Religion of Jamaica

Religion plays a very important role in the lives of Jamaica people and Jamaican Culture. In fact, Jamaica has the highest number of churches per capita (per person) in the world. The island is 4,244 square miles or 10,991 square kilometers in surface area. With a population estimated close to 2.9 million people. In a census poll taken in 2011, over 2,050,771 Jamaicans said they had an affiliation with a church. While only 572,008 said they had no religious ties. The remaining folks on the island were not available for the census.

There are approximately twenty-one different religious groups on the island. Some larger religious groups are the Seventh-Day Adventists, Baptists, and Pentecostals. The Church of God, Anglican, Roman Catholics, United Church, Methodists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Rastafarians, Moravians, Brethren, Hindus, Jews, and Muslims.

 

Culture

Churches Per Capita, Religion plays a very important role in the lives of Jamaica people and Jamaican Culture. In fact, Jamaica has the highest number of churches per capita (per person) in the world.  The remaining folks on the island were not available for the census.

The Rastafarian Religion and the Rastafarians beliefs are said to have similarities with other religions. Their beliefs are based on the Bible like other faith, but their understanding and interpretation takes on different meaning. In the true Rastafarian culture everyone (man, woman and child) is equal. So, as they speak to each other its I and I.

To further separate Rastafarian culture from the Western Babylon System (The white Americas and European power, greed, and inequality system). They started to change certain words. For example, rather than say “Understand” it’s “Overstand” “Continual” is “I-tunal”, “Concept” is “I-cept”, “Appreciate” is Appreci-Love”. Then there’s “Right-Back to “Right-Forward”, “Celebrations” to “Groundations.” and more.

Rastafarians

Rastafarians has more than one million followers worldwide. The birthplace of the Rastafarian movement started in Jamaica. The movement started in the 1920s but became widely publicized on the 2nd of November 1930. This was when Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned Emperor Haile Selassie I (1892-1975) of Ethiopia. The Rastafarians sees Emperor Haile Selassie I as a rebirth of Christ. They worship him as Kings of Kings and Lord of Lords and the Conquering Lion of from the Tribe of Judah.

In 1932 Leonard Percival ‘Gong’ Howell organized the Rastafarian movement in Jamaica. The movement helped to lift the spirit of many Jamaicans who wanted more and were looking for an alternative. The Rasta people wanted someone or something they could identify with. The Rastafarian Religion was their answer and they embraced it. The growing of their dreadlocks would become their identity, a form of cultural expression. The Rastafarians adopted the Ethiopian flag to represent their journey. The flag’s symbol, the crowned king “The Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah.”

Rastafarianism Beliefs

Rasta is Love; Rasta is about Caring, Sharing, Loving, and Giving. The Rastafarian Religion is about spreading love. For some Rastafarians the term “Rastafarianism” is not accepted. The “schisms and isms” represents been oppressed in the Babylonian System. For Rasta’s, Jah, their Jesus is black, and their faith is more in line with Christianity. It reflects the Old Testament and the Book of Revelation. Rastafarians do not believe in life after death and Zion (Africa) is their heaven on earth.

So when they say “Ever-living” it’s not just eternal spiritually but also physically. For Rastafarians, it’s always “One Love, Oneness” so it’s never “you and I” but “I and I”. It is always equal rights and justice. The Holy Piby is their Bible. Ganja / Marijuana is their holy herb and a ritual part of their religion. Rasta does not drink alcohol and do not eat meat and seafood without scales. The Rastafarian diet includes vegetarian dishes and fish with scales along with many natural juices.

 

Rastafarians Facts

Nyabinghi
Ras ChiKuya businessman in Canada from St. Vincent. The Rastafarians known as Rasta, Ras Tafarians, Rastafarians, Kings, Elders, and some may even answer to Natty Dread or Dreadlocks. However, many Rasta do not like to be called Natty-Dread or Dreadlocks because they say, “Dread do dreadful things.” The Rastafarians women are referred to as Queens and Empresses. Just like any other religion, the Rastafarian Religion has many followers within their religion worshiping different faith.

Rastafarians Religion

The three Rastafarian Religions are “The Twelve Tribes of Israel”, “The Nyabinghi Order” and “Ethiopian National Congress or Bobo Dreads/Shanti.”

The Twelve Tribes of Israel was founded by Dr. Vernon “Prophet Gad” Carrington in 1968. They believe in salvation for all races not just blacks. Dr. Vernon believes the way to salvation is through reading the Bible, a chapter a day.

They were also called “The Twelve Houses of Israel”. The Twelve House of Israel comes from the heavens. While most people think of the Jews when they hear Israel, the Jews are just one of the Twelve Tribes. Bob Marley was a member of the Twelve Tribe as well as Reggae artist Luciano is a member.

The Nyabinghi Order is the oldest of the groups. They see Haile Selassie I to be the Messiah and the incarnation of Jah (God) the Supreme.

Bobo Shanti Rastafarians

The Bobo Shanti was founded in Jamaica in the 1950s by Prince Emanuel Charles Edwards. Bobo means black and Shanti comes from the Ashanti Tribe in Ghana.  Both the Bobo Shanti and the Nyabinghi’s Rastafarians are easily recognized because they wrap their dreadlocks/hair in turbans.

The Bobo Shanti Rastafarians believe there should be repatriation for all black people to Africa. Many of the Jamaican slaves were taken from Ghana. The Bobo Shanti believes that all black people should be reimbursed monetarily for slavery. Some of their lifestyle can be compared to the Jewish Faith. Their Sabbath is the same starting from sundown Friday until Saturday Sundown. Their style of dressing with the wearing of a robe along with other ways of life is the same. The Ethiopian National Congress carries a broom to represent their cleanliness. They say, “Holy Emmanuel I Selassie I Jah Rastafari”. Reggae artist Capleton is a member of the Bobo Shanti Order.

Rastafarians use many greetings, one used to address a large gathering is Jah Rastafari which is used in two parts. A Rastafarian will greet his audience by saying “Jah” and the audience would respond Ras-ta-far-i. Then he could continue by saying “ever-living (eternal-life)”, ever-faithful (eternal-faith”. A Bobo Rasta may greet each other saying, “Blessed Love My Lord and Empress.”  So while there are many differences between the Rastafarian Orders, there are many similarities.

Rasta without the dreads

There are many bald-heads, none dread-locks wearing Rastafarians who celebrates the Rasta faith. These individuals are Rasta without the dreads for various reasons. As the Reggae group “Morgan Heritage” sings, “You don’t haffi (have to) dread to be Rasta. This is not a dreadlocks thing, give thanks and praise in your heart.” The Rastafarian Culture is often displayed with dreadlocks, more people are accepting the belief that it starts in the heart. So as The Religion of Jamaica continues to spread. We will continue to give thanks and praise to the righteous for equal rights and justice.