The document provides an overview of the Rastafari movement, including its origins in Jamaica in the 1920s-1930s, key figures like Marcus Garvey and Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, central beliefs such as Selassie's divinity, and practices including the ritual use of marijuana and wearing dreadlocks. It discusses Rastafari scriptures, concepts of Babylon and Zion, and the movement's history, beliefs, and practices in under 3 sentences.

1. Rastafarianism
Rastafari Movement

2. Rastafarianism
Rastafari Movement

3. S.N.W.M.F.
• Sierra Nevada World Music Festival ~
Mendocino Fairgrounds
• 10,000 members of the Rastafari Movement
will be here 6-22-2012
• 3 Day Music and Camping Festival featuring
the Best in Reggae and World Music ~
Mendocino County Fairgrounds, Boonville,
California ~ June 22, 23 & 24

4. Close Your Bibles Today
[I just had to say that, never before, never again]
• Today we’ll look at the Rastafari Movement
• Next Sunday is A Biblical Look At Rastafari

5. Flag of Ethiopia (1897-1936; 1941-1974)

6. New York Times
• "Dedicated to the notion of “conscious
music,” which its organizers define as “music
with a message of peace, unity and
brotherhood,” the Sierra Nevada World
Music Festival might be a balm of sorts for
music fans in need of an optimism boost." -
New York Times, 5/5/11

7. The Sierra Nevada World Music
Festival Kicks Off Next Weekend
• …Sierra Nevada features 3 days of the best in roots
reggae and world music taking place on two stages,
with a late-night "Jamaican style" dancehall.
• In addition to more than three dozen bands, the 19th
annual Summer Solstice and World Peace Celebration
also includes an extensive schedule of children's and
cultural activities, arts and crafts, an international food
court, family and alter-able camping and vendors
galore. With beautiful streaming colors and exotic
aromas, the festival village is an attractive marketplace
of food and craft booths created by the collective
efforts of artists, vendors, staff, volunteers and ticket
buyers that has something to offer children of all ages.

8. I’m No Expert On The Rastafari Movement
• I studied it briefly a few years ago.
• The last time I set up a booth
• Interacted with 50 to 100 members of the
Rastafari Movement
• Brace yourself, this is a big event
• 10,000 X $160 = $1,600,000.00
• Most of this presentation is a quote from;
• http://www.religionfacts.com/a-z-religion-
index/rastafarianism.htm

9. I’m No Expert On The Rastafari Movement
• And I’ve only been to Jamaica once, and have
no desire to return.
However, Dunn's
River Falls is truly
outstanding treasure
offering 600 feet of
climbing pleasure
for thousands of
visitors and locals
every year.

10. Dunn's River Falls

11. Dunn's River Falls

12. Dunn's River Falls

13. But I Digress
• Back to the Rastafari Movement

14. Rastafari And Other Abrahamic Faiths
• Some Rastafari choose to classify their
movement as Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity,
Protestant Christianity, or Judaism. Rastafari
typically hold that standard translations of the
Bible incorporate changes, or were edited for
the benefit of the power structure, and one
common idea is that half the Bible story has
never been told.[26] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastafari_movement

15. Half The Bible Story Has Never Been Told

16. Rastafari Are Monotheists , Jah
• “ ... Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
” — Psalms 68:31
• Rastafari are monotheists, worshipping a singular God
whom they call Jah. Jah is the term in the "KJV" (King
James Version of the Bible), Psalm 68:4. Rastas see Jah
as being in the form of the Holy Trinity, that is, Father,
Son and the Holy Spirit. Rastas say that Jah, in the form
of the Holy Spirit (incarnate), lives within the human,
and for this reason they often refer to themselves as "I
and I". Furthermore, "I and I" is used instead of "We",
and is used in this way to emphasize the equality
between all people, in the belief that the Holy Spirit
within all people makes them essentially one and the
same. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastafari_movement

17. Jah, Holladay & Strong’s, Ps 68:4
• noun proper no gender no number no state
• Hol3179 alternate form of Ps 6819 & oft. (pg 129)
• Strong’s # 03050 Yahh {yaw} Meaning: 1) Jah
(Jehovah in the shortened form) 1a) the proper name
of the one true God 1b) used in many compounds
1b1) names beginning with the letters 'Je' 1b2) names
ending with 'iah' or 'jah'
• Origin: contraction for 03068, and meaning the same
• Usage: AV - LORD 48, JAH 1; 49

