Afro-Brazilian Religions by José Eduardo Porcher
Philosophia Africana May 1, 2026 Emmanuel Ofuasia
Traditional philosophy of religion has been criticized for focusing on few religious traditions, emphasizing doctrines over practices, and relying excessively on scientific norms of truth. José Eduardo Porcher's Element on Afro-Brazilian Religions responds by examining Candomblé, a tradition centered on ritual practices such as blood sacrifice, mediumship, and spirit possession, which offer forms of embodied knowledge. Porcher argues that blood sacrifice sustains axé, a spiritual life force, and that the body serves as a source of learning and understanding. The work aims to broaden philosophy of religion to include non-Abrahamic theisms and ritual life, though it focuses mainly on Candomblé despite its title. Some concepts, such as equating odù with destiny, may differ from Yorùbá homeland traditions.