Rastafari movement?

[beegirl]

I was on facebook (I know, typical teenager ) and I noticed that once of my friends from school - I don’t know him really well, though - listed “Rastafarian” as his religion. I’d never heard of this…so, natrually, I googled it.

Now, I know the reliability of wikipedia has been questioned, but heres what i found:

The Rastafari movement is a monotheistic, new religious movement that arose in a Christian culture in Jamaica in the 1930s. Its adherents, who worship Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, former Emperor of Ethiopia (1930–1936 and 1941–1974), as the Second Advent, are known as Rastafarians, or Rastas…

Rastafari is not a highly organized religion; it is a movement and an ideology. Many Rastas say that it is not a “religion” at all, but a “Way of Life”.[4] Most Rastas do not claim any sect or denomination, and thus encourage one another to find faith and inspiration within themselves, although some do identify strongly with one of the “mansions of Rastafari” — the three most prominent of these being the Nyahbinghi, the Bobo Ashanti and the Twelve Tribes of Israel…

…Rastafari are generally distinguished for asserting the doctrine that Haile Selassie I, the former, and final, Emperor of Ethiopia, is another incarnation of the Christian God, called Jah. They see Haile Selassie I as Jah or Jah Rastafari, who is the second coming of Jesus Christ onto the Earth.

Does anyone else know anything else about this…what is it…religion? movement?

 

[Garyjohn2]

Its a very strange religion. I’ve heard a quote from the Ethiopian Emporer, who was asked about all these people thinking he is Christ. “They are a very confused people” he said, or something very close to it. He seemed to feel bad for them.

I don’t like making fun of other religions, but this one is very odd! It is very interesting at the same time. They do read the bible.

 

[beegirl]

I agree. I don’t like making fun of other religions…I’m sure Christianity can seen pretty “odd” to some people Its just a little bit funny that these people think the emperor is Christ…but even he doesn’t know it

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

Its a very strange religion. I’ve heard a quote from the Ethiopian Emporer, who was asked about all these people thinking he is Christ. “They are a very confused people” he said, or something very close to it. He seemed to feel bad for them.

I met his son some years ago. Very nice man, but he doesn’t seem like the son of a god or Messiah.

I heard something about the “Twelve Tribes of Israel” once, or perhaps something more cultish. It was a group that identified the twelve “real” tribes of Israel as Africans, Jamaicans, Hispanics, Native Americans…basically every non-white ethnic/racial group. Rather disturbing really. I don’t know if they were full Rastafarians, but that was just weird.

 

[Theophorus]

I was on facebook (I know, typical teenager ) and I noticed that once of my friends from school - I don’t know him really well, though - listed “Rastafarian” as his religion. I’d never heard of this…so, natrually, I googled it.

Now, I know the reliability of wikipedia has been questioned, but heres what i found:

Does anyone else know anything else about this…what is it…religion? movement?

I’m not trying to detract form the belief system, but in Britian and Ireland the term is often used as an endorsement of dope smoking rather than an actual religous conviction, I don’t know if its thesame in the US though. I find that this especially happens on FB and bebo

 

[Nowhere_Man]

I was on facebook (I know, typical teenager ) and I noticed that once of my friends from school - I don’t know him really well, though - listed “Rastafarian” as his religion. I’d never heard of this…so, natrually, I googled it.

Now, I know the reliability of wikipedia has been questioned, but heres what i found:

Does anyone else know anything else about this…what is it…religion? movement?

Yeah, I looked into it a bit before I converted and its pretty silly. Along with this they also believe that smoking “Ganja” (Marijuana) while reading the bible is the way to understanding Jah (God).

 

[Pahoran]

Yeah, I looked into it a bit before I converted and its pretty silly. Along with this they also believe that smoking “Ganja” (Marijuana) while reading the bible is the way to understanding Jah (God).

A lot of religions think that mind-altering substances can enhance worship.

As a point of interest: as mentioned, they believe Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia was Jesus returned. The name Rastafari is derived from the Emperor’s real name, Tafari Makonnen, with one of his earlier titles, Ras (duke).

The Emperor was a devout Ethiopian Orthodox Christian. When he went to Jamaica, he was polite to the Rastas, but he later sent an Orthodox Archbishop to Jamaica to try to convert them.

I find it highly uncharitable to deride people for their faith, or to deride a faith that others hold dear; so I say this without any attempt to mock: I find it hard to understand how anyone can maintain the belief that someone is divine, and base their religion around that person’s divinity, when that person has rejected the religious formulations about him.

Regards,
Pahoran

 

[Bluegoat]

I believe Haile Selassie sent missionaries to Jamaica, and a number of Rastafarians have converted over the years to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

If you read more about Rastafarianism, it is quite interesting, and perhaps less weird than it seems initially. It is clearly a set of beliefs that grew up among an oppressed people.

Of course Haile Selassie has died, and I think some Rastafarians no longer believe him to be God, while others think he has actually gone into hiding as a monk. There are different types of Rastafarians who believe different things.

 

[Nine_Two]

I seem to recall there was a Rastafarian member of this forum not long ago.

