Heart and Soul - The Jamaican Bible Remixed
Download The Jamaican Bible Remixed
Christianity has been part of Jamaica for 500 years and it’s said there is a church on every corner.
Christian worship is conducted from the King James bible in antiquated English rather than the native Jamaican patois.
But the number of people - especially young people - actually going to traditional churches is falling. The answer, some believe, would be to translate the King James bible into the local Jamaican language, offering a uniquely Jamaican version that appeals to ordinary people. However many traditional Christians feel it dilutes and disrespects the word of God. Others believe Jamaican patois is inappropriate for a formal setting like church.
To mark Jamaican Independence Day and during the week where Jamaicans celebrate emancipation from slavery, British theologian Professor Robert Beckford travels to Jamaica in an attempt to legitimise the use of the Patois Bible.
Presenter: Robert Beckford
Producer: Rajeev Gupta
(Image: The Jamaican Nu Testament Credit: Rajeev Gupta)
Published on Sunday, 6th August 2017.
Available Podcasts from Heart and Soul
We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the Heart and Soul webpage.