A Description of the Afro-Christian Religion Revivalism

REVIVALISM
Revivalism is an Afro-Christian religion. Revivalism is divided into two main groups, Zion and Pocomania. Its religion characterized by dancing and spirit possession took place in churches and Revival yards. Pocomania and Zion are very similar in terms of how they are organized. Pocomania is always led by a man knows as the Shepherd. Pocomania focuses on the African belief of earth and ground spirits of ancestors and fallen angels. Members are structured into bands where each has a role to perform in rituals where spirit possession is central to worship. Spirit possession involves travel into the spirit world and the calling of spirits with the aid of cymbals, dance and prayer. Meetings take place in a Pocomania ground marked with a colored flags to attract passing spirits. Zion leader can be either a man or a woman. The Man is referred to as Captain while the woman is called the Mother/Madda the Zion revivals are considered more specialized in the art of healing the spirit, receiving messages via spirit possession and herbal medicines. BAPTIST
The Spiritual Baptists is a group which belief system features West African and Christian elements. Their worship involved dancing, singing, spirit-possessed members clapping, shouting and making loud noises during open air services. The Spiritual Baptists believe that their religion comes from John the Baptist and their name from the practice of immersing their practitioners in water as a means of baptizing them into the faith. Rituals are characterized by bell ringing, mourning, shouting and visit from the Holy Spirit. Symbols play an important role in the Spiritual Baptist faith. Pictures, engravings and flags may contain symbols representing justice, righteous living, deliverance, victory over death and the Holy Spirit. RASTAFARI
The Rastafari movement is an African-based spiritual ideology that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica. Its followers worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia who ruled in 1930 to 1974. Members of the Rastafari way of life are known as Rastas, or Rastafarian. The name Rastafari is taken from Ras Tafari, the title Ras which means king. Most see Haile Selassie I as Jah or Jah Rastafari, who is the second coming of Jesus Christ onto the earth. The Rastafari movement stems from the teachings of the great Jamaican leader and motivator was Marcus Garvey. Garvey’s vision was for the Blacks to overcome their feelings of inferiority and build upon their own unique and evolving culture, and ultimately return to Africa to redeem their homeland and to build a future. Rastafarians think that Garvey is a prophecy to them he is a second king David because he said quote “Look towards Africa for the crowning of a black king - he shall be the redeemer” this statement was said in 1920. VODUN
The word vodun means spirit or deity. In the 18th century, the Creole masters of the Dahomean slaves translated the word into voodoo. This religion was brought to the Caribbean by slaves it was spread to the islands of Jamaica and Hispaniola. There are several rites and practices in Vodounism. The two main rites are Rada or Petro. Rada rites follow the more traditional African patterns. Devotees were all white clothing during ceremonies. Animal sacrifices are a major part in this religion. Three drums are beaten to give the rhythms for the chanting, representing three atmospheres of the sun. These drums provide musical rhythms they are struck with drumsticks. Magic, used for both good and evil purposes, is an integral part of Vodun. Vodun recognizes no good and evil, it sees evil as the mirror image of good. ORISHA
An Orisha is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of God in the Yoruba spiritual or religious system. The Orishas are the emissaries of Olodumare or God almighty. They rule over the forces of nature and the endeavors of humanity. They recognize themselves through their different numbers and colors which are their marks, and each has their own favorite foods and other things which they like to receive as offerings and gifts. SANTERIA Santeria means worship of saints. Santeria incorporates elements of several faiths and is called a syncretic religion. It has grown beyond its Yoruba and Catholic origins to become a religion in its own right, and a powerful symbol of the religious creativity of Afro-Cuban culture. In Santeria deities actually descend to earth to help and console their followers. The religion focuses on building relationships between human beings and powerful but mortal spirits called Orishas. The followers believe that if they carry out the appropriate rituals, and enable them to achieve the destiny that God planned for them before they were born. JORDANITE
Jordanite is a sect all entirely of the African race. The Jordanite preaches individually not as a group. Jordanite is a latter religion which began in 1882. They don’t believe in the worship and manifestation of ancestral spirits nor obeah. They use the text of the Holy Bible for their sermons but interpreted them in their own way. There was no singing of Hymns at their religious meetings. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The successful completion of the study “Indigenous Caribbean Religions” would not be possible without the assistance and support of my mother for her time spent in helping me to complete and organize this project. Finally I give a special thanks to my teacher who guided me to organize the study in a presentable manner.

APPENDIX/APPENDICES

HRU Yuya T.Assaan-ANU. Grasping the Root of Divine Power, p.135