18. www.religionfacts.com
• “The Rastafari movement is a "messianic religio-political
movement" that began in the Jamaican slums in the 1920s
and 30s. The most famous Rastafari is Bob Marley, whose
reggae music gained the Jamaican movement international
recognition.
• There is significant variation within the Rastafari movement
and no formal organization. Some Rastafarians see Rasta
more as a way of life than a religion. But uniting the diverse
movement is belief in the divinity and/or messiahship of
Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I, the influence of
Jamaican culture, resistance of oppression, and pride in
African heritage.
• The Rastafarian lifestyle usually includes ritual use of
marijuana, avoidance of alcohol, the wearing of one's hair
in dreadlocks, and vegetarianism.

19. Fast Facts www.religionfacts.com
• Date founded: Generally said to be November
2, 1930, the year Emperor Hailie Selassie I
(1892-1975) was crowned, but based in a
movement of the 1920s.
• Place founded: Jamaica
• Founder: Marcus Garvey (1887-1940), a black
Jamaican who taught in the 1920s and is
considered a second John the Baptist.
• Adherents: About 1 million worldwide

20. Terminology
• Followers of the Rastafari movement are known
as Rastafarians, Rastafaris, Rastas, or Ras
Tafarians. The movement is named for Ras Tafari
Makonnen, who was crowned Emperor Haile
Selassie I of Ethiopia in 1930.
• Rastafaris dislike the term "Rastafarianism"
because they reject the "isms and schisms" that
characterize oppressive and corrupt white
society. The movement is referred to as "the
Rastafari movement," "Rasta," or "Rastafari."

21. History
• Rastafari developed in the slums of Kingston, Jamaica,
in the 1920s and 30s. In an environment of great
poverty, depression, racism and class discrimination,
the Rasta message of black pride, freedom from
oppression, and the hope of return to the African
homeland was gratefully received.
• The Rastafarian movement began with the teachings of
Marcus Garvey (1887-1940), a black Jamaican who led
a "Back to Africa" movement. He taught that Africans
are the true Israelites and have been exiled to Jamaica
and other parts of the world as divine punishment.

22. Marcus Garvey, (1887-1940)
• Garvey encouraged pride in
being black and worked to
reverse the mindset of
inferiority that centuries of
enslavement had ingrained
on the minds of blacks.
Garvey is regarded as a
second John the Baptist and
famously prophesied in
1927, "Look to Africa, for
there a king shall be
crowned."

23. Marcus
Garvey
(1887-1940)

24. Haile Selassie, www.religionfacts.com
• On November 2, 1930, Ras Tafari Makonnen was
crowned emperor of Ethiopia (he ruled until 1974). At
his coronation he took the name Haile Selassie,
meaning "Might of the Trinity."
• Selassie also took the titles, "Conquering Lion of the
Tribe of Judah, Elect of God and King of the Kings of
Ethiopia." These titles are traditionally given to
Ethiopian kings and reflect the Old Testament emphasis
of Ethiopian Christianity. For Rastafarians, Selassie's
coronation was a clear fulfillment of Revelation 5:5,
Ezekiel 28:25, and Marcus Garvey's prophecy.

25. Messiah Selassie, God (Jah) On Earth
• Followers of Garvey's teachings believed that Selassie
is the messiah that had been predicted, and that his
coronation indicated the divine punishment was
completed and the return to Africa would begin.
Rastafarians named their movement for Ras Tafari and
regarded the emperor as the physical presence of God
(Jah) on earth.
• Marcus Garvey himself, however, did not think highly
of Selassie. He regarded him as an incompetent leader
and in collusion with white oppressors after his defeat
by the Italians and acceptance of British assistance to
regain his throne. In 1937, Garvey wrote an editorial
entitled "The Failure of Haile Selassie as Emperor."

