Santo Daime Religion (from about.com, "Santo Daime")
History/Founder/important persons/saints: Founded in Brazil in 1945 by Raimundo Irineu Serra,
known to followers as Master Irineu. Serra, a rubber extractor whose work
brought him into contact with native religious practices, began using Daime,
(a mildly hallucinogenic tea known more commonly as Ayahuasca) in the early
nineteen thirties. During one of his visions, he communicated with a woman he
called the Queen of the Forest, an aspect of the Virgin, who commanded him to
found a new Church, with Ayahuasca as its sacrament. Combining indigenous
belief with his own blend of Catholic spirituality, Serra began to attract
followers. After Serra's death, the Church split into two communities, with
successor Sebastião Melo moving his expanding group into metropolitan areas.
The group began to attract many suburban followers
and celebrities, forcing the Church into the public view. The Brazilian
government began to get involved, infiltrating groups to determine if their
use of Ayahuasca was harming practitioners. The Brazilian Federal Drug
Council (equivalent to the US FDA) eventually concluded that not only was
Ayahuasca not harmful, but that it appeared to have a beneficial effect on
its users (the church's members included reformed pirates and other formerly
violent criminals who were apparently gentled and healed by the medicine and
spiritual practices). The vine was approved by the Brazilian government for
religious use shortly afterward.
Current leader/governing body/ number of
Adherents: A Spiritual Council,
residing in the intentional community of Ceu de Mapia (rainforest preserve)
in Brazil makes policy decisions. It is estimated that there are at least
several thousand adherents worldwide.
Clergy: Spiritual leaders, known as Padrinhos and Madrinhas, who act as guides. The true teacher, however, is
believed to be the Daime itself.
Requirements to join: Santo Daime is open to all. A prospective member
must attend three spiritual works before asking to become a Fardado, or
permanent member of the church.
Church/temple/Scripture: The Santo
Daime services take place within churches and salaos consecrated and prepared
for the spiritual works. The catholic bible is used for a reference, though
the doctrine comes putely from the hymns received by Master Irineu, and other
practitioners and leaders who receive hymns during spiritual practices/works.
Basic teachings and Beliefs of Daime: Daime means "Give me" in Portugese, and
refers to the ayahuasca tea, a traditional hallucinogenic mixture used
extensively by indigenous people of the rain forest. In Church doctrine,
Daime is a sacrament, a living divine being that promotes healing and
spiritual growth. Daime liturgy consists of the sacrament, the singing of
divine hymns, silent meditation, and dancing. Daime is a syncretic religion,
revering Jesus and the Christian saints, African Orishas, and indigenous
deities.
Holidays and observances: The Santo Daime Church has a full calendar of
spiritual works, for different occasions and healing purposes in including
some “feast” days of Catholic Saints. These special gatherings known as
“Works” take place on these days and consist of many hours of singing and
dancing the hymns in collections knows as “Hinarios”.
Symbols of Santo Daime: Symbols are employed as objects of devotion and
meditation, and include the Cruz de Caravacas, or Caravacas cross, a four
armed Catholic emblem of the renaissance, and the star of David, a six
pointed star. An initiate is given a badge upon joining the Church, a six
pointed star with images of an eagle, and the sun, moon, and stars.
Note: There are several links to websites dealing with Santo Daime tradition here.
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