Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Spirit Beliefs
The Luis de Torres Synagogue in Freeport is the only Jewish temple in
the Bahamas. It's named after a Spanish Jew who sailed with Christoph-
er Columbus on his voyage to the New World.
Despite the force of Christianity in society, many Bahamians still keep spirit beliefs held
over from slave days, when African religions melded with Christianity. Rooted in the an-
imist beliefs of West Africa (animism has nothing to do with animal spirits; the name is
derived from the Latin word
anima,
meaning 'soul'), they are based on the tenet that the
spiritual and temporal worlds are a unified whole.
A core belief is that spirits live independently of the human or animal body and can in-
habit inanimate objects. They can communicate directly with humans and are usually mor-
ally neutral; it is the service to which humans call them that determines whether they will
be a force of good or evil. Cantankerous, onerous people beget evil 'sperrids'; kind and
thoughtful people beget good spirits. Spirits particularly like to live in silk cotton trees, of
which many Bahamians are extremely wary.
The term 'Conchy Joe' is used to refer to white Bahamians with long-
time roots in the islands. Though many locals playfully apply the term to
themselves, it can be considered derogatory.
All kinds of practices have evolved to guard against evil spirits. Even physicians are
known to tie a black cord around a newborn baby's wrists to guard against evil spirits. A
Bible is often placed at the head of a sleeping child for the same reason. And if this fails, a
Bahamian may attempt to dispel a malicious spirit by marking Xs all around and repeating
the all-powerful phrase, 'Ten, ten, the Bible ten.'
