By far, the largest religion in Jamaica is the
Christian faith. The
Anglican Church,
Catholic Church,
Methodist Church,
Baptists,
Seventh-Day Adventists and the Church of God are present throughout the country. Many old churches have been carefully maintained and/or restored. The
Rastafari movement is a derivative of the larger
Christian culture, but its origins were influenced by rising consciousness of Africa, and an awareness of political events in that continent. There is also a small number of Jewish synagogues in Jamaica, dating from the 17th century along with a few mosques. Elements of ancient African religions remain, especially in remote areas throughout the island. Some of these practices are described generally as
Obeah,
Kumina, or Pocomania. Though the congregations are small, they are visited by many Christians and non-Christians seeking an experience they have not found in the churches. It is estimated that as much as 40% of the population secretly seek the services of the African traditional religious healers (also called Obeah workers) when confronted with serious problems that conventional medicine cannot remedy. The
Baháʼí Faith arrived in Jamaica in 1943, brought by an American
Baháʼí pioneer, Dr. Malcolm King. In 2003, as part of the 60th anniversary celebration of the establishment of Baháʼí in Jamaica, the Governor General of Jamaica, Sir
Howard Cooke, proclaimed a National Baháʼí Day to be held annually on 25 July. In 2005, the community of about 5000 celebrated their activity and presence in Jamaica with the international Baháʼí choir,
The Voices of Bahá. The choir performed at Ward Theater and the University of the West Indies' Chapel, with proceeds earmarked to two Jamaican charities, (one serving families of policemen slain in the line of duty, and the one Denham Town Golden Age Home). Other religions practiced in Jamaica include
Buddhism,
Hinduism, and
Islam.
Rastafari man in a
rastacap at a port of Jamaica's
Black River. Originating in the 1930s, one of the most prominent, internationally known aspects of Jamaica's African-Caribbean culture is the
Rastafari movement, particularly those elements that are expressed through
reggae music. In the 1970s and early 1980s,
Bob Marley became the most high-profile exponent of the Rastafari culture and belief system. His reputation as an innovative musician devoted to his faith has continued to grow since his death, so that by 2004 his greatest hits compilation,
Legend, had sold 20 million copies worldwide, making him arguably the world's most famous Jamaican in the music industry, and certainly the nation's biggest-selling recording artist. Rastafari itself is a
monotheistic belief system, based on teachings found in the
Old Testament and the
New Testament – particularly the
Book of Revelation. However, what distinguishes Rastafari from Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, (which also cite
Abrahamic beliefs), is that Rastas believe in the divinity of the Emperor
Haile Selassie of
Ethiopia. Hailed by Rastas as H.I.M. (His Imperial Majesty),
Haile Selassie I is regarded as God himself, the true descendant of
Solomon, and the earthly embodiment of
Jah (God) – in what believers see as a fulfillment of prophecy regarding
the second coming of the
Messiah. Those Rasta beliefs, which are not explicitly mentioned in the Bible (such as the specific name of H.I.M. "Haile Selassie"), are not gathered into a single holy text. Instead, Rasta beliefs are primarily shared through a community of songs, chants, and oral testimonies, as well as in written texts (including websites). The extensive use of song makes Rastafari a particularly musical source of Jamaican culture. Rasta cultural traditions include wearing their hair in uncut, uncombed strands known as
dreadlocks (in adherence to the
Nazarite vow), as well as eating unprocessed (natural) foods which are called
Ital. However, neither tradition is regarded as compulsory – many people who wear dreadlocks are not Rastas, and many Rastas do not wear them. One of the most controversial cultural traditions is Rastas' use of
ganja as a
sacrament which is smoked to aid in
reasoning (
contemplation and discussion) during their religious rituals. In its Jamaican homeland, Rastafari is a minority culture and receives little in the way of official recognition. Jamaica is an overwhelmingly Christian country, so Rasta beliefs and practices – such as the divinity of H.I.M Hailie Selassie – are sometimes regarded as
pagan by Christian Jamaicans. (Some Rastas also express hostility towards aspects of Christianity.) Nevertheless, the artistic contributions of the movement, particularly by Bob Marley, are widely respected. Marley was awarded the
Jamaican Order of Merit in 1981, and there are two official monuments to him. Rastas can be found in many countries outside Jamaica and among many non-Jamaicans. Because it is not a centrally organised religion, there is no way of knowing how many devotees there are. ==Dance==