RASTAFARI
ORIGINS
The origins of Rastafari begin with King Solomon, and the Queen of
Sheba. On her visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem, she was
converted to the faith of Abraham, and the G-d of the Hebrews. Upon
her return (and with child) she converted her kingdom of Sheba to
Judaism, and promised that if Solomon died, her son would continue
to teach and prolong the faith of the Hebrews in her land (which is
modern Ethiopia).
An undiluted form of Judaism is still very prominent in Ethiopia to
this day.
Thousands of years later, Paul the Apostle converted
many in Ethiopia to Christianity. Thus began the
Ethiopian Orthodox church, which kept all of it’s Judaic
and Egyptian/Nile Valley aspects and influence (which
Rastafari also holds all of).
Another two thousand years, and the coronation of a
black Ethiopian King Haile Selassie I (who’s real name
is Ras Tafari Mekonnen) fulfills prophecy for thousands
of blacks around the globe, and thus begins the religion
of Rastafari.
ORIGINS (cont.)
Coronated as Haile Selassie the First,
Rastafarianism stems from prophecies and
scripture fulfilled through his coronation,
bloodline, and his fending off of the fascist
Italian forces during WW2.
A connection is made in Jamaica, and in the
hearts and minds of Rastas around the globe,
between Rome, Babylon in Revelations, and
their invasion of Ethiopia.
Haile Selassie is seen as a living G-d and the
second coming of the Messiah to thousands of
new Rastafarians.
CREATION
Rastafari teaches the same beliefs of
“intelligent design” creation that one would
find most reformed, liberal Jews to believe.
i.e. Teaching the book of Genesis in an
allegorical sense, not literal.
THE HOLY PIBY
The Holy Piby is the main sacred text of
the Rastafari. It was compiled by Robert
Athlyi Rogers of Anguilla from 1913 to
1917 . It was collected from many sacred
Ethiopian texts written in Amharic, the
language of Ethiopia for centuries.
It was printed coincidentally around the
time of much controversy and conflict
erupting through out Ethiopia, the
Carribbean and South Africa.
It it is considered to be the “Black Man’s
Bible” by Rastas and many Afro-centric
religions alike.
Rastafari also consider the Torah and
much of the Christian Bible to be sacred
and holy.
SYMBOLISM
The Star of David and the Lion of Judah are both
adopted symbols that are used to represent
Rastafari.
The Ethiopian flag can also be seen being flown
along side the flag of Jamaica, or a flag of
whichever nations the Rasta hails from, to
represent their spiritual and ancestral roots and
ties to Ethiopia.
Rastafari is often mistaken as being a sect of Judaism. It is
similar in the sense that it is an Abrahamic faith, it is
monotheistic, and believes in Zion being the promised land
of God’s people. Zion being Ethiopia.
Yisrael: There is a lot of reference to Israel, and the people
of the Torah through out Rastafari. Ethiopia is believed to be
the promised land which all Rastas should and will return at
a secret time only known by the true believers.
Heaven & Hell: Rastafari holds the same beliefs as
Christianity does regarding heaven & hell. If one lives a
truthful, humble and compassionate life according to JAH
Rastafari, one will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Church: There is no church of Rastafari. Rastas view
churches as mud and stone, not places of JAH, because He is
the Earth. Anywhere is a suitable place for Rastas to meet
and “Reason” (or speak of and praise JAH).
Jesus Christ: All but the 12 Tribes of Israel, see Jesus as the
first begotten Son of JAH, and the predecessor of Haile
Selassie. He is held in high regard amongst Rastas.
GUIDELINES
Rastas respect and practice the laws of the
Torah. To what extent, depends on how
orthodox, or liberal the Rasta.
All Rastas are encouraged greatly to follow
the laws of the Torah regarding diet.
There is no dress-code, or law requiring
modesty upon the females (with the
strong exception of the Bobo Ashanti
Rastas).
Rastas aren’t enforced, or policed by
taboo or social expectations to live out
specific lifestyles or moral codes. Like a
number of devout Jews and Christians,
Rastas strive for lives of humility and
compassion towards others, in servitude
of JAH.
GUIDELINES (cont.)
Rastas are strict pacifists.There are few occassions
and circumstances when Rastafari encourages an act
of warfare in defense.
