Jamaica's Guiness Record
When you heard the word “Jamaica”, what is
the
first imaget that comes to your mind? Probably a Rastafari with a three coloured
cap singing “Jamming” in a hammock under a palm tree by the sea. A very
stereotypical perception of what Jamaica is. Isn’t it?
Is for that reason that I would like to bring up
a phrase that the novelist Chamamanda Adichie said in a remarkable speech :”
Stereotypes are not wrong, but incomplete".
Having said that ,Jamaica is more than the
caricature that we described at the beginning. Can you belive that this country is in the
Giness Book of World Records? Believe
it or not, Jamaica has more churches per square mile (1600 in total) than in any
other country in the world (except the Vatican City itself)
The reason ,
is that the majority of these churches
are based in poor communities ,where the Gospel must be preached to the poor
for their needs are greater.But uptown people enjoy going to churches as well ,and all of them
have a great time by singing and sharing their faith.This is just one of many
interesting facts about Jamaica that can contribute to your idea of what this
country and its beliefs are and thus, to leave behind this steriotipical image , this "single story" about a country that has so many things to give and show to the world. What do you think?
I'm impressed although it makes a lot of sense, I think it must be the most missioned country in America (the continent) because they have they're own religion and obviously there must be also the "classic" religions.
ResponderEliminarI think it's good that they have that many churches, because it's such a poor country that people (in all the world) need to put their faith in something, they must believe and have the hope of a better tomorrow or maybe another life, depending on the beliefs.
Thank you for this post!