Protestantism, a branch of Christianity that emerged during the 16th-century Reformation, emphasizes the authority of the Bible and salvation through faith alone. In Jamaica, it is the dominant religion, embraced by approximately 65% of the population. This prevalence results from missionary efforts in the 18th and 19th centuries aimed at converting the enslaved African population to denominations like the Moravians, Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians.
The introduction of Protestantism to Jamaica was influenced by both European missionaries and African American preachers like George Liele, a former slave from Georgia who arrived in the late 18th century. Liele established Baptist congregations before European missionaries, despite opposition from colonial authorities who feared that educating slaves could incite rebellion.
European missionaries sought to transform Jamaican society through evangelical Christianity, emphasizing preaching and moral instruction. They clashed with local…
