Rastafarian question

[devlore]

I have recently been reading about the rastafarian relegion and i was just wondering if it also applys to white men, or is it a discrace to be of rasta when white

devlore Reviewed by devlore on 05-13-2007. Rastafarian question I have recently been reading about the rastafarian relegion and i was just wondering if it also applys to white men, or is it a discrace to be of rasta when white Rating: 5

[Tea Party]

I have recently been reading about the rastafarian relegion and i was just wondering if it also applys to white men, or is it a discrace to be of rasta when white

I was a Rasta at one time, but am not any longer. I made a personal decision that it was better to leave it to actual descendants of the Middle Passage. While nobody has a monopoly on God, I believe there is a cultural aspect to Rastafari that should be maintained. It is a religion of African suffering and I feel it is downgraded by people like me who were not stolen from Africa.

I have found it more beneficial to come from my own background than to infiltrate. You have to remember that rastas are very on the guard about outsiders. The persecutions and murders continue to this day in Jamaica and elsewhere. This is not a fanciful religion of smoking dope and looking at the ocean. This is a religion formed by oppression, slavery, and murder...built upon the Ethiopian Orthodox Church--the most rich and valid branch of the Christian Church in the World.

There are many schools of Rasta Bredrin...but what is important to the majority of them is that in order to be a Rasta you must follow the law of H.I.M. Haile Selassie I...which in turn demands that one follow the Bible, therefore, as long as you are comfortable worshipping Jesus, you may be consider yourself a Rastafarian...and it does not matter what color Jesus was, if he even existed. As a white person you should be able to find yourself worthy of any religion, just as any black person would. If somebody will not let you into their religion based on physical attributes, then it is not a religion dealing with the worship of God, but a club based on fashion.
Good summation by Exodus Herbman...but watch out for that ISM on the end or the rasta elders will put a fire on you! Kidding...

Read a lot and talk to Rastas even more. Many of them will not be true rastas, but it is for you to decide. The true one's will all tell you that it is a personal thing. Every rasta must walk a unique path of worship. There is not a church hierarchy like many other religions. If you are in the reading mode: The First Rasta is a Good starting point. It is the Biography of Leonard P. Howell. I can reccommend many books, and if you have any other questions, I will be happy to answer them.

[Reefer Rogue]

I have recently been reading about the rastafarian relegion and i was just wondering if it also applys to white men, or is it a discrace to be of rasta when white

Originally, the religion founded was to unite the african people against western imperialisation and their governing bodies and laws (babylon) Haile Selassie 1 does NOT condone racism of any kind, what so ever. It is perfectly acceptable for a white person to follow the Rastafari movement.

[iseegod]

My homeboys, these are elders im talking about, are from the virgin islands, (im moorish american by the way it sounds better than african american or black, because black represents death, were(ethiopic descendants) various shades of brown), anyway they told me His imperial Majesty's priciple ( soul) is what is divine, just like all humans. there is one Supersoul and all other souls are part and parcels of that one soul, simultaneously one and diffrent.there is the changing and the unchanged, the body changes from baby to child to teenager to adult to old man, and at death changes to a new body if one is not liberated. the soul or ParaAtman or Jah is eternal and cannot die. So is His imperial majesty (body)dead? yes . Is his priciple (soul)? No. thats why true Ras Tafaris worship the principle (soul) and not the personality ( body) which just gave the teachings. SEEEEN!!! read bhagavad Gita it has alot to do with Ras Tafari. Also im not Rasta. Peace.

[Manson216]

Bob Marley was half white I think.

[iRayone]

I follow the teachings of the Rasta and the lost bibles of Thomas, Philip, Gospal of the Egyptians or the Gnostic Bibles. I am a white man I strongly belive Jesus was a black man.
Praise Jah

[hazetwostep]

i am not a rasta but have studied the religion a bit for school papers and for personal interest. from my understanding if a rasta were to see it as a disgrace then it would be just as hypocritical as christians who gay-bash and hate.

[Exodus_herbman]

This is a very good question. I am white and became interested in Rastafarianism. What I have concluded on my search is that Emperor Haile Selassie I was an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian. It is important to understand this is who Rastas view as God incarnate. Rastafarianism originated in Jamaica stemming from Marcus Garvey's prophecies of a "Black Messiah" rising up in Africa. Leonard Howell continued on these teachings and asserted that Haile Selassie was the messiah, Howell was the primary founder of Rastafarianism, simply because Garvey was a devout Christian who did not condone this new religous movement. Howell taught primarily black superiority, hatred of the wicked, and that Emperor Haile Selassie is God. Selassie denied he was God incarnate, and stated the only way to enter the kingdom of heaven is through Jesus the Christ. The long and short of it, Selassie was a Christian who taught equality,and Christianity. In fact he commisioned Archbishop Abuna Yesehaq to personally go to Jamaica and start a Christian church there. This was the same man who baptized Bob Marley in New York. Bob Marley died a Christian. This is clear because his funeral was in an Ethiopian Orthodox Church, that does not allow processions for non-members, and Rita recalls that Bob Marley's last words were "Jesus take me". I wouldn't say it is as important to put yourself under a title as Rasta. Jesus said to his followers "Worship in spirit and in truth" and because Jesus fulfilled over 360 prophecies, 109 of which he actually had control over. I find that the evidence for Jesus as Messiah is much stronger than the case for Haile Selassie, but I see Haile Selassie as a Godly king in hard times (when Mussolini invaded Ethiopia ).Hope this helps and Jah bless

here are some Messianic prophecies
Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus Christ

[40oz]

I remmeber reading a website that explained this question very well. Search google a little bit to try to find that site. From what I remember modern rastafarians can be white as long as they recognize jah as god. or something like that.

[Exodus_herbman]

To be a rastafarian you would have to recognize Emperor Haile Selassie or Ras (head or cheif) Tafari Makonnen as God.