than others, possibly depending on our need or willingness to remember or forget.

In early experiments on rats, scientists found a certain enzyme which caused memory to fade more rapidly than usual. This finding suggests the possibility of selectively erasing certain undesired memories. Does it work the other way, too? Can we boost or enhance our memory?

Future research could lead to genetically engineered brain virus, which will enable such memory enhancement.

A spin-off of brain virus is brainwashing, which originated during the Korean War in the 1950s.

Brainwashing is defined as the application of certain techniques, usually coercive, to manipulate or change a person’s beliefs, values, perceptions and judgments. Subsequently, it affects the behaviours of that person.

The purpose of brainwashing is usually to change someone’s political, personal, or religious opinions and beliefs.

The Chinese used brainwashing methodologies under the Maoist regime. Their aim was to transform individuals with a reactionary imperialist attitude into ‘right-thinking’ members of the new Chinese social system.

It was largely done in two phases. First, the person’s psychic integrity was broken down by dehumanization, and then when they were ‘clean’ they would go through certain rites.

Cults in general use brainwashing techniques to recruit members into their organization. The 1960s to the 1970s was a decade when mind control theories were applied by religious movements, especially in the USA.

The success of many a totalitarian regime can be explained by the use of brainwashing and mind-controlling techniques.

Brainwashing or mind control theories are researched from neuroscience and social psychology perspectives. The activation of brainwashing can be done by manipulating the prefrontal cortex of the brain.

Project MKULTRA was the code name for a covert, illegal CIA human research programme run by the CIA’s Office of Scientific Intelligence during the 1950s and 1960s.

This project used scientific, medical and psychological methodologies to manipulate individuals’ mental states and alter their brain functions.

Diverse and complex combinations of chemicals, drugs, hypnosis, isolation and sexual abuse were used.

A short summary from the New York Times (August 2nd, 1977) is given below:

The C.I.A. leaders were certain the Communists had embarked on a campaign to control men’s minds and they were determined to find a defense, setting out in earnest the next year-1950-with Project Bluebird, which evolved into Project Artichoke, then became MK-ULTRA, MK-DELTA.

They wanted to be able to interrogate enemy espionage agents in such a way that neither the agents nor their superiors would know they had been compromised, and they wanted to be able to wipe clean the memories of their own agents after certain missions and, especially, when they were going into retirement.

The evolution of human communication – humans cannot exist without communicating with each other for various purposes.

Different forms of communication are required for everyday life, entertainment and many other areas.

Communication can be verbal, telepathic, musical, use signs or SMS, electronic and other non-electronic means, and use visual and audio signals.

In the prehistoric era, fire, smoke signals, beacons, drums and horns were used.

The mail was introduced about the sixth century BC and pigeons were used to send post from the fifth century BC.

Semaphore, which is a system for communicating by means of visual signals, using towers with blades, was introduced in the fourth century BC and the heliograph, which is a wireless solar telegraph that uses signals based on Morse code and mirrors reflecting flashes of sunlight, was used from 490 BC.

The maritime flag system was introduced about the fifteenth century and signal lamps were used from the nineteenth century, mainly by the navy using Morse code.

The electrical telegraph was in use from 1836 and the telephone, photophone (radio-phone) and the radio were invented in between 1876 and 1896.

The television has been in use since the late 1920s, the videophone from the 1930s, telecommunication using fibre optics since 1964 and computer networking since 1969.

Cellular mobile phones came onto the market in 1981 followed by email and the Internet, and satellite phones have been in use since 1998.

What next?

It is believed that, as the technology improves, these communication devices may become part of our body, rather than an accessory which we carry or wear.

We could become wired organisms and meet each other in a new medium in cyberspace.

Many a times I have seen people visiting temples, offering votives, conducting poojas, yagnas and even offering sacrifices of innocent animals to please their gods! Some more ardent devotees even go to the extent of observing month-long foodless fasts, piercing their body, or offering their blood as sacrifice to their deities. Sometimes I can’t believe how diverse out religious system is. Believing in god and following a religion is all we have been taught since our birth. Our parents tell us to be spiritual, but my question is, does spirituality or rather say religion is confined within a temple, church or a mosque?

