Click to begin…

Click to begin…

Andrew Clark, Gavin Kuziel, & Joshua Reitan presents:

Welcome

Rasta Around the World

• Estimated 1 million believers worldwide by 1997.

• Jamaican census in 2001: 24,020 faithful individuals (less than 1%)

• Other sources claim that there are 100,000 faithful individuals in Jamaica (or 5%)

Marcus Garvey:The Religious

Prophet

"No race has the last word on culture and on civilization. You do not know what the black man is capable of; you do not know what he is thinking and therefore you do not know what the oppressed and suppressed Negro, by virtue of his condition and circumstance, may give to the world as a surprise."( Speech, June 6, 1928, Royal Albert Hall, London. Quoted in Adolph Edwards, Marcus Garvey)

"Look to Africa for the crowning of a Black King, he shall be the Redeemer" (The Rastafarians, p. 67). – Marcus Garvey

About Marcus Garvey

• Religious prophet• Reincarnation of Saint John the Baptist• Garvey influenced the parents of Malcom X

and Martin Luther King Jr.

“[Marcus Garvey] was the first man of color to lead and develop a mass movement. He was the first man on a mass scale and level to give millions of Negroes a sense of dignity and destiny. And make the Negro feel he was somebody.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

Scriptures

• The Rastafarians regard the King James bible as their holy book.

• Rastafarianism was founded in the 1930’s. – It now continues to spread around the world.

Lion of Judah

Ethiopia

Similarities to Judaism

• Rastafarianism takes many of its symbols and practices from Judaism. It utilizes both the Star of David and the lion of Judah as symbols in its religious system.

Star of David

• Symbol of like between God, Haile Selassie• Also, the Rasta consider themselves like the

Israelites in exile in Babylon.– The star of David is the symbol of Israel.

Dreadlocks

• Several Meanings– First, they are a part of the biblical Nazarene vow,

which prohibits the shaving and combing of hair.– The locks, because of their appearance, also

symbolize the roots of man, and his spirituality, the link with Jah.

– Also seen as a symbol of the Lion, Haile Selassie I.

Lion of Judah

• In Rastafarianism, the Lion of Judah also represents the struggle and the strength that Rastas endured at the hand of their oppressors.

• The lion can be found on the Rastafarian flag, and many other things associated with Rastafarianism.

Prayers

• The Rastafarians have multiple prayers that are used in many different situations.

• For example, they pray before smoking cannabis, blessing themselves and the holy substance.

• They have prayers that are specific to their god, Jah, asking for different things, ranging from blessings to a long and happy life.

“Princess shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hand unto God. Oh thou God of Ethiopia, thou God of divine Majesty, they spirit come within our hearts to dwell in the parts of righteousness. That the hungry be fed, the sick nourished, the aged protected, and the infant cared for. Teach us love and loyalty as it is in Zion.  Deliver us from the hands of our enemy that we may prove faithful for the last day, when our enemy has passed, and decayed in the depth of the sea or in the belly of the beast. O' Give us a place in they Kingdom forever and ever. So we haile our God Selassie I, Jehovah God Rastafari, Almighty God, Rastafari great and terrible God Rastafari. Who sit in Zion and reigned in the hearts of men, and women; hear and bless us and sanctify, and cause they loving face to shine up on us thy children threat we may be saved.  Selah Amen”

Key Traditional Beliefs

1. Haile Selassie I is the Living God2. The Black person is the reincarnation of ancient Israel, who, at the hand of the White person, has been in exile in Jamaica3. The white person is inferior to the black person4. Jamaica is hell; Ethiopia is heaven5. The Invincible Emperor of Ethiopia is now arranging for expatriated persons of African origin to return to Ethiopia6. In the near future Blacks shall rule the world

To modern Rastafari the most important doctrine is belief in the divinity of Haile Selassie I. Although some Rastafarians still regard Haile Selassie as the black messiah, many modern adherents do not see this as central to their faith. Haile Selassie's death in 1975 was described by his followers as his 'disappearance', since they refused to believe he has passed away. Following his death and the increased acceptance of Jamaican culture in society many Rastafarian beliefs have been modified. The previous belief that white people are evil has diminished and is no longer central to the Rastafarian belief system.

Key Modern Beliefs

The modern and divine messiah: Haile Selassie I

Thank you.Now enjoy the next brief presentation on music inspired by the Rasta Movement.Exit, press alt+tab, and

hit the play button!

Sources

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/beliefs/beliefs_1.shtml

• http://www.rasta-man.co.uk/religion.htm• http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-index/rastafariani

sm.htm• http://rastafarian.com/• http://www.religioustolerance.org/• http://mcboy.deviantart.com/art/Rasta-Movement-34034801