Abstract
Baptismal waters, for Black worshippers, whether identified as a particular place in a large body of water (river, creek or ocean), a small body of water near or “in” a church (pool or baptistry) confined in a small bowl on a table or in a font, flow from African streams. Although largely defined by Western Christianity as a rite of initiation, incorporation, cleansing, washing away of sins, symbolic understandings can be traced to traditional African religions. Symbolism plays an important role in the life of Africans and Afro-Americans. Through symbols one can communicate that which is difficult to express in words; through symbols the world is made transparent, and explanations can be given to incomprehensible phenomena. Through symbols the absolute or ultimate truth can be apprehended or suggested. Humans touch and see “outer fringes” which may be the deceptive phenomenon or reality. Symbols are signs that point to a deeper reality. As such they are forms of communication and marks of identification which facilitate existential living. Africans long recognized the inability of humans to explain the inevitability of life and death and have utilized symbols as a natural response to interpreting reality.