With this I don’t intend to offend anyone. Everyone is free to follow his or her own beliefs. I just want to voice my personal thoughts.

One moment you’ll find people talking all sort of religious things, ‘Geeta Updesh’ and what not, the next you’ll see them bad-mouthing about other people. You just don’t understand what their real nature is? Whether they are really spiritual or just pretend to be, you just can’t say. But anyways, that’s not my point! My point is what exactly does spirituality hold in today’s world? Although, I may not be the right person to be asking this question, or say answering this question, as I’m myself not as spiritual as we are supposed to be, but this question keeps heckling me every now and then.

Actually, I’m spiritual but in my own way! To me spiritually is not all about sitting in a quite sacred place for hours, or meditating incessantly – although I do mediate sometimes to ease my stress, but that’s only once in a while. With time, ideals of spirituality have changed, at least for me. We Indians love to tout ourselves as god fearing people! No matter what the occasion is, we line up at temples to offer prayers, and in the process push others in the queue to get ahead. Take the recent stampede in Chamunda Temple for example, where 150 people lost their life, while on their way to temple. The reason? Some reckless young men who were pushing other pilgrims to get ahead, causing some to slip and the rest is tragedy. Now, you blame it on fate, but for me this was sheer ignorance on part of temple authorities which didn’t put in many efforts to manage the crowd.

Spirituality teaches us to value human life and not risking it for reasons as stupid as getting ahead in a queue. Spirituality is as you feel it and not as you’re are forced to believe it. Most of us confuse spirituality with religion, when in fact religion is just one small aspect of whole wide spirituality. In India, however, it’s difficult to differentiate between the two because of our several contrasting and sometimes illogical religious beliefs. Being spiritual is being yourself; it is living by your own values, it is being in the spirit. We need to understand that spirituality is something that helps our soul to evolve to a higher being, unlike religion, that restricts us from saying or doing what we want to do.

In the end, it doesn’t matter how many fasts you observed or how many pilgrimages you made, all that counts is what you feel inside. So, if you feel content from inside, if you realize your worth and your purpose in life, you automatically get a step closer to the god.

College is an exercise in mind, body and spirit alteration. You will enter your university of choice with one perspective, and you'll leave four years later with a new outlook on life. A big part of the college experience is exposure to new things. There are new facts to consider, and different types of people to exchange ideas and emotions with.

You cannot afford to be a hermit in college. Even if that's your default comfort zone, solitude in college is counter-productive. You need to go out and enjoy new experiences. You have to expose and introduce yourself to things that you would not experience under normal, at-home circumstances.

To truly experience this composite college world, you will need to embrace difference and diversity. Find people who aren't like you and talk to them. Learn from these alternative outlooks and develop different perspectives on life.

Here are five ways to embrace diversity in college, and open your mind.

1. Embrace socio-economic diversity

Don't just associate with people who's parents all belong in the same tax-bracket, reach out. If you drive a BMW, talk to a kid that rides the bus. If you've earned a full need-based scholarship, chat it up with a trust fund baby. Don't be totally tactless when approaching people, just start a natural conversation, and don't be afraid to talk about different financial experiences.

2. Embrace racial and cultural diversity

College's pride themselves on creating racial and culturally diverse student bodies. Some schools focus more on this than others. Do yourself a favor, and meet different types of people. In every university, you can find people from all over the world. Talk to them. Open your mind and accept different points of view.

3. Embrace political diversity

Find someone with a worldview that's completely different from your own. If you're a hippie, have a serious conversation with a Republican. Respectful debates between two opposite perspectives is always healthy, especially if you can keep the conversation from getting overly emotional. Learn what the other side thinks once in awhile, and be prepared to defend your beliefs in a rational manner.

4. Embrace religious diversity

Discuss religion with someone from a different denomination. Ask questions, but always be respectful of other people's religious beliefs. If someone is uncomfortable discussing their spirituality, then leave them alone. There are plenty of religious beliefs out there to compare and contrast. Start on a common ground and work towards mutual understanding.

Respect everyone you meet, regardless of their race, class, gender, religion, politics or sexual orientation. Seek out different perspectives, because the more you expose yourself to different types of people, the better you'll be able to function in this world of intersecting identities.

