The experiences and lifestyle of Jamaicans are generally molded by their family background and religious beliefs. Because of the ethnic diversity in the country, there are various religions exercised throughout the land. The Tainos based their religious belief on animism. The group worshiped plants and animals as well as other forces of nature. The god Yucahu and goddess Atabey, are their main deities. Yuhacu is known as the god of the sea and vegetable root, while his mother, goddess Atabey, is the goddess of fertility and fresh water.
The Tainos also believed in spirits, called zemis, which can be either good or evil. They believe that the spirits are also present in nature and appear in various forms. Zemis were worshiped by the people to prevent natural disasters from happening. When the English and Spanish colonies entered to spread Christianity, the beliefs in the deities began to diminish. At present, about 80 percent of Jamaicans is Christian. Jamaican settlements, regardless of location and size, have at least one church. The mass on Sunday is deemed very important and people are expected to join and wear proper clothes. The Anglican Church of Jamaica is the biggest denomination, which consists of Roman Catholic teachings. There are also some Protestant churches in the country. Today, tourists might still find those who still practice ancient and mystic religions or Old Testament Christianity.
There are those who uphold African fundamentalism, called Rastas. The Rastafari movement shares the ideal of preserving Jamaican heritage and roots. Rastas generally sport dreadlocks, goatees and use marijuana to allegedly get closer to God. These individuals do not adopt anything that was inspired by Westerners.