-If a race of people is opressed, and the opression
could lead to their ultimate destruction. Slave
uprisings would not be condoned.
-If a Holy Land (ie Ethiopia/Israel) is endangered or
faced with invasion or harassment.
MANSIONS of RASTAFARI
NYAHBINGHI: Thought to be the most strict of all the mansions of Rastafari, the NYAHBINGHI believe
in a theocratic world government of which Haile Selassie I would be rule as the promised Messiah and the
incarnation of G-d.
The name NYAHBINGHI comes from an Amazon queen who possessed a Muhumusa, a Ugandan woman
in the colonial era of the late 1800’s. Through the influence of the Amazon queen, Muhumusa spearheaded a
movement of resistance against the colonial forces in Uganda. This later had much influence on a group of
Jamaican Rastas that started incorporating “Binghi” (NYAHBINGHI) chants and “riddims” into their music.
Bobo Ashanti: Also known as the Ethiopian Africa Black International Congress or the
Priestical House of Rastafari. Started under Prince Edward Emmanuel Charles VII in the
1950’s. Bobo “Dreads” see Prince Edward Emmanuel Charles VII as part of a holy trinity,
including him, Haile Selassie and JAH (G-d).
-Bobo men and women are known for wearing
their traditional turbans and robes.
-Bobo women are to be modest, and cover their
arms in long sleeves.
-Both Bobo women and children are to be
submissive to the Bobo men.
-Bobo men are seen as “prophets” or “priests”. The
job of a prophet is to “reason”. The job of a priest
is clerical.
Twelve Tribes of Israel: Originating in Kingston, Jamaica under
Vernon Carrington, also known as the Prophet Gad.
The Twelve Tribes of Israel see Jesus (Yesus Kristo)
in almost the same exact manner as Christians do—as
the Messiah, and the Son of G-d.
Haile Selassie I is viewed (not worshipped) as a
messenger of JAH(G-d), who empowered and
revitalized the black race to start their own religion
out of the corruption and oppression of western
churches.
A noteable follower of the Twelve Tribes of Israel is
Robert Nesta Marley, or “Bob Marley”.
DREADLOCKS
The most well-known practice of the Rastafari is
the tradition of keeping one’s hair in dreadlocks.
This practice is not in fact required for a Rasta
to follow. It is in practice because of the “Holy
Directive” that is written in the Bible’s book of
Leviticus 21:5.
"They shall not make baldness upon their head,
neither shall they shave off the corner of their
beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh."
This practice, amongst some modern-day Rastas
has become a way to mock the aversion of nonbelievers practice of Rastafari, and rebellion
against the western views and ideals of the black
race.
“ITAL” (DIET)
“Ital” is the word for the diet that most Rastafari will adhere to and follow.
Rastas follow a set of doctrinal diet rules that are almost exactly along the same guidelines as
the dietary laws of the Torah.
No meat (especially pork), no shellfish, scale-less fish, predatory marine life, scavengers, and
in some cases no common seasonings like salt.
As well as a set of dietary laws, Rastas shun the use of tobacco and alcohol.
GANJA
The most infamous, and well-known practice of the Rastafari—is the smoking of Marijuana
(or Ganja). Like the practice of keeping one’s hair in dreads, it is not a required practice.
For the Rastafari, it’s a spiritual act.
It is considered to be a sacrament that affects
both consciousness and peace-of-mind, which
brings the Rasta closer to JAH (G-d).
It is seen as a tool that opens minds to the truth,
and that is what makes it illegal—because the
western church does not want people to be
exposed to a truth outside of the theirs.
There are several theories and explanations for
the arrival and wide usage of Marijuana
amongst the Rastafari.
Rastas believe that it grew on the tomb of King Solomon, and that the Bible even promotes the
usage of the herb.
Genesis 3:18 "... thou shalt eat the herb of the field."
Proverbs 15:17 "Better is a dinner of herb where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith."
Psalms 104:14 "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man."
INTERNET BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Life & Times of Bob Marley
http://www.bobmarley.com/life/rastafari/
Swagga: The Afrocentric Experience
http://www.swagga.com/rasta.htm
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastafarianism
Rastafari Org
http://www.rastafari.org/
Rastafarian Net
http://www.rastafarian.net/