26. Haile Selassie Emperor Of Ethiopia
• Haile Selassie was an Ethiopian Orthodox
Christian and he explicity denied his divine status
as proclaimed in Jamaica. In a radio interview
with Canada's CBC news in 1967, he said, "I have
heard of that idea [that I am divine]. I also met
certain Rastafarians. I told them clearly that I am
a man, that I am mortal, and that I will be
replaced by the oncoming generation, and that
they should never make a mistake in assuming or
pretending that a human being is emanated from
a deity." This denial has not deterred Rastafarians
from believing the emperor to be divine

27. Haile Selassie As Emperor
• As an emperor, Haile Selassie worked to
modernize Ethiopia and to steer it into the
mainstream of African politics. He brought
Ethiopia into the League of Nations and the
United Nations and made Addis Ababa the major
center for the Organization of African Unity.
Selassie was named Time magazine's Person of
the Year for 1935 and was the first black person
to appear on the cover in 1930. He was the only
black leader recognized by the rulers of Europe. 2

28. Time magazine's Person of the Year 1935
• Emperor Haile Selassie I on
the cover of Time magazine,
November 3, 1930.
• The Rastafarian movement
first became visible in
Jamaica in the 1930s, when
peaceful communities were
founded in the Kingston
slums. During this time the
Rastafarians developed a
distinctive style of language,
hairstyle, art and music

29. Leonard Howell
• Leonard Howell emerged as an early leader of
the movement. He taught six fundamental
Rastafarian principles: (1) hatred for the White
race; (2) the complete superiority of the Black
race; (3) revenge on Whites for their wickedness;
(4) the negation, persecution, and humiliation of
the government and legal bodies of Jamaica; (5)
preparation to go back to Africa; and (6)
acknowledging Emperor Haile Selassie as the
Supreme Being and only ruler of Black people.
Many of these principles were subsequently
abandoned as the Rastafarian movement
developed.

30. Leonard Howell, Early Leader Of The Movement
• Howell was arrested by
the Jamaican
government in 1933 for
his loyalty to the
Ethiopian emperor over
King George V [it was a British
Commonwealth]. This may
have contributed to the
decision to keep
Rastafarianism
leaderless and
independent.

31. Leonard Howell,
Early Leader Of The
Movement

32. Haile Selassie Emperor of Ethiopia
• Haile Selassie met with Rasta elders in Addis
Ababa in the 1950s. In 1955, he offered 500 acres
of his personal land to black people wishing to
return to Africa. Around 2,200 blacks, mainly
Rastafarians, moved to the land (in Shashemene)
during the 1960s. But poverty, a lack of
acceptance by the Ethiopian population and
disputes with the government that overthrew
Selassie has caused that population to dwindle.
The current population is estimated at 250.

33. Haile Selassie Emperor of Ethiopia
• “A major event in Rastafarian history was
Haile Selassie's visit to Jamaica on April 21,
1966. Rita Marley, Bob Marley's wife,
converted to the Rastafari faith after seeing
Haile Selassie; she said she saw stigmata
appear on him and was instantly convinced of
his divinity. Further evidence of his divinity
was seen in the fact that a serious drought
ended with rain upon his arrival.”

34. Rita Marley, Bob Marley's Wife

35. Haile Selassie's Visit To Jamaica, 1966
• “He told the Rastafarians that they should not
seek to immigrate to Ethiopia until they had
liberated the people of Jamaica, a command
that came to be known as "liberation before
repatriation." As well as its profound religious
significance for Rastas, the event helped to
legitimize the movement. April 21 is
celebrated as a Rastafarian holiday.”

36. Haile Selassie's Death, 1975?
• “Selassie was deposed in 1974 in a military
coup and kept under house arrest until he was
apparently killed by his captors in 1975. Many
Rastas believed that his death was a hoax, and
that he lives on in hiding until the Day of
Judgment. Others say that he lives on through
individual Rastafarians.”

37. Rastafarian Bible
• “The sacred text of Rastafarians is the Holy Piby,
the "Black Man's Bible." It was compiled by
Robert Athlyi Rogers of Anguilla from 1913 to
1917 and published in 1924. 4 The Holy Piby is a
version of the Christian Bible that has been
altered to remove all the deliberate distortions
that are believed to have been made by white
leaders during its translation into English.
• The Ethiopian national epic, the Kebra Negast, is
also respected by Rastas, but less so than the
Bible.”

38. Rastafarian Beliefs
• “Rastafarians believe in the Judeo-Christian God, whom
they call Jah. In general, Rastafarian beliefs are based in
Judaism and Christianity, with an emphasis on Old
Testament laws and prophecies and the Book of Revelation.
Allegorical meaning is often sought in the Holy Piby.
• Jah was manifested on earth as Jesus, who Rastas believe
was black, and Emperor Haile Selassie. Selassie is referred
to as His Imperial Majesty or H.I.M. (pronounced "him")
and believed to still be alive - his death was a hoax and he
lives in protection awaiting the Day of Judgment. Selassie is
worshipped as divine. (Scriptural proof texts include
Revelation 5:2-5, 17:14, 19:6, 22:16, Ezekiel 30, Psalm 9, 18,
68, 76, 87:4, Isaiah 9.) Rastafarians also honor Old
Testament prophets like Moses and Elijah.

