Zoekerism

Zoekerism (Amerikaens: Soeckerisme; also alternatively spelled as Zoikerism in English), also known as the Church of Second Ascension, or simply the Zoekerist Church, is a religion that developed in South Tussenland during the 1860s. It is a syncretization of Protestantism and various traditional West African religious beliefs (most notably from Akan and Fon) as a product of the African diaspora in North America brought about by the transatlantic slave trade. It is considered a branch of Christianity and is practiced mainly by the Afro-American community in South Tussenland, Virginia, Florida. Zoekerist communities also exist (to a lesser extent) in adjacent regions like Cuba, Saint-Domingue, and the West Indies. Adherents are known as Zoekerists.

Zoekerist thought is centered around the around the belief of a supreme creator, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the pursuit for truth, freedom, and homeland. Zoekerism is heavily associated with South Tussenland's independence movement and the idea of universal emancipation.

Beliefs

The Three Zoekerist Principles

The foundation of Zoekerism is based on X principles:

The Supreme Creator

The first principle of Zoekerism is the belief in the supreme creator, which goes by many names, including simply God, Chukwu (from Igbo), Nyame, Nyankopon, Brekyirihunuade ("Almighty"), Odomankoma ("infinite inventor"). Additionally, Zoekerists adhere to the thought of the Supreme creator existing in the form of three coeternal and consubstantial beings: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and also draws parallels to the Akan belief of Nyame, Nyankopon, and Odomankoma.

The Second Ascension

Like other Christian denominations, Zoekerism is centered around the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Zoekerists adhere to the thought that Abayomi van Tussenland, a philosopher and former slave of the Dutch West India Company, was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, and had come to save South Tussenland from oppression and slavery. Zoekerists believe that the death of Abayomi van Tussenland during South Tussenland's independence revolution was part of the supreme creator god's divine plan to save the people of South Tussenland.

The Three Pursuits

Also central to Zoekerist thought is the three pursuits: the pursuit for freedom, truth, and homeland. Freedom and truth were central to Abayomi van Tussenland's teachings in the 19th century. The search for a homeland was also central to his teachings, advocating that South Tussenland was new promised land, and it was their duty to fight for its independence.

The Veneration of the Winti

Zoekerists also believe in spirits called Winti. These personified supernatural beings can take possession of a human person, switch off their consciousness, as it were, and thereby reveal things concerning the past, present and future as well as cause and/or heal illnesses of a supernatural nature. They are akin to saints, which are also venerated in Zoekerist theology. There is no single pantheon of the Winti, and the list of venerated Wintis varies by region, culture, and country. The official South Tussenland Church of the Second Ascension, the governing body of Zoekerism in South Tussenland, does not maintain a list of venerated Wintis. The Wintis are celebrated and venerated occasionally through ritualistic dance and festivals.

History

Abayomi van Tussenlandt, founder of Zoekerist thought

The establishment and regulation of slave manumission in Dutch Tussenland had paved the way for a unique identity and African heritage in the Southern regions of the Dutch Tussenland colony.

Zoekerist thought originated from the "father of Zoekerism," Abayomi van Tussenlandt (sometimes spelt as Abajomie). Abayomi was a former slave under the Royal Tussenland Company. He had escaped from the Royal Tussenland Company's plantations in 1816 at age 14 and was eventually met by the former slave turned baker, Karlÿn de Backer in Elegasthaven. De Backer, who had introduced Abayomi to Christianity, had housed temporarily housed him until he was found and recaptured by the authorities. Three years later, De Backer had purchased Abayomi's freedom. Since then, Abayomi has dedicated a considerable portion of his time to helping De Backer and studying the Christian faith.

In 1821, he started traveling around Tussenland, with his enlightened ideas gaining a following among the people of African heritage and the native people in Tussenland. In his philosophy, he emphasized what he called the "three pursuits": the pursuit of truth, freedom, and homeland.

In his later years, his teachings had more emphasis on religious themes. He had also incorporated many elements from the traditional Fon religion and Christianity. He also adopted some concepts brought about by other people that supported his philosophy. A central theme in his Zoekerist philosophy is universal emancipation and equality.

Role in South Tussenland's Independence Movement

Tensions between the slaves and the Dutch ruling minority was at an high in the 1840s, and caused a slave-led independence movement in 1849. Zoekerist philosophy was part of the revolt's core, invoking the concept of the pursuit of homeland. Spain, through the viceroyalty of New Spain, supported the insurrection to undermine the Dutch. However, in 1843, in the midst of the simultaneous South Tussenland independence war and the 2nd Dutch-Spanish War, Abayomi van Tussenland was seized by the Dutch authorities and had died in captivity. This emboldened the South Tussenlanders to fight harder against the Dutch. Abayomi's death in 1843 is central to Zoekerist theology, as it the Zoekerists believed that he was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ who similarly had gave his life up and ascended to heaven. Traditional scholars heavily intertwine the topic of Zoekerism with the South Tussenland independence movement; however, more contemporary scholars such as A.L. Kneynsbergh attempt to view the South Tussenland independence in a secular viewpoint.

Foundation of the Church of the Second Ascension (Zoekerist Church)

Prior to 1856, there was no institution governing Zoekerism, as it was not an established religion yet. After South Tussenland's independence in 1855, revolutionary leader and new head-of-state, Tegbesoe (originally named Jan de Bodtsappe) claimed that Abayomi van Tussenland had entrusted him with spreading his teachings. In 1856, Tegbesoe established the Church of the Second Ascension, and proclaimed himself as its leader. Leadership of the church was tied to the head-of-state, and maintained that way until the republican revolution struck South Tussenland in the 20th century. Today, the Zoekerist Church has the largest following in South Tussenland, and has a significant following in Florida and Virginia.