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Index - Posting 20 Apr 05 Vol:1-3

"...and they were ‘filled… with the Holy Spirit‘…and began to speak in other (different foreign) languages (tongues)…"

 Acts 2.3 (Ampl.)

Last week, I attended two events that contributed to my spiritual insight and reinforced my belief in the multilingual nature of God. The first event in Birmingham, England was organised by the Queen’s Foundation, for Ecumenical Theological Education and the United College of the Ascension. It featured Revd. Dr Noel L. Erskine, a Jamaican scholar, currently an Associate Professor of Theology and Ethnics at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, U.S.A. He addressed a post graduate seminar on "Roots of Rastafari Theology" an open lecture on "Rasta Poetics: Issues of Identity and Community" and finally a session for local churches on the Role of Christology (a white Christ) in the Spiritual Life of Black Women. The sessions were chaired by the editor of "Black Theology; An International Journal".

The ensuing discussions centred on the contributions of the father of black theology, the Hon Marcus Garvey and the legendary Rastafarian, Bob Marley. Similarly a lively debate followed Dr Erskine’s portrayal of Rasta and Jamaican society. The participants were largely students and academic staff from the U.K., Africa, Asia and the Caribbean (notably; Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago).

From Birmingham, I flew to Edinburgh, Scotland. It was my first flight (ever) within the U.K. and it brought back memories of my flight home to Jamaica, in February and infused a magical air of going ‘forin’! Edinburgh was truly awesome…and I regretted not having the time to play the tourist. But I was able to visit the Scottish Storytelling Centre and enquire about the presence of black people in their history and folklore. And yes, there is the tale of the "Black Miner" which I shall follow up, particularly as my Jamaican father was a coal miner in an English colliery in the 1950-60s and ‘im blak’ so I was very impressed, but a little disappointed that I was not able to find my father’s family tartan....next time!

The Conference was held at the School of Divinity, New College, at Edinburgh University and was billed as "a continuing professional development conference for ministers, chaplains and religious education teachers" and concerned the research findings of Prof. Paul Heelas and Dr Linda Woodhead from the University of Lancaster. Their book "The Spiritual Revolution; why religion is giving way to spirituality in contemporary Britain" was the topic for debate. The participants were visibly of European descent and some were slightly offended that the findings of a study of a small English town, had been generalised as relevant to the whole of Great Britain (meaning - England, Scotland and Wales). I was bemused, as the town surveyed, was "monocultural" and had "no significant ethnic minorities" so again its application to other urban setting in England, never mind Scotland and Wales was equally questionable. Nevertheless their central thesis that "organised religion is giving way to subjective forms of personal spirituality" is thought provoking, within the confines of their piece of "ethnic" research.

Whilst the academics were fun, the most satisfying aspects of these two events were the people I met and the conversations we had. It also reminded me of the contributions of fellow Jamaicans, to my love for God. Garvey helped provide a theology - outside of the box, and Bob - songs to sing as hymns. And Scotland reinforced the relevance of my ancestry, to British culture. It also affirmed that without an acknowledged black presence within the religious life of the U.K. distortions do arise.

"…No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or crypt or under a bushel measure, but on a lamp stand, that those who are coming in may see the light…" - Luke 11:33 (Ampl.)

So if God is multilingual; speaks through diverse cultures, languages, people and individuals…

Where is your voice?

Are people listening?

Do we need to speak up!

‘One Love’… and be empowered by the Holy Spirit of God.

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