Rastafari

[SERVANTOFYESHUA]

Greetings everyone and Haile blessings. I am a Hebrew Rastafarian and unlike many rastas i have no animosity toward the catholic church. I was wondering if anyone had any questions about the RastafarI movement and i pray that if you have anything negative to say then you will keep it to yourself. Bllessings and i look forward very much to getting to know all of you!

Hold Strong:[BIBLEDRB][/BIBLEDRB]

 

[tsering]

Greetings everyone and Haile blessings. I am a Hebrew Rastafarian and unlike many rastas i have no animosity toward the catholic church. I was wondering if anyone had any questions about the RastafarI movement and i pray that if you have anything negative to say then you will keep it to yourself. Bllessings and i look forward very much to getting to know all of you!

Hold Strong:[BIBLEDRB][/BIBLEDRB]

Rasta man, I used to listen to Bob Marley back in the day while smokin’ ganja. I started following Jesus, and I don’t smoke anymore, so I really don’t listen to Bob, but I do like Reggae. The question is, and this could be my own misconception, but do most Rastafarians smoke bud?

 

[Chiltepin]

I have a few questions.
-I see that your signature lists you as a Hebrew Rasta/Quaker. What Quaker elements do you incorportate into your religion?
-How do the beliefs of a Hebrew Rasta differ from an ordinary Rasta? Does a Hebrew Rasta recognize that Christ was a Jew and probably not African(of course we are all in a sense African, but that is not what I mean)?
-Is it true that it is a great offense to refer to the beliefs as “Rastafarianism” (my apologies if it is) I heard that somewhere.

Thank you for being willing to answer questions.

 

[SERVANTOFYESHUA]

Rasta man, I used to listen to Bob Marley back in the day while smokin’ ganja. I started following Jesus, and I don’t smoke anymore, so I really don’t listen to Bob, but I do like Reggae. The question is, and this could be my own misconception, but do most Rastafarians smoke bud?

My brother yes most Rastafarians smoke marijuana for a few reasons. The first is that it was said to have been found growing on King Solomons tomb. The second is because it is a form of meditation for us rastamen and women and we feel it brings us closer to the creator when we smoke it. However, it is not a requirement for a rasta to smoke ganja and as a matter of fact most rasta sects strongly advise that you must be of age (usually at least 16) to indulge in this holy sacrament of the Rastafari movement. Yes i say holy because hey, YAHWEH has given us every herb bearing seed (Genesis 1:29; KJV)

 

[SERVANTOFYESHUA]

I have a few questions.
-I see that your signature lists you as a Hebrew Rasta/Quaker. What Quaker elements do you incorportate into your religion?
-How do the beliefs of a Hebrew Rasta differ from an ordinary Rasta? Does a Hebrew Rasta recognize that Christ was a Jew and probably not African(of course we are all in a sense African, but that is not what I mean)?
-Is it true that it is a great offense to refer to the beliefs as “Rastafarianism” (my apologies if it is) I heard that somewhere.

Thank you for being willing to answer questions.

1. Well i feel very strongly for tolerance and love and coexistance which the quakers preach strongly. also, i visit Quaker meeting houses every sunday so i can meditate upon the sabbath that just passed (rastas observe the sabbath as the Jews do). Plus, the quakers are not a very organized religious group so i dont feel i have to conform to a specific doctrine to worship with fellow children of God who may have differing beliefs than I. And im not bashing organized religion when i say that by the way like i said im a very tolerant guy .
2. I say Hebrew rasta because i follow many of the Jewish holidays, beliefs, holy days, etc. Also, the etymology for the term Hebrew is not fully known. so I feel that the word Hebrew does not have to boil down to a specific bloodline of people (the Jews) but anyone who follows YAHWEH and more recently someone who accepts Yeshua as their saviour. Thats why i call myself a Hebrew
3. eh i wouldnt say its a great offense to say “rastafarianism.” The rastafari movement started in Jamaica in the 1930’s and at that time black people were very oppressed (and still are today) by different systems such as imperialISM and colonialISM ya see? so rastafari from the beginning has always rejected what we call “ism’s and schism’s” (as summed up perfectly by Peter Tosh in ‘Get up Stand up’). Now i personally wouldnt take offense to the term rastafarianism but some elders of the rastafari movement and some of the more more militant rastas might take great offense to it. No worries though your fine though

Hope this helps!

