Rastafari Movement

The Rastafari movement is a monotheistic, Abrahamic, new religious movement that

contends that Haile Selassie I, the former, and final, Emperor of Ethiopia, is the incarnation of
God, called Jah or Jah Rastafari. The Rastafari movement emerged in the 20th century,
predominantly in Jamaica.

The movement encompasses themes such as the spiritual use of cannabis and the rejection of
western society (called Babylon, in reference more to the metaphoric Babylon of Christianity
than to the historical Mesopotamian city-state). It proclaims Africa (also "Zion") as the original
birthplace of mankind, and embraces various Afrocentric social and political aspirations such as
the sociopolitical views and teachings of Jamaican publicist, organizer, and black nationalist
Marcus Garvey (also often regarded as a prophet).

The name Rastafari is a portmanteau of "Ras" (literally "Head," an Ethiopian title equivalent to
Duke and which was the pre-regnal title of Haile Selassie), and the first name of Selassie's pre-
regnal given name, Tafari Makonnen. The movement is commonly referred to as
"Rastafarianism", but this term is considered derogatory and offensive by some Rastas, who
dislike being part of an "ism".

World-views and doctrines

1. Ceremonies

There are two types of Rasta religious ceremonies.

Reasoning

A "reasoning" is a simple event where the Rastas gather, smoke cannabis ("ganja"), and discuss
ethical, social, and religious issues. The person honored by being allowed to light the herb says a
short prayer beforehand, and the ganja is passed in a clockwise fashion except in time of war
when it is passed counterclockwise.

Groundation

A "groundation" or "binghi" is a holy day[11]; the name "binghi" is derived from "Nyabinghi",
believed to be an ancient, and now extinct, order of militant blacks in eastern Africa that vowed
to end oppression. Binghis are marked by much dancing, singing, feasting, and the smoking of
ganja, and can last for several days.

2. Diet
Main article: Ital

Many Rastas eat limited types of meat in accordance with the dietary Laws of the Old
Testament; they do not eat shellfish or pork. Others abstain from all meat and flesh whatsoever,
asserting that to touch meat is to touch death, and is therefore a violation of the Nazirite vow. (A
few make a special exception allowing fish, while abstaining from all other forms of flesh.)
However, the prohibition against meat only applies to those who are currently fulfilling a
Nazirite vow ("Dreadlocks Priesthood"), for the duration of the vow. Many Rastafari maintain a
vegan or vegetarian diet all of the time. Food approved for Rastfari is called ital. The purpose of
fasting (abstaining from meat and dairy) is to cleanse the body in accordance to serving in the
presence of the "Ark of the Covenent".

Usage of alcohol is also generally deemed unhealthy to the Rastafari way of life, partly because
it is seen as a tool of Babylon to confuse people, and partly because placing something that is
pickled and fermented within oneself is felt to be much like turning the body (the Temple) into a
"cemetery".

In consequence, a rich alternative cuisine has developed in association with Rastafari tenets,
eschewing most synthetic additives, and preferring more natural vegetables and fruits such as
coconut and mango. This cuisine can be found throughout the Caribbean and in some restaurants
throughout the western world.

Some of the Houses (or "Mansions" as they have come to be known) of the Rastafari culture,
such as the Twelve Tribes of Israel, do not specify diet beyond that which, to quote Christ in the
New Testament, "Is not what goes into a man's mouth that defile him, but what come out of it".
Wine is seen as a "mocker" and strong drink is "raging"; however, simple consumption of beer or
the very common "Roots Wine" are not systematically a part of Rastafari culture this way or that.
Separating from Jamaican culture, different interpretations on the role of food and drink within
the religion remains up for debate. At official state banquets Haile Selassie would encourage
guests to "eat and drink in your own way".

3. Ganja
Spiritual use of cannabis

For Rastas, smoking cannabis, usually known as "herb", "weed", "sinsemilla" (spanish for
"without seeds") or "ganja" (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. The burning of the herb is often said to be essential "for it will
sting in the hearts of those that promote and perform evil and wrongs." By the 8th century,
cannabis had been introduced by Arab traders to Central and Southern Africa, where it is known
as "dagga" and many Rastas say it is a part of their African culture that they are reclaiming. It is
sometimes also referred to as "the healing of the nation", a phraseology adapted from Revelation
22:2.

According to many Rastas, the illegality of cannabis in many nations is evidence that persecution
of Rastafari is a reality. They are not surprised that it is illegal, seeing it as a powerful substance
that opens people's minds to the truth — something the Babylon system, they reason, clearly
does not want. They contrast their herb to alcohol and other drugs, which they feel destroy the
mind.

They hold that the smoking of cannabis enjoys Biblical sanction, and is an aid to meditation and
religious observance. Among Biblical verses Rastas quote as justifying the use of cannabis.

4. Symbols

The flag of Ethiopia as was used during Selassie's reign. It combines the conquering lion of
Judah, symbol of the Ethiopian monarchy, with green, yellow, and red, which would later be
adopted by many African nations, becoming pan-African colors.

The Lion

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, however, in the
Nyabinghi order and the Bobo Shanti sub-division The Lion of Judah is seen as a symbol of God
or Jah, therefore Haile Selassie I is seen as God or Jah.
Locks
Dreadlocks

The wearing of Dread 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 separated himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the
hair of his head grow.").

Music

Music has long played an integral role in Rastafari, and the connection between the movement
and various kinds of music has become well known, due to the international fame of reggae
musicians like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.

Niyabinghi chants are played at worship ceremonies called grounations, that include drumming,
chanting and dancing, along with prayer and ritual smoking of cannabis. The name Nyabinghi
comes from an East African movement from the 1850s to the 1950s that was led by people who
militarily opposed European imperialism. This form of nyabinghi was centered around
Muhumusa, a healing woman from Uganda who organized resistance against German
colonialists. In Jamaica, the concepts of Nyabinghi were appropriated for similar anti-colonial
efforts, and it is often danced to invoke the power of Jah against an oppressor.

The drum is a symbol of the Africanness of Rastafari, and some mansions assert that Jah's spirit
of divine energy is present in the drum. African music survived slavery because many
slaveowners encouraged it as a method of keeping morale high. Afro-Caribbean music arose
with the influx of influences from the native peoples of Jamaica, as well as the European
slaveowners.

Another style of Rastafari music is called burru drumming, first played in the Parish of
Clarendon, Jamaica, and then in West Kingston. Burru was later introduced to the burgeoning
Rasta community in Kingston by a Jamaican musician named Count Ossie. He mentored many
influential Jamaican ska, rock steady, and reggae musicians. Through his tutelage, they began
combining New Orleans R&B, folk mento, jonkanoo, kumina, and revival zion into a unique
sound. The burru style, which centers on three drums — the bass, the alto fundeh, and the
repeater — would later be copied by hip hop DJs.

Maroons, or communities of escaped slaves, kept purer African musical traditions alive in the
interior of Jamaica, and were also contributing founders of Rastafari.

Opinion:

All of something upon the face of earth which given of God we can use or consume it. But not
all of something we can consume God given such as cannabis we can consume the cannabis in
other word to use it with certain limited or receipt of doctor. Positive side of cannabis was used
as the herb, fuel, preservative, etc. Reggae is one of genre music whereas rasta is way of life.
Although reggae is part of rasta but today reggae lovers should not be rasta.