The Rastafari movement is an Abrahamic religion which developed in Jamaica in the 1930s,

following the coronation of Haile Selassie I as Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930. Its adherents
worship Haile Selassie I, emperor of Ethiopia (ruled 19301974),much in the same way as Jesus in
hisSecond Advent, or as God the Father.[1] Members of the Rastafari way of life are known as
Rastas, Rastafari, or Ras. The way of life is sometimes referred to as "Rastafarianism", but this term
is considered offensive by most Rastafari, who, being critical of "isms" (which they see as a typical
part of Babylon culture), dislike being labelled as an "ism" themselves. [2]
The name Rastafari is taken from Ras Tafari, the title (Ras) and first name (Tafari Makonnen) of
Haile Selassie I before his coronation. InAmharic, Ras, literally "head", is an Ethiopian title
equivalent to prince or chief, while the personal given name Tfri (teferi) means one who is
revered. Jah is a Biblical name of God, from a shortened form of Jahweh or Jehovah found
in Psalms 68:4 in the King James Version of theBible. Most adherents see Haile Selassie
I as Jah or Jah Rastafari, an incarnation of God the Father, the Second Advent of Christ "the
Anointed One", i.e. the Second Coming of Jesus Christ the King to Earth.
Many elements of Rastafari reflect its origins in Jamaica and Ethiopia. Ethiopian Christianity traces
its roots to the Church of Alexandria, founded by St Mark, and its 5th-century continuation in
the Coptic Church of Alexandria.[3][4] Rastafari holds many Christian beliefs like the existence of
atriune God, called Jah, who had sent his divine incarnate son to Earth in the form of Jesus (Yeshua)
and made himself manifest as the divine person of Haile Selassie I. Rastafari accept much of
the Bible, although they believe that its message and interpretation has been corrupted. [5]
The Rastafari way of life encompasses the spiritual use of cannabis[6][7] and the rejection of the
degenerate society of materialism, oppression, and sensual pleasures, called Babylon.[8][9] It
proclaims Zion, in reference to Ethiopia, as the original birthplace of humankind, and from the
beginning of the way of life calls for repatriation to Zion, the Promised Land and Heaven on Earth.
This can mean literally moving to Ethiopia but also refers to mentally and emotionally repatriating
before the physical.[10][11] Some Rastafari also embrace various Afrocentric and Pan-Africansocial and
political aspirations.[6][12]