Rastafari question?

[Robb]

Who are the Rastafari? How did they come about and why do they venerate the emperor H Selassie as a god?

I have read that a number of them attend the Abyssinian Church.  Does this mean that this movement is more of a philosophy then an actual religion?

[John of the North]

*sigh*

Read this: http://jbburnett.com/resources/redington_rasta.pdf

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

[Gebre Menfes Kidus]

Rastafari is more properly understood as a lifestyle, a philosophy, or a worldview. There are a diversity of beliefs within Rastafari, but here are the main things upon which all Rastas essentially agree:

-One God and one human family

-The teachings and philosophy of Emperor Haile Selassie I

-Respect and reverence for life (Rastafarians are adamantly opposed to abortion, war, and captial punishment).

-Roots and culture (i.e. knowledge of self through the awareness of African ancestry and heritage, as Africa is the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of humanity; but this is not African superiority, rather African priority. Special emphasis upon Ethiopia).

-Peace and nonviolence (although this is not a "hippy" peace, but rather an authentic peace that is predicated upon justice).

-Avoidance of politics, organized religion, and other manifestations of "Babylon's" system. (Babylon is defined by Rastas as any system or ideology that opposes the laws and love of "JAH," i.e. God).

-Reverence and knowledge of the Bible (Rastas believe that Babylon has corrupted the true meaning of the Bible, but that JAH will reveal its true meaning to them through idividual and collective "reasoning." Since JAH dwells within every man, every man can understand the Bible for himself if he is pure).

-Natural or "Ital" lifestyle. Most Rastafarians are essentially vegetarians, as it promotes life and doesn't involve killing. The dreadlocks are also a manifestation of the natural man.

OK, those are just a few things for now. It's a lot deeper than that for sure. Not all Rastas worship Haile Selassie. The largest "mansion" of Rastafarians is the "12 Tribes" which was founded by Dr. Vernon Carrington. He taught that Haile Selassie was not God, and that Jesus Christ alone was to be worshipped. Many 12 Tribes Rastafarians are also Ethiopian Orthodox Christians.

Much that has been written about Rastafari from an academic perspective is greatly misleading. Rastafari is very mystical, and efforts to categorize it as a cult or religion are erroneous. Certainly those that worship Haile Selassie are in great error; but their love for Haile Selassie provides a perfect opportunity to show them the Light of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and the Light of Our Lord.

Selam

[Justin Kissel]

*sigh*

Read this: http://jbburnett.com/resources/redington_rasta.pdf

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

Been a few years since I've seen that site linked to! It's the only place on the net that I know of that has one of my favorite patristic works, On Those who Think They Are Made Righteous by Works, by St. Mark the Monk. (Couldn't resist putting in a plug for that text)

[Robb]

How can Selassie be considered divine if he and his armies were defeated by IL Duce in 1935?  The Italians vanquished him and it took the British to reinstall him as emperor in the 40's.  Do Rastas view this defeat as sort of crucifixion and his eventual restoration as a resurrection?

Also, did Selassie view those that worshipped him as a god in a positive light and what was the Abyssinian Churches opinion if this movement?

[Justin Kissel]

Hey, even the God of the Old Testament couldn't win every battle...

"And the Lord was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron." - Jud. 1:19

[mike]

Why in my Bible copy 16th verse is the last verse in the first chapter of the Book of Judith and I cannot find that quote?

[Justin Kissel]

Sorry, I should have added an extra letter (Judg.), because I meant the book of Judges, not Judith.

[mike]

Lol, thanks. In my Polish copy there is a dot, so it clearly states that it was not God, who could not conquer the valley, but Judah.

I have no idea, why in your Bible it's about God.

[Gebre Menfes Kidus]

How can Selassie be considered divine if he and his armies were defeated by IL Duce in 1935?  The Italians vanquished him and it took the British to reinstall him as emperor in the 40's.  Do Rastas view this defeat as sort of crucifixion and his eventual restoration as a resurrection?

Also, did Selassie view those that worshipped him as a god in a positive light and what was the Abyssinian Churches opinion if this movement?

First of all, please understand again that not all Rastas worship Haile Selassie.

But to answer your questions... Rastas are not dissuaded by logical facts or historical record. They have a fundamental distrust of anything that "Babylon," tells them- be it history, interpretations of the Bible, etc. For those that believe Haile Selassie is divine, there isn't really anything you can say that will change their mind. Of course Mussolini was not victorious in his efforts to colonize Ethiopia, and the fact that Ethiopia is the only African nation to never have been colonized does not go unnoticed by Rastafarians.