The aim of this article is to provide the reader with information about Ghao (Gau) boxes (prayer boxes) which are often found in the form of a handcrafted silver locket.

Where do Ghao boxes originate from?

Although used by many religions and faiths, it is believed that Gau boxes originate from the Buddhist or Hindu faith. However, many people wear them today not for religious purposes but as a silver locket purely for their aesthetic appeal.

What are Ghao boxes commonly used for?

In religious circles, Ghao boxes are used to aid the wearer in focussing his/her mind in prayer. This is done by having a prayer written on a small piece of paper and then put and sealed inside the prayer box. The Ghao box is sometimes also used to hold small religious objects.

Religious symbolism

The images of important religious teachers or deities are often crafted into the Ghao box, for example, Buddha in Buddhist Gau boxes. Important religious symbols are often incorporated into the Ghao box. In Buddhism the Om symbol, or the Tibetan prayer wheel are commonly found on the prayer box.

Ghao boxes as a non religious silver locket

Ghao boxes are being increasingly worn by people who don’t hold any particular religious beliefs and who use them as jewelry pendants. The prayer box is often added to a necklace or bracelet and makes for an attractive centre piece to these types of jewelry.

Many non religious users of Ghao boxes hold inspirational quotes or poems within their prayer box. Others use them to hold pictures of loved ones which can be passed down from generation to generation and often hold huge sentimental value for the recipient.

Many prayer boxes have some form of gemstone incorporated into the design, a common one being a turquoise gemstone. The gemstone doesn’t have any particular religious significance but can add colour and beauty to the Ghao box. Often someone will buy a silver locket which contains the gemstone associated with the month of their birth to personalise the prayer box.

However, often the prayer box will contain no gemstone at all and will be simply handcrafted as a plain silver locket inscribed with meaningful words or symbols.

What are Ghao boxes usually made of?

Ghao boxes can be made from a range of different materials and can be found in a range of prices. They are most commonly made from sterling silver, silver, gold, brass, copper or lightweight materials. Sterling silver is certainly the most common and, as mentioned above, this can often include a gemstone such as turquoise.

Prayer boxes are generally considered to be sacred by their wearers and, therefore, tend to be made from a precious metal like silver (or sometimes gold).

Whether you are after something to wear as a symbol of your religious beliefs, a source of inspiration or just a beautiful piece of jewelry, a Ghao box may be just what you are looking for.

There is no scientific way we can measure a man's belief in his religion. As a result when religious issues are researched for mental health we face problems. It is because detail evaluation of the religious system is not much practiced in the scientific activities. This article is intended to show how one can qualitatively measure the belief one Muslim has in his religion Islam by evaluating his daily religious activities.

A Muslim is defined as someone who believes in Islam. In other words a Muslim believes in the statements or in the information that the core Islamic documents mention. As the core documents for the religion of Islam there are two main recognized sources. One is the Holy Quran and the other is the Holy Hadith. These two resources describes the pros and cons of the religion with any other aspects of life, from toilet habit to sleep. Now, there are some mandatory activities that these resources inform for Muslims. For example, believing in Allah, Prophets, life after death etc, and doing some mandatory tasks like saying the daily prayers, paying Jakat for the poor, attending Hazz etc.

The documents describe the benefits and rewards for maintaining those mandatory activities and also the losses and punishments in case of ignoring those. Now very rationally, if someone believes those, that is believes in Islam from the core of his heart, he will be encouraged to perform the activities and also be discouraged to ignore those. If we read the authentic documents of Islam, we will see that the benefits and rewards are very significant as well as the losses and punishments. So naturally, any human who will believe that he or she will be nicely rewarded if something is done and punished severely if not done, he or she must attend those, except for those that are suffering from any psychiatric disorder or illness, or any other severe disability.

So for any purpose, if we measure the extent of daily mandatory religious activity maintained by a Muslim, it will ultimately reveal the extent of belief he / she has in himself / herself about the truths mentioned in Islam. Even it can be used as qualitative measure for scientific purposes too. But what should be kept in mind that any activity shows its consistency when it is performed without any external undue pressure and also for a minimum definite period of time.

