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Magico-Religious Groups and Ritualistic Activities: A Guide for First Responders
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 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.
The first book of its kind, Magico-Religious Groups and Ritualistic 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.
168 pages, Hardcover
First published March 7, 2008
11 people want to read
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November 22, 2012
This is my 2nd copy of the book (the first was 'loaned' and is now gone).
Having worked with Tony in the field, I am naturally biased as to his experience and talents. However, this book accomplishes several worthy goals beyond merely containing useful information.
1. It is CONCISE. Remember, it's written for first responders, who largely are either already overwhelmed with fluid information on law, MO, evidence, etc., or are non-academicians, unlikely to read huge thick dry reference books outside their interests. Tony could've filled a shelf with what he knows and what is available on the subject, but he kept it short and sweet. Us cops thank you!
2. It is unbiased. It is VERY common for persons to interject their opinions on subject matter that is so easily sensationalized and misinterpreted. The book is about well-vetted facts, and keeps to that ideal.
3. It is well-formatted. Many of the popular sources on the subject are 'true-crime' novels, organized in a non-academic fashion. Tony has this one referenced, indexed, illustrated, and put forth in a professional fashion that I for one appreciate.
Even though it is geared towards LE and other investigators, the book is worth a read for anyone interested in the topics of religion, custom, ceremony or anthropology.
Having worked with Tony in the field, I am naturally biased as to his experience and talents. However, this book accomplishes several worthy goals beyond merely containing useful information.
1. It is CONCISE. Remember, it's written for first responders, who largely are either already overwhelmed with fluid information on law, MO, evidence, etc., or are non-academicians, unlikely to read huge thick dry reference books outside their interests. Tony could've filled a shelf with what he knows and what is available on the subject, but he kept it short and sweet. Us cops thank you!
2. It is unbiased. It is VERY common for persons to interject their opinions on subject matter that is so easily sensationalized and misinterpreted. The book is about well-vetted facts, and keeps to that ideal.
3. It is well-formatted. Many of the popular sources on the subject are 'true-crime' novels, organized in a non-academic fashion. Tony has this one referenced, indexed, illustrated, and put forth in a professional fashion that I for one appreciate.
Even though it is geared towards LE and other investigators, the book is worth a read for anyone interested in the topics of religion, custom, ceremony or anthropology.
Displaying 1 of 1 review