Rastafarianism

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Rastafarianism

• Julie, Hillary, Alex, Lisa

2
What is it?

• Movement of black people who know Africa as the
  birthplace of all mankind
• Rastafari wants all people to know that we are
  Africans and to develop pride and integrity in
  ourselves
• About 1 million followers worldwide

3
History

• Began in Ethiopia in 1930
• Based on the teaching of Jamaican black
  nationalist Marcus Garvey
• Considered the 2nd John the Baptist
• Taught the Africans are the true Israelites and
  have been exiled to Jamaica and other parts of
  the world as divine punishment
• Founder of back-to-Africa movement
• Named for Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia
• Name means might of trinity
• Followers believed Selassie to be the
  personification of God
• Died August 27, 1975
• His divinity did not die with him
• Ras Tafari lives on through individual
  Rastafarians

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History

• Leonard Howell One of the early leaders
• Doctrines helped shape theology, arrest helped
  shape organizational structure
• Arrested in 1933 for preaching a revolutionary
• doctrine
• Harassment of Howell by the police might be why
  Rastafarians have decided to remain leaderless
• Six principles
• Hatred for the White race
• The complete superiority of the Black race
• Revenge on Whites for their wickedness
• The negation, persecution, and humiliation of the
  government and legal bodies of Jamaica
• Preparation to go back to Africa
• Acknowledging Emperor Haile Selassie as the
  supreme being and only ruler of the Black people

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Lifestyle

• Live peaceful lives
• Do not need material possessions
• Devote time to contemplating the scriptures

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Beliefs

• Avoid materialistic white culture
• They call it Babylon
• God is referred to as Jah
• Believe in Avatars
• Heile Selassie was the last incarnation of God
  after Moses, the Hebrew Prophet Elija, and Jesus
• Avoid meat, coffee, salt, tobacco, alcohol and
  seafood
• Use the 10 Commandments as a Code of Conduct

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Modern Rastafarian Beliefs

• In 1973 Joseph Owens published a more modern
  approach to Rastafari beliefs.
• In 1991 Michael N. Jagessar revised Owens's ideas
• The key ideas in contemporary Rastafari are
• The humanity of God and the divinity of man
• God is found within every man
• 1 and 1
• It is very important to see all historical facts
  in the context of God's judgment and workings.
• Salvation for Rastafarians is an earthly idea,
  rather than heavenly.

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Modern Beliefs Cont.

• The supremacy of life
• Human nature is very important to Rastafarians
  and they should preserve and protect it.
• Respect for nature
• This idea refers to the importance and respect
  Rastafarians have for animals and the
  environment, as mirrored in their food laws.
• The power of speech
• Evil is corporate
• Judgment is near
• The priesthood of Rastafarians
• Rastafarians are the chosen people of God and are
  on earth to promote his power and peacefulness.

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The Church

• There is no clergy
• Believes are autonomous
• There is no church building, followers worship in
  small groups in homes
• They gather around a chalice containing ganga

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Traditions and Symbols

• Dreadlocks
• The biblical Nazarene vow prohibits shaving and
  combing hair
• The locks symbolize the roots of man and his link
  with spirituality
• Star of David
• The Conquering Lion and the Lamb

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Traditions and Symbols Cont.

• Rasta Flag
• Red is for the blood of those killed for the
  cause of the black community, or just blood
• Green is for grass and represents Jamaicas
  vegetation and hope for the eradication of
  oppression
• Gold is for wealth

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Traditions and Symbols Continued

• Ganga
• Aka hemp, marijuana
• Used as a holy sacrament
• Legend says that this herb was found growing on
  King Solomans grave
• Thou shalt eat the herb of the field (Genesis
  318)
• eat every herb of the land (Exodus 1012)
• They smoke ganga to meditate and for its curative
  properties

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Texts

• The Rastafarianisms main text is known as the
  Holy Piby or the Black Mans Bible
• Version of the Christian Bible that has been
  altered to remove all directions believed to have
  been made by white leaders during its translation
  to English.
• Another text is the Ethiopian epic the Kebra
  Negast

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Holidays

• November 2nd- the coronation of Selassie
• January 6th- ceremonial birthday of Selassie
• April 21st- Selassies visit to Jamaica
• July 23rd- Selassies personal birthday
• August 1st- emancipation from slavery
• August 17th- Marcus Garveys birthday

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Sects

• There are three main sects which all agree on
  basic principles of the divine status of Selassie
  and the importance of black images of divinity
• Nyahbinghi Order
• Named for Queen Nyahbinghi of Uganda is the
  oldest of the orders
• Bobo Shanti
• Founded by Prince Emanuel Charles Edwards
• Bobo means black and Shanti refers to the
  ashanti tribe in Ghana
• Twelve Tribes of Israel
• Most liberal sect and members are free to worship
  in a church of their own choosing.
• Member of one of the 12 tribes determined by
  birth month.

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Bob Marley

• A prophet of Rastafarianism
• Reggae artist
• Influenced by Peter Tosh who was his
  teacher/mentor

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Peter Tosh

• Taught Bob Marley everything he knew
• He was a saint in the sense that he had a purpose
• He liberated Jamaicans mentally and physically

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Rumors about Rastafarianism

• One rumor is that the religion is simply an
  excuse to smoke marijuana.
• This is very far from the reality of the
  religion.
• They view Ganja as a sacrament allowing a direct
  experience of God.
• Another rumor is that Rasta is racist and
  anti-white,
• This is unfortunately true in some cases.
• Most have rejected the notion that the white man
  is evil, and instead disagree with materialism
  associated with whites.

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Sources

• About.com. Alternative Religions. 29 April 2008.
  http//altreligion.about.com/library/faqs/bl_rast
  afaria nism.htm
• BBC. Religion and Ethics. 29 April 2008.
  lthttp//www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafar
  i/belie fs/beliefs_2.shtmlgt
• Ras Charles and French Dred. An Introduction to
  Rastafari. 20 April 2008. http//www.earthcultur
  eroots.com/rast arism.html
• WebUtopia.Org. Culture of Rastafarianism. 20
  April 2008. http//www.web-utopia.org/Culture-of-
  rastafarims
• CocunutChange.com. Rastafarism. 20 April 2008.
  http//cocunutxchange.com/literature/show_item .p
  hd?id160secti on_id1072239264