'One Love,' many religions
Recently, the news that songs by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh would be included in the hymnals of the Anglican Church in Jamaica made headlines around the world.
Among the songs that will reportedly be included in the hymnals are Marley's "One Love" and Tosh's "Creation," which was his version of Psalm 27.
Some found the inclusion of the songs to be controversial. The Jamaica Observer, however, quoted a church official as saying that reggae and mento music had been worked into masses on the island for 25 years.
Fans of Bob Marley, of course, are unlikely to be surprised by the move.
Marley's music has long had deep religious themes. As the Jamaican novelist Colin Channer once pointed out, Marley is one of the few musicians who could mix the sensual, the spiritual and the political-without contradiction.
People often think of popular music as godless. In fact, some of the greatest musicians of the last century created music that was deeply spiritual. Aretha Franklin recorded a number of gospel albums; Stevie Wonder's music often has spiritual themes; Marvin Gaye's masterwork "What's Going On" meditates on mankind and God; the rock group U2 often tackles spiritual issues; Lauryn Hill, in her music, often makes references to biblical passages; and Bob Dylan had a religious period in which he released records like "Saved" and "Slow Train Coming."
Perhaps no other popular musician, however, delved into religious matters with the seriousness and focus of Bob Marley. Every one of his major albums deals with his religion, Rastafari, and spiritual matters. On songs like "Jah Live," "Give Thanks and Praises," and "Forever Loving Jah," he testified to his beliefs.
Bob's religious conviction came at a price-but it was one that he and his family were willing to pay. In Jamaica in the 1960s and 1970s, many Jamaicans viewed Rastas as outcasts. Bob's daughter Cedella once told me "In Jamaica, being a Rastafarian, you were looked down upon, it wasn't like you were welcome anywhere. We were shunned by a lot of people."
It sometimes was worse than that. Rastas were often harassed by law enforcement in the 1960s and 1970s. Members of the Wailers were, at various times, beaten by police and taken into custody.
So it seems to make sense that, today, Marley songs are sung in church. Marley, in his lifetime, was openly critical of organized religion. But in his life, and in his work, he lived up to the tradition of the saints: he suffered for his beliefs and refused to allow the system to change his heart.
No matter what your religion, it's easy to say Amen to that.
