The Knowledge of the Initiate

The Candomblé way of transmitting religious knowledge being that they are an initiation cult is very similar to how other religions “initiate” their members. Religions all have had to adapt to the changing technological times and those that change and integrate these new technologies best are the ones that remain in power and influence across the world. “Knowledge…comes with doing: observing the taboos, participating in the rituals, subjecting oneself to the rigid temple hierarchy, and respecting ones commitments…time is also crucial to the transmission of the secret knowledge,” (p.449). We can look at this an initiation right of passage. One has to observe, listen and prove that their religious devotion is true. However, if we look at children born into groups with these sorts of ideologies then can we consider the children unwilling initiates? They are brought up amongst this knowledge and therefore have had no outside experience unlike adults who choose to join the cult. It’s a very similar situation to some of the worlds largest and most prominent religions. The children who grow up with parents who bring them to temple or church, read them religious texts and observe religious dietary, and clothing constraints have the knowledge and simply because they have grow up with this knowledge they simply follow their parents because this is the only way they know. Introduce advances such as radio, television and media, now the children are exposed to outside forces, things that can’t be controlled via ones religion. The Candomblé have integrated these advances into their society and have managed to maintain their secrecy while also being public which has allowed them to slowly gain the influence and recognition that they lacked previously in Brazil. Religions or cults that can adapt and incorporate the changes in technology are becoming more and more prominent in everyday life because they have utilized these advances in order to gain more followers and members that aren’t the children of previously initiated members.

-Ciara Williams