bush baptist

English

Alternative forms

• bush Baptist
• bush-Baptist
• Bush Baptist

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

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Noun

bush baptist (plural bush baptists)

1. (slang) A fictitious religious affiliation, invoked by a person who does not claim or admit affiliation with a particular church.

   I asked Jim what religion he was, and he replied "bush baptist".

2. (slang) A person not educated in any particular religion; a religious zealot or proselytiser not educated in religion.
   • 1975, Cicely Louise Evans, The Saint Game‎^[1], page 80:

     Annesley knew this meant that she was not to tell tales, but about what? Did Uncle Walker want his Bush Baptist religion kept a secret?

   • 1999, American Association for State and Local History, History News, Volumes 54-56, page 69,

     The Creole slave revolts in Dominica in 1823, involved bush Baptists and slave catechists who attacked plantations and which led to 250 deaths; […]

   • 2009, Sheryl McCorry, Diamonds and Dust‎^[2], page 120:

     He had always been there in my time of need and yet he knew I was a bush Baptist.