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

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

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