 

[Chiltepin]

My brother yes most Rastafarians smoke marijuana for a few reasons. The first is that it was said to have been found growing on King Solomons tomb. The second is because it is a form of meditation for us rastamen and women and we feel it brings us closer to the creator when we smoke it. However, it is not a requirement for a rasta to smoke ganja and as a matter of fact most rasta sects strongly advise that you must be of age (usually at least 16) to indulge in this holy sacrament of the Rastafari movement. Yes i say holy because hey, YAHWEH has given us every herb bearing seed (Genesis 1:29; KJV)

That gave me even more questions! You’re going to get tired of me, I find religion so fascinating.

1. I am not surprised to find ritual drug use in a religion, it is common to a lot of older tribal religions. I’m not saying it is good either (a lot of cults keep their followers drugged.) I am just curious on what grounds you consider it a sacrament? I know you have said that you involve ganja smoking in meditation and prayer. It brings you closer to your creator in your opinion. Doesn’t all prayer bring you closer to your creator? Do you consider all prayer sacrament?
2. Why do Rastas use a King James Bible, or is that just you? Do Rastas commonly use that translation? Do Quakers commonly use that translation?

 

[SERVANTOFYESHUA]

That gave me even more questions! You’re going to get tired of me, I find religion so fascinating.

1. I am not surprised to find ritual drug use in a religion, it is common to a lot of older tribal religions. I’m not saying it is good either (a lot of cults keep their followers drugged.) I am just curious on what grounds you consider it a sacrament? I know you have said that you involve ganja smoking in meditation and prayer. It brings you closer to your creator in your opinion. Doesn’t all prayer bring you closer to your creator? Do you consider all prayer sacrament?
2. Why do Rastas use a King James Bible, or is that just you? Do Rastas commonly use that translation? Do Quakers commonly use that translation?

hahah nah your fine thats why im here! By the way bro or sis?

1. well first of all let me clear something up real fast. In RastafarI marijuana is not seen as a drug. A drug is something that is chemically altered (heroin, cocaine, meth, etc.). And it is not a requirement it is a personal choice. well in most places (specifically western countries) Ganja is used as to get stupid for a little while and eat alotta food (as i am guilty of in the past). But we rastas take it very serious. It clears our minds for serious scripture study. also as Bob Marley said; “The herb make I nah waan fight.” So smoking marijuana regenerates the Ruach HaKodesh (holy spirit) inside of us kind of like the Eucharist and Wine renew Jesus’ atonement inside a catholic. see what i mean?
2. Well i use a KJV along with a KJV Apocrypha but i dont feel that is the best version. The best version; and many rastas would agree is the 1961 Authorized Haile Selassie I version. The problem is its in amharic hahah and im currently still learning amharic so i have not been able to upgrade to this Bible yet. As for Quakers, more traditional quakers use the KJV and more contemporary ones us the NIV. YAH Bless!

 

[Chiltepin]

hahah nah your fine thats why im here! By the way bro or sis?

I am a woman. I think it would be helpful if that were displayed somewhere next to a poster’s name on this forum. It is always interesting guessing these things. For instance, I have been assuming you are a man, but I could very easily be wrong.

More questions:

1. Do you find the Quaker community very accepting of your belief that Haile Selassie I is a second coming of Christ?
2. You mentioned that unlike many Rasta you have no animosity toward the Catholic Church. Does the animosity you see or the categorization as the Western world as more corrupt discourage you at all in your faith?
3. May I ask what your ethnic background is? You don’t have to answer. I usually would not ask such things, but it seems such an important element in the Rastafari Movement.

 

[SERVANTOFYESHUA]

I am a woman. I think it would be helpful if that were displayed somewhere next to a poster’s name on this forum. It is always interesting guessing these things. For instance, I have been assuming you are a man, but I could very easily be wrong.

More questions:

1. Do you find the Quaker community very accepting of your belief that Haile Selassie I is a second coming of Christ?
2. You mentioned that unlike many Rasta you have no animosity toward the Catholic Church. Does the animosity you see or the categorization as the Western world as more corrupt discourage you at all in your faith?
3. May I ask what your ethnic background is? You don’t have to answer. I usually would not ask such things, but it seems such an important element in the Rastafari Movement.

I know right? oh well and yes im a man.

1. well see this is one of the reasons why i dont classify rastafari as a religion. I dont see Haile Selassie as the second coming of Christ. I can go into much more detail on what i believe about Haile Selassie if you’d like or if your not interested feel free to tell me! But as for my differing beliefs the quakers are so accepting they are considered the overall most tolerant religious group which is something i believe very much. Not one person looked at me funny when i walked into the meetinghouse for the first time (and many people do when i walk into new places cuz i have a beard down to my belly button and dreads down to my butt). So yes they are a very accepting group of people.
2. well i agree with alot of the rasta beliefs of the corruption of the western world but only those from a political and corporate standpoint. Many rastas from a particular sect called the Bobo Shanti chant songs about killing the pope and the Nyabinghi have a specific drum used in worship called the “pope smasher.” now i think this is downright disgusting and do not agree with this at all.
3. My mother is Ethiopian and my father is Italian. Crazy mix right? lol

 

[Chiltepin]

I’m a big fan of beards, so I would probably stare at you too.

