Introduction When one hears the word Rasta or Rastafarian, certain images surface for some; dreadlocks, Bob Marley, reggae music and marijuana. As the movement has become more globalized, these iconic images have become main stream. However to understanding Rastafarianism, which some label a religious and some label a social movement, is to realize at in its simplest form it is an ideology that gives the participants a behavioral and spiritual guideline for life (Chevannes 1994). At the core of their belief is the interpretation of the Hebrew Bible with a focus on the people of African extraction as God’s chosen race, and the belief that the true Messiah comes to us as Emperor Haile Selassie I (Ras Tafari) of Ethiopia. While they live now
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If one considers Wendell Barry’s usage of agrian ideals as a defense against a corrupt capitalistic society (Leonard 2012) contrasted Rasta’s using their ital diet and lifestyle as a protest against their exploitive world or Babylon, then the prominence of underlying agrarian ideals in Rastafarian life is evident (Bisnauth 1996). These congruencies along with seeing Rastas ideology true land soverneity as power, one can begin to see Rastas as the agrarians of the Caribbean. This paper will give a detailed history to the Rastafarian movement and frame principle against the backdrop of select agrarian …show more content…
Rasta are monotheist. God is referred to as Jah, a shortened form of Jehovah. By the re-interpreting of the Hebrew Bible Rasta believe that they and their fellow africans are the Chosen People. There is strong emphasis on the africaian heritage and while a largely unorganized group, they are united in this focus. Their common goal is spread the word of the against Babylon. Babylon can used to mean many things; the corrupt world as a whole, the police or western culture. “In the Bible, the ancient city of Babylon represents the main oppressor of the people of God, whereas Zion is the Promised Land they will inhabit after their release from oppression.” They also belief that Ras Tafari or Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia and a descendant of King Solomon, is the biblical messiah or Jah incarnated.
The Hebrew Bible functions as the official source of scripture which Rastas take very seriously (Murrell, ). The conviction that scriptures tell the true story of the black man’s history, (Chevannes, 116) and identify themselves as Israelites in the Bible. The notable and iconic lock that are worn is in reference to a law of the nazarites , who forbid the faithful from cutting their hair. Dreads are grown by some in order that they resemble a lion 's mane- a sign of strength and a tribute to the Lion of Judah, Haille Selassie (Clarke
If one considers Wendell Barry’s usage of agrian ideals as a defense against a corrupt capitalistic society (Leonard 2012) contrasted Rasta’s using their ital diet and lifestyle as a protest against their exploitive world or Babylon, then the prominence of underlying agrarian ideals in Rastafarian life is evident (Bisnauth 1996). These congruencies along with seeing Rastas ideology true land soverneity as power, one can begin to see Rastas as the agrarians of the Caribbean. This paper will give a detailed history to the Rastafarian movement and frame principle against the backdrop of select agrarian …show more content…
Rasta are monotheist. God is referred to as Jah, a shortened form of Jehovah. By the re-interpreting of the Hebrew Bible Rasta believe that they and their fellow africans are the Chosen People. There is strong emphasis on the africaian heritage and while a largely unorganized group, they are united in this focus. Their common goal is spread the word of the against Babylon. Babylon can used to mean many things; the corrupt world as a whole, the police or western culture. “In the Bible, the ancient city of Babylon represents the main oppressor of the people of God, whereas Zion is the Promised Land they will inhabit after their release from oppression.” They also belief that Ras Tafari or Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia and a descendant of King Solomon, is the biblical messiah or Jah incarnated.
The Hebrew Bible functions as the official source of scripture which Rastas take very seriously (Murrell, ). The conviction that scriptures tell the true story of the black man’s history, (Chevannes, 116) and identify themselves as Israelites in the Bible. The notable and iconic lock that are worn is in reference to a law of the nazarites , who forbid the faithful from cutting their hair. Dreads are grown by some in order that they resemble a lion 's mane- a sign of strength and a tribute to the Lion of Judah, Haille Selassie (Clarke