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

I seem to recall there was a Rastafarian member of this forum not long ago.

I think you’re right. I only saw him in a few threads, since I don’t really venture outside of here. Maybe he’ll venture back and answer some questions in this thread.

 

[Nine_Two]

Did a search and found who I was thinking of, he only posted one day, which was odd because he was quite well received.

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

Dang it, why is it always the cool non-Christians who leave?

 

[LDNCatholic]

I was on facebook (I know, typical teenager ) and I noticed that once of my friends from school - I don’t know him really well, though - listed “Rastafarian” as his religion. I’d never heard of this…so, natrually, I googled it.

Now, I know the reliability of wikipedia has been questioned, but heres what i found:

Does anyone else know anything else about this…what is it…religion? movement?

If he listed himself as Rastafarian then he probably isn’t serious. Rastas make a point of avoiding -isms and -ians. The religion is Rastafari and they call the followers Rastas.

Seems a petty distinction but they put a lot of importance on names. Many of the words we use they see as oppressive (or, for them ‘‘downpressive’’) statements used to subjugate people and so they are replaced with Rasta vocabulary.

 

[Bluegoat]

If he listed himself as Rastafarian then he probably isn’t serious. Rastas make a point of avoiding -isms and -ians. The religion is Rastafari and they call the followers Rastas.

Seems a petty distinction but they put a lot of importance on names. Many of the words we use they see as oppressive (or, for them ‘‘downpressive’’) statements used to subjugate people and so they are replaced with Rasta vocabulary.

This is a very interesting thing I think. You can get a bit of a feel for it by listening to a lot of reggae.

 

[Byzantine_Wolf]

This is a very interesting thing I think. You can get a bit of a feel for it by listening to a lot of reggae.

Yeah, like in the classic Steven Seagal movie Marked for Death

 

[Nine_Two]

If he listed himself as Rastafarian then he probably isn’t serious. Rastas make a point of avoiding -isms and -ians. The religion is Rastafari and they call the followers Rastas.

Seems a petty distinction but they put a lot of importance on names. Many of the words we use they see as oppressive (or, for them ‘‘downpressive’’) statements used to subjugate people and so they are replaced with Rasta vocabulary.

He didn’t self identify using the term “rastapharian”, but he was quite aware that the term used by outsiders referred to him.

 

[LDNCatholic]

He didn’t self identify using the term “rastapharian”, but he was quite aware that the term used by outsiders referred to him.

The fella listed it as his religion on his facebook didn’t he?

 

[beegirl]

thanks for all the replies!

If he listed himself as Rastafarian then he probably isn’t serious

Agreed. Even if he used to “proper” word, I would still doubt very much he is serious. He’s a nice kid, but I’m guessing there are only two reasons he associates himself with this religion: (1)its encouragement of ganja and (2) Bob Marley

But I digress…I shoudn’t judge his motives, epscially considering I don’t know him that well.

The fella listed it as his religion on his facebook didn’t he?

yep.

The Emperor was a devout Ethiopian Orthodox Christian. When he went to Jamaica, he was polite to the Rastas, but he later sent an Orthodox Archbishop to Jamaica to try to convert them.

I find it highly uncharitable to deride people for their faith, or to deride a faith that others hold dear; so I say this without any attempt to mock: I find it hard to understand how anyone can maintain the belief that someone is divine, and base their religion around that person’s divinity, when that person has rejected the religious formulations about him.

I was about to ask if anyone knew what religion the Emperor himself followed.
Again, I agree that we shouldn’t mock other peoples beliefs…but I also agree with you, and find it strange that so many people can believe this man is God when (1)he denies the claim himself and (2)he tries to convert them to another religion.

I found an interesting quote from the Emperor regarding the Rastafari belief that he is Jesus Christ incarnate (I believe its from an interview with Bill McNeil):

“I have heard of that idea. I also met certain Rastafarians. I told them clearly that I am a man, that I am mortal, and that I would be replaced by the oncoming generation, and that they should never make a mistake in assuming or pretending that the human being is emanated from a deity.”

I found it suprising he used the term “Rastafarians” with the -ian at the end, considering the followers themselves frown upon it.

 

[beegirl]

I found some posts by the Rastafari member someone mentions. His usernames is RastaFari (actually there were two other members who identified themselves as rastafrian, but neither had a single post) and he seemed pretty nice and willing to explain his beliefs and answer questions…too bad he’s not on anymore. This is how he described his beliefs (in a nutshell):

Rastafarians are rooted Christians who read the bible a chapter a day. We do not aline to any “church” as we belive the spirit of GOD dwells within EVERY Man [and living thing]. The Human body is our Holy Temple, so no harm should come to it, [self artificially change, Tattoos, Piercings etc].
We are commonly associated with Robert Nesta Marley [Bob Marley], which is a very fair assumption indeed. We will grow our hair and grow our dreadlocks…
This is in line with a Nazarite Vow, and also to show our faith to god, and showing the whole world that we are ‘not the same as you’. We see locks as a deeply spiritual thing…

 

[Bluegoat]

Bob Marley was baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church not long before he died.