I had never heard of the Bobo Shanti. Catholics are used to Catholic-bashing. We don’t like it, but we’re used to it. Consider that England still celebrates Guy Fawkes Day.

Thank you for clueing me in to that. Heck, I might even teach my Sociology students about it. We are approaching our Sociology of Religion unit next. My Geography students got a brief rundown on Rasta when I was teaching them about cultural diffusion in the Carribean, but we didn’t get to spend long on it unfortunately. I will say that they were very interested in and excited about your faith.

I guess having the Ethiopian mother would validate the Rasta experience for you. You may disagree, but the Rastafari movement doesn’t seem like something that is open to all the people of the world. It seems like it would unoficcially require you have the right cultural roots.

Weird that no one else will post in this thread. Its so darn interesting!

 

[SERVANTOFYESHUA]

I’m a big fan of beards, so I would probably stare at you too.

I had never heard of the Bobo Shanti. Catholics are used to Catholic-bashing. We don’t like it, but we’re used to it. Consider that England still celebrates Guy Fawkes Day.

Thank you for clueing me in to that. Heck, I might even teach my Sociology students about it. We are approaching our Sociology of Religion unit next. My Geography students got a brief rundown on Rasta when I was teaching them about cultural diffusion in the Carribean, but we didn’t get to spend long on it unfortunately. I will say that they were very interested in and excited about your faith.

I guess having the Ethiopian mother would validate the Rasta experience for you. You may disagree, but the Rastafari movement doesn’t seem like something that is open to all the people of the world. It seems like it would unoficcially require you have the right cultural roots.

Weird that no one else will post in this thread. Its so darn interesting!

Ah thats very cool are you a college professor? Cuz if so it doesnt surprise me that college kids would be interested. RastafarI is portrayed in the media as some sort of cult that just smokes weed and plays reggae all day. It is actually a very strict lifestyle. We are strictly vegan (we call this I-tal) and the strictest dont even allow the use of refridgerators! Rastas (especially in third world countries) are targeted by the police as law-breaking rebels and are often beaten. They dont understand that we are only fighting for justice nothing harmful that would hurt anybody. Fasting must take place every day sabbath friday 12am-saturday3pm. And some of the strictest sects follow the biblical menstruation laws which is too intense in my opinion hahah. well anyway my point was that its not all about reggae and marijuana its much more than that. Please stress that to your students…for me?.

Although i agree that the rasta lifestyle may seem more “inviting” (for lack of a better word) for black people rastafari truly is for everybody. A white friend actually introduced me to it. As long as you fight against injustice with as we would say “words, power, and sound” and have love in your heart then you have what it takes to be a rastaman/woman. Some would agree with that statement some wouldnt. But i know the twelve tribes sect would as they stress that we all have red blood so; in the words of Selassie; “the color of a man’s skin [should be] of no more significance than the color of his eyes.” Bob Marley was a twelve tribesman if that means anything.

I hope more people tune in soon! i’d love to reason with them

 

[Chiltepin]

Ah thats very cool are you a college professor? Cuz if so it doesnt surprise me that college kids would be interested. RastafarI is portrayed in the media as some sort of cult that just smokes weed and plays reggae all day. It is actually a very strict lifestyle. We are strictly vegan (we call this I-tal) and the strictest dont even allow the use of refridgerators! Rastas (especially in third world countries) are targeted by the police as law-breaking rebels and are often beaten. They dont understand that we are only fighting for justice nothing harmful that would hurt anybody. Fasting must take place every day sabbath friday 12am-saturday3pm. And some of the strictest sects follow the biblical menstruation laws which is too intense in my opinion hahah. well anyway my point was that its not all about reggae and marijuana its much more than that. Please stress that to your students…for me?.

Although i agree that the rasta lifestyle may seem more “inviting” (for lack of a better word) for black people rastafari truly is for everybody. As long as you fight against injustice with as we would say “words, power, and sound” and have love in your heart then you have what it takes to be a rastaman/woman. Some would agree with that statement some wouldnt. But i know the twelve tribes sect would as they stress that we all have red blood so; in the words of Selassie; “the color of a man’s skin [should be] of no more significance than the color of his eyes.”