For example, one who preaches people for Islam and says the daily prayer timely everyday at least for a month can be taken as a better believer than those that do not perform the above. Because, the reward and punishment mentioned for the daily prayer is significant enough to encourage someone to perform such. So if we confirm the health, both physical and mental, we can surely compare the qualitative amount of belief among the two groups.

Finally one thing should be mentioned that any activity Islam advocates for is always mentioned in its core documents as something good for the human himself, which makes the above claim more eligible for any Muslim. One who knows or believes something as useful for him very seriously but do not perform it must have some problem with his thought or insight if we consider the claim about the belief as true.

Q: How can I find a Christian Psychic or medium? Are all psychics religious, or should I look for one that specially is, if that’s important to me?

We get some variation of this question quite often these days, as many people are growing more and more interested in psychic readings, medium communication and all sorts of new age spirituality… but DON’T want to do something that conflicts with their traditional religious beliefs or teachings.

In my own experience, most psychics and mediums are religious, and traditionally… Christian as well. (I happen to be Jewish, but many of the readings Ive received, and the psychics I’ve worked with are devoutly religious)

That said, there are plenty of psychics, empaths and mediums of all types that practice all sorts of religions, and to categorize them all under one roof so to speak… would be unfair and inaccurate.

As a matter of fact, some of the most famous mediums in the world happen to be devoutly religious.

George Anderson, a very well known medium who has published many books and done lots of TV and media demonstrations has credited much of his skill to his religious upbringing and ethos.

When I went to see John Edward last summer in a small group setting, he used many traditional Christian religious signs and symbols when offering readings to our group… and told us that they were his way of getting validation, as his own beliefs are strong.

So if finding a Christian psychic or medium is high on your personal priority list, the best bet is to simply seek out a psychic who clearly identifies their religious practice as one that matches yours, or gives readings that have a specific sensitivity to your spiritual traditions.

A good way of doing that is to simply look at their listing if they work for a service, or look on their website if they work for themselves. Most very religious psychics, or even those that specialize in more traditional Judeo-Christian perspectives, will tell you that on their advertising, and in my view… that’s a great way of ensuring they MATCH what you are looking for before the session begins. (even though for me… that’s NOT a big requirement, I understand that many of our readers find it important for sure)

The bottom line is simple –

If you feel more comfortable seeking out psychic advice from someone who shares your beliefs, I think that’s 100% respectable, and don’t think you should avoid having a life changing experience, on the basis of NOT wanting to upset your deeply held beliefs. This can be especially important when seeing a medium… as in my experience, this can be such a magical and life affirming experience, having someone on the other line who shares your beliefs CAN make the experience much more moving!

I chose to explore the culture of Haitians who practice Vodou, a religion also known as Voodoo, Vodun, Vodoun, Voudun, and Yoruba Orisha.  I have just returned from a vacation in the Caribbean (Punta Cana, Dominican Republic), which shares an island with Haiti. While there, I met a man from Haiti and was reminded of a bizarre experience I had in 1998 when I was ridden by an orisha (loa) during an inner-city Christian church service. Thus, I thought this would make an interesting subject for this assignment. To make things simpler in this essay, I will refer to this group simply as Vodou or Vodoun.

Introducing Vodou and Haitian Culture

Vodou is a Caribbean religion blended from African religions and Catholic Christianity. Long stereotyped by the outside world as “black magic,” Vodoun priests and priestesses are also diviners, healers, and religious leaders, who derive most of their income from healing the sick rather than from attacking targeted victims.

Vodou comes from an African word for “spirit” and can be directly traced to the West African Yoruba people who lived in 18th and 19th century Dahomey. However, its African roots may go back 6,000 years. Today, Vodou is practiced most commonly in the country of Haiti and in the United States around New Orleans, New York, and in Florida. Today over 60 million people practice Vodou throughout the Caribbean and West Indies islands, as well as in North and South America, Africa, and Britain.

During days of slave trade, this religion fused with Catholic Christianity. Therefore, in this current century, children born into rural Haitian families are generally baptized into the Vodou religion as well as in the Catholic church.

