Trustafarianism

[brentxzi]

Anyone else think that these people are kind of silly? Consumerist adaptation of a religion. People with designer dreads, $40 Lion of Judah t-shirt (even funnier when the wearer doesn't know anything about Rastafarianism).

Hey bro lets be rastas we'll like get laid and stuff!


Anyone have any good trustafarian stories?

Gotta love California.

[CanadianToker]

It bothers me when people only apprechiate the religion for their sacrement being ganja. But different strokes for different folks man, if the people who dress like that like it, let em have their fun, who cares ya know?

[stinkyattic]

Anyone else think that these people are kind of silly? Consumerist adaptation of a religion.
Yeah, it's sad.
But our consumerist society has been doing this for aeons, ever since ancient nobility started having religious objects made of the most precious metals and stones available to them.
We've seen two thousand years' worth of heavy gold crosses around the necks of anyone wanting to proclaim their religion and wealth in one fell swoop. It's fashionable to some to wear expensive symbols of faith.
Personally, I don't get it on much more than a rather cynical level. True faith does not need to be gaudily displayed. I wonder when I see someone going overboard with the display of religious symbols... how much of that is a semi-conscious attempt to make up for some failing of faith that the wearer sees in himself?
Does the bitter office worker gossiping nastily about others earn a reprieve from some time in Purgatory simply because she wears a cross while failing to turn the other cheek to a perceived insult, or to love her neighbor?

As for the trust-funded sorts proclaiming themselves Rasta only to justify smoking the herb... it's probably only because they have been conditioned to feel guilt over it and are trying to give their habit legitimacy as a religious sacrament, when really, it needs no justification at all. Sad.

[Hardcore Newbie]

Anyone else think that these people are kind of silly? Consumerist adaptation of a religion. People with designer dreads, $40 Lion of Judah t-shirt (even funnier when the wearer doesn't know anything about Rastafarianism).

I kind of disagree with what you're saying. There was a big cuffuffle around here about these asian beads that were being sold for a dollar or two and the people complaining were saying that they shouldn't be sold because these beads were part of their heritage.

Personally, if I like the look of something, and it's not too expensive, I'll wear it, end of story. My wearing of something that looks like something you think is really important, has no bearing of the importance of that object or figure.

[Iyaman]

Its people that have no Rasta linkage just wanna make money off the symbolism that really bug me. They see these kids who think 'oooh... red, yellow and green = rastas = smoking weed = cool = i want that' and they take advantage of it but its not about that. I also hate it when my friends have Rasta bands or whatever with a weed leaf on it, it's not about smoking weed at all for me, it's the diet and morals mainly. I will never buy anything Irie unless it's from an Iya or if it's hand made.

[brentxzi]

Excellent reply stinkyattic, I agree with you 100%.
It is sad to see certain bands touting Rastafari in their music, then turn around and sign a record deal with a big time label.
Even worse to see people who claim to be devout Rastas yet know nothing about the religion.
The ignorance and lack of respect kill me.

[Acouwaila]

This subject seems to be comin up a lot. But yeah, man gotta hand it to them. They picked the best three colors. Its not only rastafarians though. People adapt lifestyles all the time. Its just influence. If something seems cool, people adapt to it and carry it with them. Rasta is getting widely recognized though. Hopefully, the people who do start supporting rastafarianism, will actually read about it and give a hard attempt to understand it. And then hopefully they will act upon it, and love more. Any religion with a foundation of love and nature is a good one.