The Rastafarian Religion Exposed

So I hear a lot of people sign off after a conversation and say Jah Rastafari! Or one love. Both these statements have their roots in the Rastafari religion (apparently they done like to be referred to as Rastafarianism members). What then does it mean for a Christian to repeat the same and do they worship the same god as we do?? Well they do want to believe that they do but after today you will see why you should have nothing to do with this religion. Let me be correct and start by saying that it is not a religion rather it is a movement based on a man’s ideologies in 1930 making it one of the so called ‘ new religions’

Here are a few facts on the ‘religion’ and some of their principles

• Founded after the teachings and philosophies of Marcus Garvey in 1930
• No official publications of the religion
• Makes constant reference to Babylon(in the context of the Jamaican leadership and the white people)
• No organization structure and no official establishment
• Refer to their ‘ god ‘ as either Jah or I and I
• Believe that the Bible as we know it was distorted by the white people to ensure that Africans don’t go to paradise
• Believe that Jesus was a black man
• Has at least 700 000 members worldwide

• Most believe that it is a movement and not a religion, they think of it as a way of life
• They are particularly fond of the scriptures in Revelation in reference to the coming of Halie Selassie
• Key doctrine Is the return of Africans to Africa which is ‘ Zion’ in their context
• Hatred of the white man is not optional...it is their essence to hate the whites for colonization
• They are symbolized by dreadlocks likening it to the likes of Samson in the Bible who was a Nazarite and did not shave his hair( Judges 13 v 5 -15)
• They believe they are a reincarnation of the 12 tribes of Judah who are being oppressed by the whites who are the ‘Egyptians ‘ in the Bible
• They believe that the Bible is not literal but allegorical...allowing them to furnish it or change it when it doesn’t suit their cause literally
• They are aimed at destroying the form of government in Jamaica
• They hail Haile Selassie as the Supreme being

• Plan to revenge the whites for what they did during colonization
• Complete superiority of the African people
• Jesus was not the son of God and was not the savior but he was an ‘avatar’. He was not the only avatar but was the 3rd after Moses and Elijah. Halie Selassie was both an avatar and god in person
• Are vegetarians(for some unexplained reason other the Nazarite theory of unclean foods defiling the chosen of the Lord)
• Marijuana is the way to come into contact with Jah and to feel his word...he is revealed in a state of unconsciousness

FOR YOUR OWN INFO!

AVATAR- means from heaven to earth and is used in Hinduism when talking of Vishnu. Literally it means manifestation of a god through an avenue. (The avatar)

JAH- shortened version of God YHWH and Jehovah. Used by Rastafarian and Jehovah’s Witness stemming from the Hebrew Yah, note that Praise the Lord in Psalm 104 v 35 is translated as Praise Jah

PROBLEM POINTS:

1. Halie Selassie