Those who practice Vodou believe in a pantheon of gods who control and represent the laws and forces of the universe. In this pantheon, there is a Supreme Deity and the Loa-a large group of lesser deities equivalent to the saints of the Catholic Church. These gods protect people and give special favors through their representatives on earth which are the hougans (priests) and mambos (priestesses).

The Loa (also Lwa or L’wha) are spirits somewhat like saints or angels in Christianity. They are intermediaries between the Creator and humanity. Unlike saints or angels, they are not simply prayed to; they are served. They are each distinct beings with their own personal likes and dislikes, distinct sacred rhythms, songs, dances, ritual symbols, and special modes of service.

Rituals, Behaviors, and Practices Associated with Death and Dying

Haitians who adhere to Vodou do not consider death to be the end of life. They do believe in an afterlife. Followers of Vodoun believe that each person has a soul that has both a gros bon ange (large soul or universal life force), and a ti bon ange (little soul or the individual soul or essence.)

When one dies, the soul essence hovers near the corpse for seven to nine days. During this period, the ti bon ange is vulnerable and can be captured and made into a “spiritual zombie” by a sorcerer. Provided the soul is not captured, the priest or priestess performs a ritual called Nine Night to sever the soul from the body so the soul may live in the dark waters for a year and a day. If this is not done, the ti bon ange may wander the earth and bring misfortune on others.

After a year and a day, relatives of the deceased perform the Rite of Reclamation to raise the deceased person’s soul essence and put it in a clay jar known as a govi. The belief that each person’s life experiences can be passed on to the family or community compels Haitians to implore the spirit of the decease to temporarily possess a family member, priest (houngan), or priestess (mambo) to impart any final words of wisdom.

The clay jar may be placed in the houngan’s or mambo’s temple where the family may come to feed the spirit and treat it like a divine being.  At other times, the houngan burns the jar in a ritual called boule zen. This releases the spirit to the land of the dead, where it should properly reside. Another way to elevate the ti-bon-ange is to break the jar and drop the pieces at a crossroad.

The ultimate purpose of death rituals in the Vodoun culture is to send the gros-bon-ange to Ginen, the cosmic community of ancestral spirits, where it will be worshipped by family members as a loa itself. Once the final ritual is done, the spirit is free to abide among the rocks and trees until rebirth. Sixteen incarnations later, spirits merge into the cosmic energy.

Here are some other common behaviors associated with death in the Haitian culture:

·        When death is impending, the entire family will gather, pray, cry, and use religious medallions or other spiritual artifacts. Relatives and friends expend considerable effort to be present when death is near.

·        Haitians prefer to die at home, but the hospital is also an acceptable choice.

·        The moment of death is marked by ritual wailing among family members, friends, and neighbors.

·        When a person dies, the oldest family member makes all the arrangements and notifies the family. The body is kept until the entire family can gather.

·        The last bath is usually given by a family member.

·        Funerals are important social events and involve several days of social interaction, including feasting and the consumption of rum.

·        Family members come from far away to sleep at the house, and friends and neighbors congregate in the yard.

·        Burial monuments and other mortuary rituals are often costly and elaborate. People are increasingly reluctant to be buried underground. They prefer to be interred above ground in an elaborate multi-chambered tomb that may cost more than the house in which the individual lived while alive.

·        Since the body is thought to be necessary for resurrection, organ donation and cremation are not allowed. Autopsy is allowed only if the death occurred as a result of wrong doing or to confirm that the body is actually dead and not a zombie.

Like many Western Christian religions that use a figurative sacrifice to symbolize the consumption of flesh and blood, some Vodoun ceremonies include a literal sacrifice in which chickens, goats, doves, pigeons, and turtles are sacrificed to celebrate births, marriages, and deaths.

Vodou Beliefs about Afterlife

Practitioners of Vodou assume that the souls of all the deceased go to an abode beneath the waters. Concepts of reward and punishment in the afterlife are alien to Vodou.

In Vodou, the soul continues to live on earth and may be used in magic or it may be incarnated in a member of the dead person’s family.

