A Historical Evaluation of Jamaica Baptists

A Spirituality of Resistance

Bibliographic Data

ID5773538
AuthorsMarvia Lawes (Panama Canal Authority, corresponding author)
Year2008
Volume6
Issue3
Pages366-392
Publication date2008-04-19
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueBlack Theology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1476-9948 • E-ISSN: 1743-1670
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1558/blth2008v6i3.366
OpenAlexW2046052657
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited11

Resistance has been intrinsically woven into the origin and development of the Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU). Historically, the spirit of resistance and certain doctrinal beliefs has had an ironic relationship among Baptists throughout Europe and North America. However, something unique emerged when these beliefs met with African religious beliefs in America, Western Africa and in Jamaica. After the beginning of Baptist work on the island by George Liele in the mid-eighteenth century, these doctrines and beliefs converged in the early Jamaican Baptists to fashion the Spirituality of Resistance that became a part of Jamaican Baptist life and identity. They developed the reputation of having had within their membership and among their leadership some of the most aggressive opponents to the institution of slavery and agitators for improved social conditions during the immediate post-emancipation era in Jamaica. In this article, I conduct a historical and theological evaluation of their Spirituality of Resistance using sociological, historical, and theological resources with a view to ascertaining its usefulness for the early Jamaicans, its continued presence within the Jamaica Baptist Union, and what implications this might have for the future

Emancipation · Institution · Caribbean history, culture, and politics

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