Black Spirituality Religion : AUSAR AUSET SOCIETY - WHAT DOES IT DO THAT CHRISTIANITY OR ISLAM DOES NOT???

[Isaiah]

Actually this reply was meant to as response to Ike, not you Sip. Sorry about that, I had to go back and edit it.

Long answer short,

the best way to anwer your question would be for you have experienced what it is to have been initiated in to an ATR.

Additionally, as brotha Sam alluded to, most African Americans do NOT support enterprises owned and operated by members of ATR's. Couple this with the fact there simply aren't as many practioners in comparison to Christianity and Islam to support our businesses.

However, there is one very important point that is being overlooked. Initiates and Priest follow the path that is laid out before them by the creator.

If they learn thru divination that they should in fact go into selling hand bags at the Fulton mall in Brooklyn, then you can best believe that's what they'll be doing, conversely if they came here to teach some Africans how heal thru herbs, roots and the elements, then this is what they are supposed to do.

Brother Sek, long time, brother! Peace and Blessings to you, my man!

I hear you and feel you on your response... That is what I am interested in... Understanding the real benefits to the community of African Tradional, as opposed to the larger organized religions... Granted, the ATR's have not been around as long, nor do they have the visibility of the Christians and Muslims, but this does not mean they should fly under the radar while we pillory Christianity...

From my vantage point, ATR's will gain a greater foothold in our communities based on their works... I don't believe people reject an ATR based on some natural hatred, or even brainwashing... If that were the case the Nation Of Islam would never have become the force it became - and among African American southerners who made up the vast majority of muslims in the 1950's and '60's...(smile!) The Honorable Elijah Muhammad was, himself, a southerner, and were it not for him, he organization would have died on the vine... Additonally, I posted some stuff in the culture forum about African villages which practice ATR in South Carolina, and Virginia... Add to that, that the Republic of New Afrika was Mississippi Attorney Chokwe Lumumba's brainchild, I would not put it past African southerners to take to the traditons of Afrika, particularly the elders(smile!)


Peace!~
Isaiah

 

[jamesfrmphilly]

... That is what I am interested in... Understanding the real benefits to the community of African Tradional, as opposed to the larger organized religions...

have you read the metu neter?
that would be the best answer to your question.

 

[Sekhemu]

Brother Sek, long time, brother! Peace and Blessings to you, my man!

I hear you and feel you on your response... That is what I am interested in... Understanding the real benefits to the community of African Tradional, as opposed to the larger organized religions... Granted, the ATR's have not been around as long, nor do they have the visibility of the Christians and Muslims, but this does not mean they should fly under the radar while we pillory Christianity...

From my vantage point, ATR's will gain a greater foothold in our communities based on their works... I don't believe people reject an ATR based on some natural hatred, or even brainwashing... If that were the case the Nation Of Islam would never have become the force it became - and among African American southerners who made up the vast majority of muslims in the 1950's and '60's...(smile!) The Honorable Elijah Muhammad was, himself, a southerner, and were it not for him, he organization would have died on the vine... Additonally, I posted some stuff in the culture forum about African villages which practice ATR in South Carolina, and Virginia... Add to that, that the Republic of New Afrika was Mississippi Attorney Chokwe Lumumba's brainchild, I would not put it past African southerners to take to the traditons of Afrika, particularly the elders(smile!)


Peace!~
Isaiah

I hear ya brotha.

One thing we must be mindful of, is that the N.O.I. gained prominence at a time when black people realized we needed to close ranks and re-evaluate our perception of race vis a vis white supremacy and Jim Crow.

As you know, many Black Christians left the church after seeing their sistahs and brothas being slaughtered at the hands of white christians.

The socio-religious dynamics of the 50's and 60's reached the proverbial boiling point. And so the radical, militant and nationalistic fervor of the N.O.I. proved irrestistable to our people catching hell from the white man.

That being said, although the N.O.I. did preach that the white man was the Devil, there was a clear understanding of Black Christians that Muslims did and do believe in One God. Unfortunately, this realization has not been extended to ATR's.

It has been my experience, that if you tell another Black person, that I invoke an ancestor for the means of possession, 99% percent of us, will run like h*ll Or, they ask you how do you know it's not the Devil possessing you?

So I say this to say, it's not even a matter of hating, but fear and ignorance prevails.

To answer your larger question, what are the real benefits? Every major decicison you make in life, can be assisted with the aid of your ancestors and Orishas/Neteru.

For example, no practitioner of an ATR would ever sign so much as car note without consulting an Oracle. If you ask an oracle a question, you will get the answer and the instructions you need to follow, without fail. In the spirit realm, your ancestors don't lie or misguide you.

In my opinion this makes for a huge advantage.