Communion with a god or goddess occurs in the context of possession. The gods sometimes work through a govi, and sometimes take over a living person. This activity is referred to as “mounting a horse” during which the person loses consciousness and the body becomes temporarily possessed by a loa. A special priest (houngan) or priestess (mambo) assists both in summoning the divinities and in helping them to leave at the termination of the possession.

The gros-bon-ange returns to the high solar regions from which its cosmic energy was first drawn; there, it joins the other loa and becomes a loa itself.

Variations

Each group of worshipers is independent and there is no central organization, religious leader, or set of dogmatic beliefs. Rituals and ceremonies vary depending upon family traditions, regional differences, and exposure to the practices of other cultures such as Catholicism, which is the official religion of Haiti.

Some Haitians believe that the dead live in close proximity to the loa, in a place called “Under the Water.” Others hold that the dead have no special place after death.

Burial ceremonies vary according to local tradition and the status of the person. Some families do not express grief aloud until most of the deceased’s possessions have been removed from the home. Persons who are knowledgeable in the funeral customs wash, dress, and place the body in a coffin. Mourners wear white clothing which represents death. A priest may be summoned to conduct the burial service. The burial usually takes place within 24 hours.

Conclusion

Westerners, or so-called logical people, might find Vodoun a strange and exotic mixture of spells, possessions, and rituals. Like any other religion, its purpose is to comfort people by giving them a common bond. Vodoun meshes surprisingly well with Catholicism, the official religion of Haiti. With a supreme being, saint-like spirits, belief in the afterlife and invisible spirits, along with the protection of patron saints, Voodoo isn’t that different from traditional religions. 

Getting married, having children, living the family life is an age-old phenomenon dating back to the mythological era. It’s almost every married couple’s dream to complete the picture with offspring of their own. It has also become a social status of sorts especially in a country like ours where the people are united by cast, color, creed and religion. The religious beliefs have often led to some couples facing the wrath of the society for no fault of their own simply because they had no offspring. There are many stories in Indian mythology that point to surrogacy, artificial insemination in ways that are a little difficult to believe. A man stood validated as, upon siring a male child. Such was the thinking in the mythological times.

The problem of no offspring lay in the fact that sometimes nature had other plans in store, sometimes destiny dictated otherwise. Sometimes health issues prevented the couple from being able to conceive. In the olden days, they would have faced a lot of acrimony from friends, relatives and generally people at large, the lady in question would be branded all sorts of names simply because she is unable to have a child, the men too would face dissent. In the late 19th and for quite a while in the 20th century, society had formed some peculiarities which almost penalized the couples unable to have children in many ways, some under the guise of advice and others on their face. It was a social issue.

But as with all things scientific and technological, Medicine too was one field which saw giant strides in the study and cure of the human body. Naturally babies, birth and conception too came under its purview. When the first test tube baby was born, the world knew they had found a solution to this problem too. Now couples could consider a Test Tube Baby Center and an Infertility Specialist to help them fulfill their dream.

Specialists offer couples a comprehensive fertility assessment session wherein they analysis the reasons and the medical issues behind their inability to conceive. The assessment involves learning about the medical history, conducting tests and procedures that help identify and isolate the problem. Sometimes a small surgery is all that is needed to resolve the problem. With some, it may be just a matter of getting the system to work the way it should and conception can happen naturally. It’s case dependent.

As with all things new, this concept too saw its own share of doubts and misconceptions, its own share of biased opinions, some even threw it under the scanner for “tampering with nature”. Many uneducated elders thought that this was the work of evil forces and children born of this method were the “devils incarnate”. People’s religious beliefs created a lot of fear among couples who felt that this was the best option for them. It was with trepidation that they would think of approaching a Test tube baby Center to help them have a family.

This is a place where all the facilities are under one roof. They conduct their own tests and procedures which gives the Infertility Specialist a clear and unhampered result. Now along with a urology specialist, they can narrow down the problem areas and start treatment accordingly.

Counseling is a very important aspect when assessing fertility and the treatment required to have a successful procedure and of course deliver a healthy baby. Clinics and centers now-a-days have comprehensive fertility assessment sessions that include counseling for both partners along with a detailed description of the procedure involved so there are no fears and misconceptions and the patient has peace of mind.