Rastafari

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CHRISTINE77

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What do people know and think about the Rastafari religion?

From Wikopedia:

Rastafari developed among an oppressed people who felt society had nothing to offer them except more suffering. Rastas may regard themselves as conforming to certain visions of how Africans should live,reclaiming what they see as a culture stolen from them when their ancestors were brought on slave ships to Jamaica, the movement’s birthplace. The messages expounded by the Rastafari promote love and respect for all living things and emphasize the paramount importance of human dignity and self-respect. Above all else, they speak of freedom from spiritual, psychological, as well as physical slavery and oppression. In their attempts to heal the wounds inflicted upon the African peoples by the imperialist nations of the world, Rastafari continually extol the virtue and superiority of African cultures and civilization past and present.
 
For Rastas, smoking cannabis, usually known as ganja or herb, is a spiritual act, often accompanied by Bible study; they consider it a sacrament that cleans the body and mind, heals the soul, exalts the consciousness, facilitates peacefulness, brings pleasure, and brings them closer to Jah. The burning of the herb is often said to be essential “for it will sting in the hearts of those that promote and perform evil and wrongs.” By the 8th century, cannabis had been introduced by Arab traders to Central and Southern Africa, where it is known as dagga,and many Rastas say it is a part of their African culture that they are reclaiming. It is sometimes also referred to as “the healing of the nation”, a phraseology adapted from Revelation 22:2. While there is a clear belief in the beneficial qualities of cannabis, it is not compulsory to use it, and there are Rastas who do not.

Among Biblical verses Rastas believe justify the use of cannabis:
•Genesis 1:11 “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.”
•Genesis 3:18 “… thou shalt eat the herb of the field.”
•Proverbs 15:17 “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.”[1]
•Psalms 104:14 “He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man.”
 
Thank you for that information.

Now, the first post that you had made Rastafarianism seem almost racist or at least ethno-centric. Am I reading something into it that is not there?
 
I think it appeals mostly to black people whose ancestors were brought to America (Jamaica) as slaves. Have you ever listened to Bob Marley? His music tells the story.
 
CHRISTINE77 said:
I think it appeals mostly to black people whose ancestors were brought to America (Jamaica) as slaves. Have you ever listened to Bob Marley? His music tells the story.
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Thanks. More specifically, when a religion talks about reclaiming or celebrating a culture, and frames it is terms of forcible removail from it, it can lead to hatred or bias. Does that exist in Rastafarians?
 
Nope, not that I have heard of, I think the ganja and the music keeps the mood mellow!
 
CHRISTINE77 said:
What do people know and think about the Rastafari religion?

From Wikopedia:

Rastafari developed among an oppressed people who felt society had nothing to offer them except more suffering. Rastas may regard themselves as conforming to certain visions of how Africans should live,reclaiming what they see as a culture stolen from them when their ancestors were brought on slave ships to Jamaica, the movement’s birthplace. The messages expounded by the Rastafari promote love and respect for all living things and emphasize the paramount importance of human dignity and self-respect. Above all else, they speak of freedom from spiritual, psychological, as well as physical slavery and oppression. In their attempts to heal the wounds inflicted upon the African peoples by the imperialist nations of the world, Rastafari continually extol the virtue and superiority of African cultures and civilization past and present.
Click to expand...
Rastas are cool! I’m a huge Bob Marley fan and I know a lot of Rastas in my area (in fact there are THREE Rasta bookstores in our city, amazingly enough!)

This site might give you more info: bobmarley.com

I’m friends with a really sweet Rasta who lives in London, and I’d give you the link to his site but it seems to be down right now.

BTW Rastas are very pro-life! One reggae singer (Alpha Blondy, from the Ivory Coast) did a great reggae song called, “Abortion is a Bloody, Bloody Crime”.
 
I’m a big Bob Marley fan (since birth). And I have a great deal of respect for Rastafarianism along with that. 🙂
 
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