Haile Selassie was deeply disturbed when he learned that there was a group of people in Jamaica who were worshipping him as God. That's why he sent Abuna Yesehaq to Jamaica to establish the Orthodox Christian Faith there, Thanks be to God!

Selam

[believer74]

Didn't Bob Marley become Orthodox, too? 

[Gebre Menfes Kidus]

Didn't Bob Marley become Orthodox, too? 

Yes he did! He was baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church by Archbishop Yesehaq, and given the baptism name Birhan Selassie- "Light of the Trinity."

Selam

[Ras Salem]

Greetings To All,  I would like to thank you on behalf of ALL Rastafarians about spreading the truth about us.  It's not a lot of people who actually inquire true knowledge about our "Religious Movement". Se'lah-Sellassie I JAH!!! Ras Tefar I!!! Bless'ed Love

[Gebre Menfes Kidus]

Greetings To All,  I would like to thank you on behalf of ALL Rastafarians about spreading the truth about us.  It's not a lot of people who actually inquire true knowledge about our "Religious Movement". Se'lah-Sellassie I JAH!!! Ras Tefar I!!! Bless'ed Love

BLESSED CORONATION DAY Ras Salem!

Selam

[Ras Salem]

Greetings To All.  Give thanks Beloved I really appreciate that and same to you.  Se'lah-Sellassie I JAH Ras Tefar I.  Bless'ed Love

[Ras Salem]

*sigh*

Read this: http://jbburnett.com/resources/redington_rasta.pdf

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.









Greetings To All,
                      This is a very good article for anyone who has no clue about our religious movement.  From this article it does vary from sect to sect.  I am an American "Federation" Member. E.W.F.Inc.-Melchizedek Order Local #18, Norfolk, VA US.

[HabteSelassie]

*sigh*

Read this: http://jbburnett.com/resources/redington_rasta.pdf

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.









Greetings To All,
                      This is a very good article for anyone who has no clue about our religious movement.  From this article it does vary from sect to sect.  I am an American "Federation" Member. E.W.F.Inc.-Melchizedek Order Local #18, Norfolk, VA US.

Greetings in that divine and most precious name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Indeed that is a fairly decent article on the topic of Rastafari, a subject hardly mentioned with any sincerity or authenticity in books and articles and such, rather Rastafari is generally a concept which must be learned from its demonstration in contact with others who are experienced within Rastafari.  Of especial significance is the section discussing the EWF/Trinidad connection with the Tewahedo Ethiopian Orthodox Church, as in fact the parishes founded in the Caribbean were the first Tewahedo parishes to be founded outside of Africa or Jerusalem, aside from the solitary consecrated tabot which HIM Haile Selassie I personally brought to Bath, England while in exile there.  The True Tewahedo Faith is in fact HIM Haile Selassie I greatest gift to the Rastafari people and to the world at large, as it is the ancient faith continued in perpetuity into the modern times.  Further, the tabots subsequently scattered across Africa, Europe and the Americas became sanctuaries and shelters for Ethiopian peoples fleeing the Derg era persecutions and martyrdom..  Today many Ethiopians remain in-exile communities which revolve around Tewahedo Churches, Bishops and Priests who were delegated by HIM Haile Selassie.

The Tewahedo Churches in Trinidad were in fact what attracted HIM Haile Selassie to Jamaica in 1966, as HIM was already visiting those churches and clergy there in the Caribbean when the EWF and Rastafari community in JA requested that the Emperor stop by, which HIM did to discuss some business with the Rastafari leadership, to award some medals and distinctions among some EWF Jamaican/Rastafari leaders, and to negotiate the founding of more Tewahedo parishes in the islands, in particularly in Jamaica.

There is a deep interconnection in the past 75 years between Emperor Haile Selassie, the Tewahedo Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and the Rastafari community in the Caribbean, Europe and the United States. Many unspoken and rarely documented events of great significance took place in relation.

Stay Blessed,
habte selassie

[Gebre Menfes Kidus]

So I must confess my transgression! In sincerity and good intention I wrote the above prayer to Haile Selassie. But my Priest has just advised me that I should not pray to His Majesty since he has not been canonized. In spite of the inclinations of my heart, I must follow the advice of my EOTC Priest. I apologize for being hasty in my actions, and I hope that I have not led anyone into error. I must learn to temper my zeal and be patient so as to glorify God rather than myself. Please forgive my impetuous actions, and please pray for me.

Selam,
Gebre Menfes Kidus

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