Members of the congregation of the Church of God of Prophecy in Rockfort, Kingston, raise their arms in praise of God.
FROM THE architectural splendour of the 275-year-old Lucea Parish Church in Hanover to the tents of fledgling revivalists pitched across the landscape, Jamaica is awash with churches.
The denominations run the gamut, from the traditional Anglican and Roman Catholic to newer ones like the Apostolic Brethren of Christ Zion Sabbath Church of Holiness.
The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC), the umbrella church agency in the island, lists 10 members with five others having observer status. There are numerous others, some with only a handful of members.
A Gleaner survey of some of the religions showed that there are more similarities than differences.
THE TRINITY
Similarities in Christian-based faiths lie in their fundamental belief in the Bible. The Apostolics, Seventh Day Adventists, Methodists, United Church of Jamaica and Cayman, Catholics and Salvation Army, for example, believe in the Trinity -- that is one God, manifested as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Jehovah's Witnesses, however, differ on this point. According to this group, Jesus Christ is not a part of this Trinity but as the Bible states, He is the son of God.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church, a place of worship for many Rastafarians, has yet another view. While it bases its principles on the teachings of the Bible, Kes Gabre Selassie (Priest) Lloyd Fitzgerald says the Ethiopian Orthodox teaches one Nature -- Christ. Most of the others, he says, deal with The Father, The Son and the Holy Spirit. The teaching of more than one Nature was condemned by the Christian Council in 325 AD, he adds.
There is also agreement among most Christian faiths on the second advent of Jesus Christ. Seventh Day Adventists, Methodists, Baptists and the United Church of Jamaica and Cayman share this belief.
Jehovah's Witnesses again beg to differ on this point. They believe that God's kingdom is a real government that will destroy the present wicked system.
BAPTISM
On the issue of baptism, Apostolics believe in water baptism. The Methodist also shares this concept but infant baptism is practised. Adults are also baptised although not for a second time if they had been before. The Catholics and the Presbyterians also follow this audience.
The Seventh Day Adventist and the Jehovah's Witnesses, however, differ on this point. They do not believe in infant baptism but adult baptism. Infant baptism is unscriptural and baptism is a personal decision which has to be made by a person who understands, they say.
The Salvation Army, on the other hand, has no water baptism or Holy Communion.
"We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as the all important baptism," says Lt. Col. Clinton Burrowes, Division Commander for eastern Jamaica.
DAY OF WORSHIP
The day of worship provides a point of agreement and disagreement.
The Salvation Army, the Baptist, Methodist, United Church of Jamaica and Cayman and Catholic churches worship on Sundays, the first day of the week. For the Seventh Day Adventists, their day of worship falls on a Saturday. They back this observance with Exodus 20 verses 8 to 10.
The Jehovah's Witnesses say they have no specific day of worship. They attend meetings at the local Kingdom Halls or private homes five hours each week. In some localities, they have upwards of three congregations conducting meetings in the same Kingdom Hall, therefore, occasionally all seven days of the week are used to conduct meetings.
The non-Christian Islamic faith worships on Fridays. In Muslim countries, Thursdays and Fridays are non-working days. In Jamaica, explains Sheikh Musa Tijani of the Islamic Council, Muslims gather to worship at about 1:00 p.m. on Fridays and return to work afterwards.
DRESS CODE
In relation to dress code, United Church of Jamaica and Cayman say there is no legal document to govern how their followers are to dress. They, however, note that dress style should be moderate.
This view is shared by the Methodist and Jehovah's Witnesses. Some congregations may also have their own stipulation. Swallowfield Chapel, a Brethren Church in Kingston, has a let your conscience be your guide dress code.
The Seventh Day Adventist has, however, laid down rules for their followers. The use of make-up and jewellery are not accepted.
DIVORCE
These churches also differ on the issue of divorce and remarriage. The Methodist faith allows divorce when the marriage is at a point where it is irretrievable. They also allow remarriage. The United Church of Jamaica and Cayman faith allows divorce and remarriage. The Baptist faith allows divorce but not remarriage, while the party of the previous marriage is still alive. The Catholic faith does not allow divorce. The Seventh Day Adventist and Jehovah's Witnesses allow divorce, but only in the case of adultery. In terms of remarriage, only the innocent party may remarry.
The Lord's Supper and the washing of feet are ordinances which are observed by most of these denominations. In relation to cultural traditions, Jehovah's Witnesses do not observe the Christian traditions. The Catholics, the Baptists, Methodists and United Church of Jamaica and Cayman observe the traditions of the Christmas and Easter. Meanwhile, the Seventh Day Adventist recognise the birth and death of Christ, but does not confine their celebrations to any specific dates.
