RASTAFARISM

[Esta]

Hello to you all, I’m new to this and a bit nervous. Can anyone tell me exactly what Rastas believe. Why do they hold Haile Selassie in such high regard and do they worship him? Where is the factual proof that he came from the line of Judah? What are the Catholic debates about this. Thank you for your help.

 

[prodromos]

Haile Selassie was actually Ethiopian Orthodox and wept when he learned what the Rastafarians had made of him.

John

 

[prodromos]

A Sketch of Rastafari History

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

I was under the impression that Rastafarianism was a cover for not washing your hair and smoking weed all day.

 

[HagiaSophia]

Esta:

Hello to you all, I’m new to this and a bit nervous. Can anyone tell me exactly what Rastas believe. Why do they hold Haile Selassie in such high regard and do they worship him? Where is the factual proof that he came from the line of Judah? What are the Catholic debates about this. Thank you for your help.

Here is an article which goes into the unexpected and fascinating
history of Rastafarianism and its fusion with Orthodoxy on Jamaica

rastafarispeaks.com/articles/history.html

INTRO:
"The spread of Orthodox Christianity in the New World has occurred mainly asa result of immigration from Eastern Europe. There are two regions, however,where this is not the case: Alaska and the Caribbean. The story of theconversion of the Aleut, Tlingit, and Yupik nations in Alaska has often beentold; by contrast, that of the yet more improbable emergence of Ethiopian
churches in Jamaica is little known. My hope is that this little tract will inspire someone with greater knowledge to study the subject properly; if it also leads to a deeper respect and understanding between mainstream Christians and the often-maligned brethren in Jamaica, may the Lord bepraised. N.Redington, 1995

 

[FelixBlue]

One of the fascinating facts that I discovered about Rasta a while back was that, in its origins, it was racist (Marcus Garvey, etc.). I believe it has shifted its emphasis today, but still. Essentially, it is one of these neo-religions (much like Kwaanza) created to satisfy the needs of a “lost”, disempowered population (the blacks of Jamaica).

 

[Irish_Melkite]

FelixBlue:

One of the fascinating facts that I discovered about Rasta a while back was that, in its origins, it was racist (Marcus Garvey, etc.). I believe it has shifted its emphasis today, but still. Essentially, it is one of these neo-religions (much like Kwaanza) created to satisfy the needs of a “lost”, disempowered population (the blacks of Jamaica).

Felix,

Rastafarianism did not originate with Marcus Garvey. Garvey’s contribution to the religious scene was the African Orthodox Church, which ultimately had some contact with Rastafarians, but only long after the movement’s early years. Redington’s piece, linked above, although not accurate in all respects, provides a relatively accurate timeline if read in its entirety (read piecemeal, the chronology is subject to being misinterpreted).

The Rastafarians were more involved with the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church than with Garvey’s AOC.

A better history of the AOC (and its involvement with the development of Orthodoxy in sub-Saharan Africa) than can be deduced from Redington’s piece is Stephen Haye’s Orthodox Mission in Tropical Africa.

Many years,

Neil