Jamaica is a very religious country.
DID YOU KNOW?
[bs-quote quote=”Jamaica has more churches per square mile than any other country ion the world.” style=”style-7″ align=”left” color=”#1e73be”][/bs-quote]
Freedom of religion is enshrined in the island’s constitution and all Jamaicans are free to practice the religion of their choice. Virtually every existing form of religion is present in Jamaica but the country is overwhelmingly Christian.
Western religion and the Church came to Jamaica with its European colonizers. It began with the Catholic Church which was among the first institutions to be established when the Spanish began their settlement of the island. The ecclesiastical pre-eminence of Spanish rule in which Church and State were twin parts of the monarchy is still evident today in many of the surviving street names to be found up to today in the former capital, Spanish Town.
When the English captured Jamaica the Church followed the flag and the Anglican Church became the ‘established’ or official state church until 1870. Throughout the period of African slavery and after, the Anglican Church and the Christian religion was not the religion of all Jamaicans but that of the white planter class and the colonial elite. Because African enslaved were seen as non-human and therefore soulless the white plantocracy also saw them as being incapable of Christian redemption.
But the enslaved African did have a soul and brought with him his own belief system and religious practices and the promise of an after-life which was his only hope during miserable slavery.
The introduction of non-conformist religions did not happen until towards the end of the 18th century when the first Baptist church was built in 1790 by the American George Lisle who was the first ordained black preacher in the US. Baptist missionaries did not arrive from England until 1813 and they were followed shortly after by the Wesleyan Methodists, Presbyterians and Moravians. These non-conformist missionaries were the first whites to treat the African enslaved as humans. They preached a revolutionary doctrine that stressed equality of all and began the process of teaching them to read thus giving them access to the Bible.
The response of the plantocracy was predictable. They not only prohibited ‘unqualified’ preachers but banned gatherings of the enslaved between sunrise and sunset and in the Christmas Rebellion of 1831 systematically burnt and destroyed missionary churches island wide. In the post-emancipation period, the non-conformist missionaries led by the Baptists of whom Revd. William Knibb was the most indefatigable advocate and fighter for the cause of the emancipated African, established new settlements, or free villages in which there was a church in everyone. Later, they were also to establish schools for the education of the children of the African Jamaicans as the only schools were for the education of the children of the white elite.
Over time the overwhelming majority of the former enslaved were converted to Christianity but there were significant retentions of African religious traditions of which Revivalism was the most significant. Revivalism is a unique Jamaican religion created by a synthesis of European and African religious influences. It embraces two different branches, Revival Zion and Pocomania the latter’s elements including Myal, Native Baptists and Kumina. Revivalists are noted for their colourful dress, powerful drumming, singing and dancing which often results in spirit possession and talking in tongues. Some revival practices have become national custom like the ‘Nine Night’ which is really a wake accompanied by food and drink and traditional music held on the 9th night after death. While small bands of Revivalists still exist, over time Revivalists have tended to blend with Pentecostalism, the largest and fastest growing religious movement in Jamaica.
Jamaica’s most famous indigenous belief system is of course Rastafarianism which was originally a millennial movement which is both ideological and religious. Though relatively small in number, Rastafarianism is highly visible, internationally influential in music and for its dreadlock fashion, food and language.
Rastafarianism
The most famous Rastafarian and one who inspired generations of musicians and other believers was Reggae superstar, Bob Marley .
Rastas – as the practitioners are called – have no church as such. Groups come together to worship with a unique style of drumming, dancing, chanting and ‘reasonings’ based on the Bible. There is no central organization and the movement embraces a wide variety of beliefs and expressions. Among the main characteristics of a true Rasta are:
- a conscious recognition of African roots
- a philosophy based on the natural relationship between man and his environment
- a consciousness of the physical body and foods eaten with preference given to those that are natural or in Rasta parlance ‘Ital’
- use of the herb ganja (marijuana) as a sacrament as the means of communication with God.
Rastas follow certain biblical injunctions particularly those relating to codes of behaviour. Locksing or dreadlocks is synonymous with being a Rasta.
Most Jamaicans are still inclined to view the Bible as the only book that really matters. Virtually every household has a Children’s Bible from which stories are read at bedtime. Most Jamaicans have an intimate familiarity with the Gospels and can quote the scriptures at will especially to back up an argument. The National Anthem is essentially a prayer and every official function, conference and even business meetings have a religious start. The swearing-in of the Prime Minister begins and ends in prayer and every Jamaican winner at the Olympics responds to the interviewer by thanking God. Gospel concerts have become as popular as their mainstream Reggae and Dance Hall counterparts and has been a feature of the internationally acclaimed Sumfest for many years. Most top Reggae and Dance Hall artistes have released gospel-themed songs . The most dramatic conversion in recent years has been that of Marion Hall popularly known by her stage name of ‘Lady Saw, who not only converted to Christianity but became a preacher and now carries the designation of ‘Reverend’. Rastafarianism is now recognized and taught in Jamaican and Caribbean schools as one of the region’s formal religions and is integrated into the Social Studies curriculum at the High School level.