Syncretism consists of the fusion of different religious and philosophical views, which promotes religious tolerance and pantheism (the mixing of spirit and matter) in the practice of various cults, including the most widespread ancestor worship. It is believed that up to 80% of the population, mostly Catholics, practice the rites of the Santeria cult. This cult grew out of the beliefs of African slaves, most of whom were forcibly baptized into the Christian faith and banned from their former tribal religion. The slaves hid their true religion behind images of Catholic saints building altars to them that actually honored the Orisha, or forces of nature, which in their tradition were direct manifestations of the supreme god.
