Rastafari

The Rastafari movement is a monotheistic, Abrahamic, new religious movement, that accepts Haile Selassie I, the former, and final, Emperor of Ethiopia, as the incarnation of Jesus Christ, called Jah or Jah Rastafari. Within the Rastafarai movement Haile Selassie was considered the physical body through which the Power of the Trinity exhibits its power here on earth. Rastas assert that Zion (i.e., Africa, especially Ethiopia) is a land that Jah promised to them. To achieve this, they reject modern western society, calling it "Babylon", which they see as entirely corrupt. "Babylon" is considered to have been in rebellion against "Earth's Rightful Ruler" (Jah) ever since the days of the Biblical King Nimrod. The lion is a symbol of Haile Selassie. Jesus Christ is described as "the lion of Judah" in the Bible, and for this reason, Haile Selassie is seen as the reincarnation of Jesus.

The wearing of Locks is very closely associated with the movement, though not universal among, or exclusive to, its adherents. Rastas maintain that Locks are supported by 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 the flesh.") and the Nazirite vow in Numbers 6:5 ("All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow."). Followers of the Rastafari movement see Marcus Garvey as a prophet, with his philosophy fundamentally shaping the movement, and with many of the early Rastas having started out as Garveyites. He is often seen as a second John the Baptist. For Rastas, smoking cannabis, usually known as "healing of the nation", "ganja", or "herb" (from the Sanskrit word, "Ganjika", created by the Hindus of India), is a spiritual act, often accompanied by Bible study; they consider it a sacrament that cleans the body and mind, heals the soul, exalts the consciousness, facilitates peacefulness, brings pleasure, and brings them closer to Jah.

by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ October 6, 2009

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