What is Rastafarianism?

Answer

The term “Rastafarianism” often evokes the stereotypical images of dreadlocks (long braids or natural locks of hair), ganja (marijuana), the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, and the reggae rhythms of Bob Marley. Rastafarians do not have universally recognized leaders or agreed-upon defining principles. It is a black consciousness movement—Afro-Caribbean—and there is a division between the religion and its associated social consciousness, allowing people to appreciate Rastas’ social efforts without necessarily embracing the religion.

The movement derives its name from the title “Ras Tafari.” In the Ethiopian (Amharic) language, “ras” means “head,” “prince,” or “field marshal,” and “tafari” means “to be feared.” Within Rastafarianism, the term specifically refers to Ras Tafari Makonnen (1892–1975), who was crowned Emperor Haile Selassie I (his Christian baptismal name) in 1930. During his coronation, Selassie was honored with the title “Lion of Judah, Elect of God, King of Kings,” which had a profound impact on Afro-Caribbean culture. In Kingston, Jamaica, preachers like Joseph Hibbert began proclaiming that Haile Selassie was the long-awaited Messiah, the second coming of Christ. This marked the inception of one branch of Rastafari, which viewed Selassie as the living God and black messiah destined to overthrow the existing order and establish a reign of black people.

Another branch of Rasta emerged alongside the messianic branch, with roots tracing back to Leonard Percival Howell and incorporating Hindu influences. In the early- to mid-1930s, Howell authored a 14-page pamphlet titled “The Promised Key,” which laid the foundation for a second branch of Rastafarianism influenced by Hinduism and Rosicrucianism. Many leaders in this branch have also been Freemasons. The outcome has been a form of Rastafarian pantheism that seeks “the Lion

Spirit in each of us: the Christ spirit.

A summary of Rastafarian theology, as evidenced in the pantheistic track: the belief that “God is man and man is God”; that salvation is earthly; that human beings are called to celebrate and protect life; that the spoken word, as a manifestation of the divine presence and power, can both create and bring destruction; that sin is both personal and corporate; and that Rasta brethren are the chosen people to manifest God’s power and promote peace in the world.

Both tracks of Rasta are in direct contrast to the revealed Word of God in the Bible. First, Haile Selassie is not the Messiah. Those who worship him as such worship a false god. There is only one King of Kings, one Lion of Judah, and that is Jesus Christ (see Revelation 5:5;see Revelation 19:16), who will return in the future to set up His earthly kingdom. Preceding His coming, there will be a great tribulation, after which the whole world will see Jesus “coming in the clouds of heaven with great power and great glory” (see Matthew 24:29-31). Haile Selassie was a man and, like all men, he was born, he lived, and he died. Jesus Christ, the true Messiah, is alive and seated at the right hand of the Father «but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; », (Hebrews 10:12).

The pantheistic track of Rasta is equally false and based on the same lie that Satan has been telling mankind since the garden of Eden: “you will be as God” «And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: », (Genesis 3:4). There is one God, not many, and although believers do possess the indwelling

Holy Spirit and we belong to God, but we are not God. “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me” «Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, », (Isaiah 46:9). Furthermore, salvation is not of this earth; it contradicts the Scriptures to believe in “salvation by works.” No amount of earthly deeds or good works can make us pleasing to a holy and perfect God. That is why He sent His holy and perfect Son to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins «For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.», (2 Corinthians 5:21). Finally, Rastafarians are not God’s chosen people. The Scriptures clearly state that the Jews are God’s chosen people, and His plan for their redemption is not yet complete (Exodus 6:7;Leviticus 26:12;Romans 11:25-27).