recognized by believers. On the other hand, some faiths have been specifically cre-
ated on the basis of incorporating the “best” elements from others.
In Latin America, when Christianity was imposed on the indigenous population
in the 16th century, Roman Catholic officials frequently employed parallels
between native beliefs and Christian traditions to facilitate conversion. The out-
come was the retention of some elements of the non-Christian faiths within the
context of Roman Catholicism, resulting in a syncretic version of Christianity that
is quite different in some respects from that practiced in Europe. When millions of
African slaves were introduced to the region, additional religious perspectives
were added to the local culture in some areas. An example of a syncretic religion
emerging from this process is Santeria,which originally developed among the
black population on plantations in Cuba. Santeria combines the saints of Roman
Catholicism with the status oforishas, or gods worshipped by the Yoruba people
of western Africa, many of whom were transported as slaves to the New World.
A good example of religious syncretism from Asia is Lamaism, the variation of
Buddhism observed in Tibet, Mongolia, and some other parts of eastern Asia.
Some of the traditions of Lamaism are derived from the Bon faith, a polytheistic
religion that existed in Tibet prior to the widespread adoption of traditional
Buddhist beliefs. The deities of Bon were incorporated into Lamaism in the form
Religious Syncretism 283Santeria is a blend of Roman Catholic and traditional African belief systems. Here a Santeria believer
participates in a ritual in Cuba. (AP/Wide World Photos)