I hope more people tune in soon! i’d love tor eason with them

No, unfortunately I am a high school teacher. College students might actually pay attention in class. But I will tell you that my students did pay attention to the mini Rasta lesson. Possibly as you say they thought it was all about Reggae and Weed, but that certainly was not what the lesson was about.

What laws are they breaking that they are being targetted by the police?

 

[SERVANTOFYESHUA]

No, unfortunately I am a high school teacher. College students might actually pay attention in class. But I will tell you that my students did pay attention to the mini Rasta lesson. Possibly as you say they thought it was all about Reggae and Weed, but that certainly was not what the lesson was about.

What laws are they breaking that they are being targetted by the police?

Yes none of that in the high schools! hahah

well mostly possession of marijuana. But alotta the times they dont even have it on them and the cops willl beat em anyway. thats not me trying to make my people out to be the victim its the truth i swear to you.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

“I shot the sheriff! But I didn’t shoot the deputy!”

 

[ipwnuathalo]

Wait a minute…so you don’t believe in the messiahship or divnity of Ras Tafari Makonnen…do you believe with Marcus Garvey that black Africans, not Jews, are the true Israelites? Do you believe that Garvey was prophesying when he said “a king will be crowned in Africa”? Do you think Garvey was right when he said Selassie was “a failure”? Do you think Haile Selassie was wrong to be a practicing Orthodox Christian and to disavow the Jamaican religion that took his name?

Do you think it makes sense to practice a religion named for a man who said the religion was wrong, who practiced a different religion, and whom the recognized founder of the religion said was “a failure” and not the one?

Is anyone at all surprised that smoking tons of weed figures strongly into this?

 

[SERVANTOFYESHUA]

Wait a minute…so you don’t believe in the messiahship or divnity of Ras Tafari Makonnen…do you believe with Marcus Garvey that black Africans, not Jews, are the true Israelites? Do you believe that Garvey was prophesying when he said “a king will be crowned in Africa”? Do you think Garvey was right when he said Selassie was “a failure”? Do you think Haile Selassie was wrong to be a practicing Orthodox Christian and to disavow the Jamaican religion that took his name?

Do you think it makes sense to practice a religion named for a man who said the religion was wrong, who practiced a different religion, and whom the recognized founder of the religion said was “a failure” and not the one?

Is anyone at all surprised that smoking tons of weed figures strongly into this?

oh boy hahah. well first of all Garvey was actually quoting a black Christian pastor from Jamaica when he said that…that was not a Garvey prophecy contrary to popular rasta belief. Second of all, Haile Selassie I was a defender of the Orthodox Faith. All good rastas incorporate the practices of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewhahedo Church into their lifestyle. Third of all, i am a FULFILLED RASTAFARIAN do some research on that its somebody who looks to Haile Selassie as a modern day example sort of role model but does not worship him. You should get to know somebody before you attack their beliefs.

By the way; very original with the weed thing, no rasta has ever been criticized for that before. I dont know if you’ve ever smoked weed before but if you have then trust me when i say it can have different effects than just an hour of mindless horseplay and then sleep. But i wouldnt expect you to know that.

i come in peace brother we dont need to fight

 

[ipwnuathalo]

Not a Garvey prophecy…so not a prophecy? That was sort of the reason Selassie’s coronation became the focal point of the religion…are you just sidestepping? I think so.

All good rastas incorporate the practices of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewhahedo Church into their lifestyle.

Right. Except Mass. And the Sacraments. And all the important stuff. What a laugh.

who looks to Haile Selassie as a modern day example sort of role model

OK…why? Please tell me what Selassie did that you have decided to emulate. I’m all ears.

Sorry, it just sounds like a disjointed, confused slice of non-reality that (I’m sorry, it’s just true!) you’d get from a person when he’s high.

 

[ipwnuathalo]

I have to add…there not anyone you’d rather name your religion after, like a better or more comprehensive role model? Like maybe, oh, Martin Luther King Jr.? He seemed to actually be in favor of some of the things Rastafarianism (I know, isms and schisms) seems to be in favor of…whereas the Ras Tafari seems to have have nothing to do with Rastafarianism. Just saying.

you hungry? I’m feeling hungry.

 

[ipwnuathalo]

O yeah…the “true Israelites” thing, can you touch on that?

Or do you plan to simply deny everything Rastafari ever taught in your quest to practice Rastafari?

 

[stringbeanduck]

Wow that’s awesome you are a true Rasta. I must say that I agree it’s sad the media shows yall as druggies. We need people like you to speak the truth about what you believe.