The Rasta Religion from Marcus Garvey to Dreadlocks

Rastafarian is less of an organized religion and more of a unifying belief system or common way of life that is Christian at its roots. Rastas usually do not call themselves Rastafarian or Rastafari and some even consider it offensive. The most famous follower of the Rasta movement may be the famous reggae artist Bob Marley.

Rasta culture is often reduced to dreadlocks, marijuana use (Gange) and reggae music. Much of the negative connotation that is applied to the Rastafarian movement has been earned by the the 6 Principles of Religion followed by most Rastas and outlined by Leornard Howell.

Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey was an influential black leader and founder of Back to Africa as well as the Rasta movement. He was a very charismatic leader looked up to by the working class and peasant black Jamaicans. Under his leadership they developed their own interpretation of biblical prophecies and when Ethiopian King Hailie Selessie was crowned in 1930 they interpreted him as the fulfillment of the Gods promise to deliver the oppressed blacks to their rightful prominence.

The coronation of King Hailie Selessie
King Halie Selessie's assent to the Ethiopian throne was seen by working class and peasant Jamaicans as the fulfillment of Garvey's millennial prophecies and the Rastafarian movement was officially founded in 1930. Consistent with Garvey's Back to Africa teachings much of the Rasta way of live pertains to reclaiming the African culture that slavery stole from black slaves shipped away from Africa.

The Rasta Way of Life

Rasta is characterized by a unique medley of rebellious individuality, the Christian trinity and the Hindu avatar approach to understanding God (Jah) and his incarnations. Rastafari is a religious movement that believes in the Holy Trinity but places its faith in Hailie Selessie I, emperor of Ethiopia, accepting him as God incarnate. They do not dismiss Jesus as the son of God but view Jesus as the 3^rd of 4 Avatars. (Moses, Elijah, Jesus, Ras Tafari)
Rastafarian Beliefs

The beliefs and name Rastafarian comes from unique interpretations of the King James Version of the Bible, especially Psalms 68:4, combined with their observations of things happening in 1930's Jamaica.

Ras Tafari Makonnen was the pre-coronation name of Hailie Selassie and it is their acceptance of him as God (Jah) Incarnate that inspired the name Rastafarian.

Rasta Worship and Diet

No formal Rastafari church exists but many Rastas do worship at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Although it is not required to live the Rasta way of life most followers are vegetarian. Many meat eating Rastas still eat a limited diet of mostly vegetables and grains. The restrictive diet of Rastas stems from religious belief in the dietary laws of the Old Testament that are outlined in Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

Rastafarian Doctrine

Rastas believe in two guiding principles which they believe are derived from biblical teachings. First, they are committed to the overthrow of Jamaica which is referred to as Babylonia and second, the concept that God is in all men and all are one.

Leornard Howell outlined 6 Principles of Rastafarian Religion which are hatred of white man, superiority of the black race, revenge on whites for wickedness, commitment to attacks upon the government of Jamaica, preparedness to return to Africa and acknowledgment of Hailie Selassie as the supreme being and only ruler of the black people.

The Rastafarian Religion, City College of San Fransisco

Rasta Religion, Rasta Man

April Bair, History of Influences on The African American Experience, 2003