Religion is one of the most frightening aspects a person has in their life; for many practitioners, their world, their universe revolves around it. Santeria is a religion that many people are not familiar with and if they are, it is often misinterpreted as some sort of cult. For those who practice it, it is a unique way of life with rich cultural and spiritual roots. The word Santeria is a syncretistic religion that combines the fundamentals of Roman Catholicism, animism, voodoo and African religions. The word Santeria means “path of the saints”. Today, it is practiced around the world by people of all races. “Santeria fosters a connection between the divine, human, and natural worlds by teaching individuals how to live in harmony.” (Duncan 2010) The Santeria religion originated among the indigenous Yoruba and Lukim people of West Africa. The Yoruba and Lukim people were enslaved, shipped to the New World, and forced by the Spanish to worship as Catholics. The slaves eventually accepted the same Catholic saints because they were able to identify characteristics in them reminiscent of their own African gods. However, under Spanish rule in Cuba and Puerto Rico, the evangelical purpose of the Catholic Church required the conversion of African slaves to Catholicism to "save" them from the worship of "false" gods. Saving slaves from damnation was not, however, the only motive at work; The Spanish considered the continued practice of religions of African origin as a risk of cultural identification between peoples and possibly revolt against slave owners. In an effort to control enslaved Africans, the Spanish banned the practice of African religion...... middle of paper ...... because "all life/health and prosperity will advance, for healing." In conclusion, for many, the Santeria religion has brought them closer to their connection to the divine and allowed them to live their lives more productively. However, the challenge remains for Western culture and society to accept that a person's connection to living in harmony and balance may come from a personal choice to practice a non-traditional religion such as Santeria. Work cited: Sandoval, Mercedes Cros. Worldview, the Orichas and Santería: from Africa to Cuba and beyond. Gainesville: University of Florida, 2006. Print. Duncan, Cynthia. Unraveling reality: the fantastic in Spanish-American fiction. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 2010. Print. Dalmau, Felipe, Obatalá, Changó y Ochún: Elementos Espirituales de la Santería (New York, NY: Colección Destino, 1978). Print