Spiritual Baptist

Spiritual Baptist

The Spiritual Baptist (or Shouter Baptist) faith is an Afro-Caribbean syncretic religion which combines elements of traditional West African religions with Christianity. The Spiritual Baptist faith is based in Trinidad and Tobago. Despite the African influences, Spiritual Baptists consider themselves to be Christians. The Baptist faith was brought to Trinidad by the "Merikins", former American slaves who were recruited by the British to fight for them during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. After the end of these wars, the ex-slaves were settled in remote areas of Trinidad.

This religion contains both elements of Protestant Christianity and many African rituals and beliefs. This religion is not unique to Trinidad and Tobago. In many other Caribbean islands, such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, this religion is widely practiced.

The name "Shouter" derives from the fact that when the Baptists "catch the Spirit," they clap and shout, making a loud noise that, especially during open air services, some in the general public may object to. "Shouter" is seen as a derogatory term by many modern day Baptists on the island, seeing as it was first originally imposed upon them by the mainstream, the British colonial government.

Prohibition

The activities of the Spiritual Baptists were prohibited in 1917 by the Shouter Prohibition Ordinance, which was eventually repealed in 1951.

In 1996 the Government of Trinidad and Tobago granted a public holiday to the Spiritual Baptist faith, to be celebrated on March 30, called Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day, in memory of the struggle and in recognition of the repeal of the prohibition laws. [ [http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Communities/communities_SPIRITUALBAPTISTS_beliefs.htm Spiritual Baptists ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.raceandhistory.com/historicalviews/africanspirit.htm Good account of this congregation in Trinidad and Tobago]
* [http://www.spiritualbaptist.org/ Spiritual Baptist on-line magazine]

See also

* Religion in Trinidad and Tobago
* Santeria
* Orisha
* The Spiritual Baptist Archdiocese of New York, Inc.


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