Overview

""Les écoles Catholiques? C'est une bonne chose. . . . Beaucoup de cadres de ce pays sont passés par la. . . . Nous voulons aussi que l'école des vodunsi connaisse le jour."" We hear a dignitary of Vodou confirm the force of Catholicism in Bénin. Other voices also define the contours of Catholicism; some seeing it as open to otherness and inculturated practice, and some see its limitations. ""Positive Vodou"" (intuition of Mawu) is compatible with Catholicism, but not the ""system Vodou."" Intellectual voices, aware of extended family and illnesses chief role in upholding the traditional, debate the value of inculturation. This work addresses the relationship between the Catholic imagination, acceptance of the other, and —- using the case of Haitian- and African-Americans —- suggests the concept is a useful tool for the study of diasporic cultures.

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9780761853657

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Reviews

A significant contribution to the sociology of religion. With her Haitian-American voice, Dr. St. Jean enables us to see the richness and the depth of the African sacramental imagination Drawing upon her fieldwork in B nin and her background in Haiti, Dr. St. Jean carefully depicts the process in which Catholicism and Vodun have mutually informed and accommodated each other in a nuanced and supple dance of enculturation and adaptation.--Steven Worden

?St. Jean movingly, richly, and convincingly describes how the Beninois Catholic imagination transcends cultural and racial/ethnic boundaries?A captivating and fascinating account?A brilliant, intellectually sophisticated, and compelling portrayal of theuneasy complexity of Beninois culture and the Catholic imagination, and how they interface and emerge in the everyday lives of Beninois people. ?An excellent book filled with appropriately subdued theoretical reflections that both create an interpretiveframework and allow the readers direct access to the grace and faith of the Beninois people whose voices speak throughout this wonderfully crafted narrative of what a more inclusive future may hold... -- Anna Zajicek Ph.D., professor and graduate program director, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Arkansas ...A significant contribution to the sociology of religion. With her Haitian-American voice, Dr. St. Jean enables us to see the richness and the depth of the African sacramental imagination...Drawing upon her fieldwork in Benin and her background in Haiti, Dr. St. Jean carefully depicts the process in which Catholicism and Vodun have mutually informed and accommodated each other in a nuanced and supple dance of enculturation and adaptation. -- Steven Worden, associate professor, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville ...Dr. St. Jean's research material is clear and extensive; her observations reflect how people alter and at the same time hang onto their religion, what they are taught, and what they believe. -- Gordon D. Morgan, professor, University of Arkansas ...St. Jean movingly, richly, and convincingly describes how the Beninois Catholic imagination transcends cultural and racial/ethnic boundaries...A captivating and fascinating account...A brilliant, intellectually sophisticated, and compelling portrayal of the uneasy complexity of Beninois culture and the Catholic imagination, and how they interface and emerge in the everyday lives of Beninois people. ...An excellent book filled with appropriately subdued theoretical reflections that both create an interpretive framework and allow the readers direct access to the grace and faith of the Beninois people whose voices speak throughout this wonderfully crafted narrative of what a more inclusive future may hold. -- Anna Zajicek Ph.D., professor and graduate program director, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Arkansas

St. Jean movingly, richly, and convincingly describes how the Beninois Catholic imagination transcends cultural and racial/ethnic boundaries A captivating and fascinating account A brilliant, intellectually sophisticated, and compelling portrayal of the uneasy complexity of Beninois culture and the Catholic imagination, and how they interface and emerge in the everyday lives of Beninois people. An excellent book filled with appropriately subdued theoretical reflections that both create an interpretive framework and allow the readers direct access to the grace and faith of the Beninois people whose voices speak throughout this wonderfully crafted narrative of what a more inclusive future may hold.--Anna Zajicek, Ph.D.

?St. Jean movingly, richly, and convincingly describes how the Béninois Catholic imagination transcends cultural and racial/ethnic boundaries?A captivating and fascinating account?A brilliant, intellectually sophisticated, and compelling portrayal of theuneasy complexity of Béninois culture and the Catholic imagination, and how they interface and emerge in the everyday lives of Béninois people. ?An excellent book filled with appropriately subdued theoretical reflections that both create an interpretiveframework and allow the readers direct access to the grace and faith of the Béninois people whose voices speak throughout this wonderfully crafted narrative of what a more inclusive future may hold... -- Anna Zajicek Ph.D., professor and graduate program director, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Arkansas …A significant contribution to the sociology of religion. With her Haitian-American voice, Dr. St. Jean enables us to see the richness and the depth of the African sacramental imagination…Drawing upon her fieldwork in Bénin and her background in Haiti, Dr. St. Jean carefully depicts the process in which Catholicism and Vodun have mutually informed and accommodated each other in a nuanced and supple dance of enculturation and adaptation. -- Steven Worden, associate professor, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville …Dr. St. Jean's research material is clear and extensive; her observations reflect how people alter and at the same time hang onto their religion, what they are taught, and what they believe. -- Gordon D. Morgan, professor, University of Arkansas …St. Jean movingly, richly, and convincingly describes how the Béninois Catholic imagination transcends cultural and racial/ethnic boundaries…A captivating and fascinating account…A brilliant, intellectually sophisticated, and compelling portrayal of the uneasy complexity of Béninois culture and the Catholic imagination, and how they interface and emerge in the everyday lives of Béninois people. …An excellent book filled with appropriately subdued theoretical reflections that both create an interpretive framework and allow the readers direct access to the grace and faith of the Béninois people whose voices speak throughout this wonderfully crafted narrative of what a more inclusive future may hold. -- Anna Zajicek Ph.D., professor and graduate program director, Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice, University of Arkansas

Author Information

Yanick St. Jean, PhD is the author of several journal articles, chapters, and the book Double Burden: Black Women and Everyday Racism (with Joe Feagin).

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