Not dreadlocks only...

The Jamaicans are a religious people.
You think Jamaica, you think Rasta, but maybe it is funny to know that about three-fourths of Jamaica's population claim membership in a Christian religion.

The Awaraks had their 'zemis', the Spanish had the 'Holy Trinity' and today Baptists, Catholism, Rastafarianism, but also spiritual cultures, revivalism and even magic can be found on that small island called Jamaica.

Christianity
Religion is fundamental to Jamaican life. Its importance is evident in Jamaican speech, which has many references to Biblical events. The island has the highest number of churches per capita in the world and more than 100 different Christian denominations.
On Sundays, churches are filled with large congregations; people dress in their finest clothes and take the day as a time for rest and prayer.

Most Christians in Jamaica are member of the Anglican Church of Jamaica (former Church of England). That fact is not strange, it is the oldest established church in Jamaica.
Other important communities are the Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Brethren and Roman Catholics.

Christianity in the form of Roman Catholicism arrived with Spanish colonization in the late 15th century. When the British overthrew the Spanish in 1655, they introduced the Church of England (Anglicanism) and repressed Catholicism; the practice went underground until 1792, when Catholic worship was permitted again.

Baptists
Baptists arrived in Jamaica during the Civil War, when Americans immigrated to the island, bringing their former slaves. The Baptist church had an antislavery stance and quickly grew in popularity.


And the Jews, Hindus, Muslims...
Jews arrived in Jamaica in the 16th century, fleeing the Spanish inquisition. Home of the oldest synagogue in the western hemisphere, Jamaica still has a large Jewish community in Kingston.

There are also many Hindus and Muslims, descendants of people who came from India to work as indentured servants.

Rastafarianism
Most well-known religion of Jamaica is, of course, Rastafarianism. It is not just a religion, it is a way of life, with all the rights and obligations.

Rastafarianism is practiced by about 5% of the population. Based on Black nationalism, Rastafarianism was first embraced by people at the bottom of the economic ladder, who were trying to reclaim their African heritage.

Central to the religion is the belief in the divinity of Haile Selassie, who was crowned king of Ethiopia in 1930 and claimed his descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Rasta's believe that Selassie was chosen to lead the African people (Jahs), who hold a special significance in the Bible and the world.

Rastafarianism has no churches or political parties, but it is very visible; followers adopt styles of speech, behavior, diet and dress that distinguish them from "Babylon" (the rest of society).


Revivalism
Cults have also been an important part of religion in Jamaica, though they are less so today. A number of religious sects have incorporated some practices that originated in cults, which were often based on African spiritual practices and beliefs.

Pocomania and Revival Zion
Pocomania (or Poco or Pukkumina) and Revival Zion are two popular revivalist cults in Jamaica. At first sight both spirits looks the same, the difference is that Pocomania invokes earthly spirits and Revival Zion looks to heaven to find the spirits.

The leaders are called 'captain (Pocomania) and 'Shepherd' (Revival Zion), but also can be a women (called 'mother' in both cults). There are ceremonies (the Pocomania ceremonies often are loud and odd) in which rum and ganja are used ritually.
Mallica Reynolds (alias Kapo) was well-known Revivalist leader -and Jamaican artist- in the late 80's. He died in 1989 and a large collection of his work can be seen in the National Gallery in Kingston.


Kumina, Obeah, Voodoo...
An other spiritual cult in Jamaica is Kumina, most found in St. Thomas. The word 'Kumina' and the ceremony has origins in Congo, Africa. Kumina is the thought to have been brought by the free africans who made their way to the Jamaica sugar cane fields after emancipation.

Oral traditions formed a powerful bond of folklore that has been passed down from African slaves in the 17th and 18th century and are still retold today.

There are more spirits in Jamaican folklore - Obeah and Jumbie. Obeah is a superstitious spirit that is held accountable for both good and evil.
Legend has it that Obeah takes things away from people who take it for granted (health, wealth, happiness,love etc.), so when you ask a Jamaican how they are doing or feeling they may quickly answer "could be better" or "not too bad". The jumbie is similar to the jumbies of other Caribbean islands and is represented at Carnival and parades as the stilt-walking 12 and 18 feet tall twirling Mocko Jumbies. They are said to be spirits of dead people who didn't want to leave the island. Jamaican lore is also full of stories of the African-linked Anansi or spider.

The stories are used as parables to teach lessons. In Jamaica the spider has become a "spider man" who walks upright and is a cunning trickster who always gets whatever he wants -- but always for the good of a moral.

The religions in Jamaica are complicated - Jamaica is the only island in the Caribbean with such an interesting, but comprehensive, spiritual life.