Caribbean Diaspora in the USA: Diversity of Caribbean Religions in New York City

50
Caribbean Diaspora in the USA
automatically receive a higher position. This religious baptism is the central
individual experience among Spiritual Baptists. It is accessible for any believer and
not connected to a certain position though afterwards this person will gain a different
status despite their age or former position. The experience of a spiritual rebirth leads
to the achievement of authority in any religious matter. Often my questions about the
meaning or background of certain practices were directed towards the Queen Mother
because of her religious authority, and she would then direct me to the reverend as
the leader of the community.
Despite a certain resistance to answering questions on religious matters, the
members of the congregation reacted quite positively to my presence. After the minister
introduced me during a service and informed the congregation that I would be asking
questions in order to understand their religion, my presence was accepted. Despite
being the only White person, I was treated as any other ignorant person who had to
be informed about certain rules and regulations. For instance, when I arrived one very
cold evening in clothes that the women regarded as inappropriate for the ceremony to
take place that night, I was – very politely – asked to change into something a woman
lent me. Apart from this incident I was often ignored but also observed and protected. 30
During some of the breaks we spoke about personal things or about general aspects of
their religion which all members were willing to discuss with me. Only the theological
questions concerning the religious meaning of certain practices were always directed
to people with more authority, because members were not allowed to speak about
certain religious matters with non-members or non-believers.
The central religious rite of passage among Spiritual Baptists is the mourning,
though Reverend W. insists that it is not necessary to experience this in order to
occupy a position in the congregation. To experience a spiritual rebirth is the free
choice of an initiate whose experiences differ from those of other initiates. When
I asked about any training he mentioned the study of theology at Medgar Evers
College which is part of the City University of New York, though the vision during
the spiritual rebirth is also important. For instance, the seven-day fasting which leads
to visions enables the initiate to speak in tongues: ‘When somebody fasts, they speak
in Chinese … [or] in Ibo.’ 31 The whole community participates at the mourning
though only a few members are actively involved in the ceremony.
This aspect is connected to the main characteristic of the religious worldview.
Though Spiritual Baptists are Christians, their main feature is not the belief in a
monotheistic God but in the ability to communicate with the divine through the Holy
Spirit. As Reverend W. said: ‘Manifestation is part of the religion.’ 32 The Spiritual
Baptists trace this ability as well as the baptism of adults back to John the Baptist.
The term Shouter refers to the impressive practice of calling down the Holy Spirit,
regarded as an independent part of the holy trinity, during a service. The monotheistic
god gains a polytheistic expression because the divine can manifest in different
ways. Apart from the trinity with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as separate entities
30 When during my first visit to a spiritual ceremony my glasses were accidentally
dropped on the floor some women immediately came to me in order to protect me.
31 Reverend W. personal communication, 22.9.1998.
32 Ibid.