 

[Akilah]

I have purposely posed this question in the OPEN FORUM because it is not, per se, a religion/spirituality doctrine issue, but one which seeks to expose to us all what it is that makes this orgainzation the choice of so many of our brothers and sisters here at Destee... I am seeking to find out why one would choose this religious organization over another, and have a discussion on it...

Now, let me put my full deck of cards on the table... Firstly, I am no fan of organized religion, though a staunch believer in the Universal Power and Oneness of the Universe... I believe that ONENESS has made us all GODS in our own right, as IT thinks and acts through us. I do not believe in the NEED to be connected in GOD through institutions, though I believe those institutions can, and sometimes DO, serve a great purpose... If I do admit to a preference for African Traditional Religions, it is because they seem to perpetuate the CULTURE of Africa and Africans, and not because I am so impressed what what they do for our communities, or represent on a spiritual level... What I must have on a spiritual level is the ONENESS(BALANCE, some might call it)that ATR's do not seem to bring to the table...

In fact, I think Christianity actually brings more BALANCE to the table("faith without works is DEAD") than ATR's, because I can SEE where SOME Christian organizations BUILD more than people's hopes... And certainily, ISLAM builds more for our communities economically and Academically than either the ATR's or Christianity combined - or, at least, I am, again, able to SEE what they have done, and are doing...

Here, in Bedford Stuyvesant, that most populous Black Community in the continental United States, I can SEE what these African American and Continental African Muslims have built along Fulton Street, an avenue that stretches into our downtown area here... Their mosque is the largest in the city of Brooklyn, and their businesses have crept along that long avenue, and are encroaching, now, on the downtown area... They are in essence, a powerful presence in the economic resurgence of this area, and are making a downpayment on what is sure to be an economic goldmine for the future... Meanwhile, Ausar Auset Community USED to have a massive school building just blocks away, in a time when nothing was happening out here, and now they are no where to be found...

I am saying this all not to be longwinded, but to reinforce my earlier point that there must be some balance... It cannot all be about spirituality and intellectuality, but a practical application and inspiration found in all our preaching, praying, and meditation... If it's about THAT, then we got Christianity, and the shameless huckstering we rail against, just cloaked in African garb and language... So, shortstorylong, I am interested in knowing from the followers of these ATR's, just WHAT they and you are doing in pragmatic terms, to make our communities a better place econimcally and educationally??? Again, I would like for us to have an open and honest discussion NOT about your religion, but how that religion is teaching you to practically apply what you have learned so that YOU can be of benefit to our communities...



Peace!
Isaiah

Excellent questions Brutha Isaiah,

I once asked a similiar set of questions and never really did get much
of a response. I wanted to know specifically about what ATR's/Kemetics
teaches about the care of children and the elderly, helping the less
fortunate members in your community, charity, love and respect for ones neighbor etc...
James gave some good examples. I'd also be interested to know if there are any ATR/Kemetics
orgs who are doing charitable work on a larger scale, such as many Christian orgs do,
where a person might be able to assist them with these causes.

Thanks !

 

[SAMURAI36]

Excellent questions Brutha Isaiah,

I once asked a similiar set of questions and never really did get much
of a response.

Wow, I'm sorry that you didn't.......I must have missed your Q's, but I'll do my best to answer them here.

I wanted to know specifically about what ATR's/Kemetics
teaches about the care of children and the elderly,

ATR's as a whole, and we Kemetians in particular teach the "it takes an entire village" concept when it comes to raising children. Your children are my children; as long as we live in the same community, your children will never have to go hungry. Activities are always done in groups, especially as far as children are concerned.

Regarding the Elderly, they are like fine wine to us; their value increases exponentially as their time amongst us progresses. Ever notice how I speak to, and hold our own Brother Elder here, in terms of high regard and unconditional respect? That is how we treat all of our Elders.

Depending on the part they play in the community, they are venerated to the position of advisors (equivolent, I suppose, to being Deacons at your church).

The Elderly should want for nothing; most of us in my age range, make sure that their errands are ran, their groceries are picked up, their perscriptions are filled, their grass is cut and their trash is taken out.

helping the less
fortunate members in your community, charity, love and respect for ones neighbor etc...

Many of us do food drives, open up charter schools, and other charity events. We even strive to do work internationally, in the Carribean and in Africa.

James gave some good examples. I'd also be interested to know if there are any ATR/Kemetics
orgs who are doing charitable work on a larger scale, such as many Christian orgs do,
where a person might be able to assist them with these causes.

Thanks !

The Brother Elder did indeed give an awesome example, but it still needs to be understood, that ATR's simply can't perform on a "larger scale", simply because we are not on a larger scale. Thus, are focus is the "Village" concept; developing ourselves on a socialist level, within the communities in which we inhabit.

You cannot save the world, until you can save yourself.

PEACE