Rastafarian

In the 1920’s Marcus Garvey was a promoter of the Universal Negro Improvement Association.  The goal of this organization was to unite black people with Africa – their rightful home.  "No one knows when the hour of Africa's redemption cometh,” Garvey told his followers.  “It is in the wind. It is coming. One day, like a storm, it will be here.”

“Look to Africa,” he told his followers, “for the crowning of a king to know that your redemption is near."  In 1930, Prince Ras Tafari Makonnen, was crowned Emperor of Ethopia.  At this time, he gave himself the title Emperor Haile Selassie (Power of the Trinity).  Upon hearing this, many blacks in Africa and the Americas where Garvey had spent time saw this as a fulfillment of his prophesy – thus beginning the Rastafari Movement.

Most believe that Selassie was the black Messiah to lead the people of Africa to the promised-land.

Rastafarian

Metaphysics

Belief about God

Does God exist?

Yes.

How do you describe God?

Haile Selassie is God the Father, God the Son, and potentially all people are the embodiment of the Holy Spirit.

Is there any kind of spirit world?

Many Rastafarians fear that the spirits of the dead will contaminate the living world.  As a result, most Rastafarians will not have anything to do with death (funerals).  Most believe that true Rastas will not die.

Belief about the world

Is there an overall plan or order behind nature?

Yes.  Nature is a gift from the father.  This includes the preference of herbal medicines, the rejection of artificial aspects of life, and the use of ganga (marijuana).

Belief about humanity

Are human beings different from the rest of nature?

Yes, although most Rastafarians try to live as close to nature as they can. This is apparent in their food, dreadlocks, and overall way of life.

Where did we come from, & where are we going?

The righteous shall return to Mount Zion (associated with Africa) on Haile Selasse's day of judgement where they will live forever in peace, love, and harmony.

Rastafarian

Axiology

2.1 Beliefs about purpose

What is the main purpose or highest good for each individual?

To know and understand Jah. To find and know one's true identity.

Belief about ethics

How does one decide right & wrong?

Through experience and intuition.

Rastafarian

Epistemology

Is it possible for humans to know truth?

Yes.

What are legitimate sources of truth?

There are specific areas of the Bible that are held sacred, however it is believed that the white power structure interpreted it incorrectly. It can be correctly interpreted through experience and intuition, or many refer to the black man's bible - known as the Holy Piby, and the Kebra Negast

6 Basic Principles of the Rastafari

  1. Haile Selassie I is the Living God. [more]
  2. The Black person is the reincarnation of ancient Israel, who, at the hand of the White person, has been in exile in Jamaica. [more]
  3. The White person is inferior to the Black person. [more]
  4. Jamaica is hell; Ethiopia is heaven. [more]
  5. The Invincible Emperor of Ethiopia is now arranging for expatriated persons of African origin to return to Ethiopia. [more]
  6. In the near future Blacks shall rule the world. [more]

 

Links for more information

 

Rastafari Graffiti

"Rastafari means to live in nature, to see the Creator in the wind, sea and storm. Other religions pointed to the sky, and while we were looking in the sky, they dug up all the gold and diamonds and went away with them"
(Jimmy Cliff)

Rastafari not a culture, it's a reality.
(Bob Marley)

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