39. Rastafarian Beliefs
• Rastafarians do not believe in an afterlife, 5 but instead
look to Africa (called "Zion") as a heaven on earth. True
Rastas are believed to be immortal, both physically and
spiritually, a concept called "everliving."
• An important Rastafarian concept is "I and I," which is said
instead of "you and I." It emphasizes the oneness between
humanity and God as well as the equality of all humans.
• Another central concept is Babylon, which refers to the
white power structure of Europe and the Americas. Rastas
seek to resist Babylon, which once cruelly enslaved blacks
and still continue to hold them down through poverty,
illiteracy, inequality, and trickery. The greed and conceit of
Babylon is contrasted with the humble simplicity and
naturalness of the Rastas.”

40. Rastafarian Practices
• “Rastafarians are perhaps best known for their
religious use of marijuana, which grows
plentifully in Jamaica. Rastas know it as ganja, the
holy herb, Iley or callie, and believe it was given
by God. Scriptural support is found especially in
Psalm 104:14: "He causeth the grass for the cattle
and herb for the service of man." Other texts
interpreted to refer to cannabis include Genesis
3:18, Exodus 10:12, and Proverbs 15:17. In
addition to ritual use, Rastas also use marijuana
for medicinal purposes, applying it to a variety of
ailments including colds.

41. Rastafarian Practices
• Marijuana is used primarily during the two main
Rastafari rituals: reasonings and nyabingi. The
reasoning is an informal gathering at which a
small group of Rastas smoke ganja and engage in
discussion. The ritual begins when one person
lights the pipe, or "chalice," and recites a short
prayer while all other participants bow their
heads. The pipe is then passed around the circle
until all of the people have smoked. The
reasoning ends when the participants depart one
by one….

42. Rastafarian Practices
• The nyabinghi, or binghi for short, is a dance held
on Rasta holidays and special occasions (see
below). These dances can last for several days
and bring together hundreds of Rastafarians from
all over Jamaica. They camp in tents on land
owned by the host Rastas. Formal dancing takes
place at night in a tabernacle especially set up for
the occasion. The Rastas sing and dance until the
early hours of the morning. In the daytime, they
"rest and reason."6”

43. Rastafarian Holidays
• There are several Rasta holidays, most of which
center around events in the life of Emperor Haile
Selassie. The most important celebrations are:
• November 2 - the coronation of Selassie
• January 6 - ceremonial birthday of Selassie
• April 21 - Selassie's visit to Jamaica
• July 23 - Selassie's personal birthday
• August 1 - emancipation from slavery
• August 17 - Marcus Garvey's birthday

44. Rastafarian Dreadlocks
• One of the most visible practices of Rastafarians is the
wearing of one's hair in dreadlocks. Dreadlocks have
several purposes and layers of meaning for
Rastafarians, including:
• the biblical command not to cut
one's hair (Leviticus 21:5)
• the appearance of the lion's mane,
representing strength, Africa,
Ethiopia, and the Lion of Judah
• naturalness and simplicity, which
are associated with Africa
• the Rasta's roots in Africa

45. Rastafarian Colors & Symbols
• “The other main Rasta symbol besides
dreadlocks, are the colors of red, gold and green.
Red stands for the triumphant church of the
Rastas as well as the blood of the martyrs in the
black struggle for liberation. Gold represents the
wealth of their African homeland and green
symbolizes Ethiopia's beauty and lush vegetation.
Black is often also included, representing the
color of the Africans. Another important symbol
is the Lion of Judah, which represents Haile
Selassie as the King of Kings, Africa, and
strength.”

46. Rastafarian Diet & Alcohol
• “The most observant Rastas follow a dietary law called
Ital. Ital food is food which is completely natural (not
canned and free of chemicals and preservatives) and
eaten as raw as possible. Old Testament prohibitions
against pork and shellfish are part of Ital; most
Rastafarians are vegetarians or vegans. Coffee and milk
are also rejected as unnatural.
• Rastafarians reject the use of alcohol, since it is a
fermented chemical that does not belong in the temple
of the body and it makes a person stupid, thereby
playing into the hands of white leaders. This is
contrasted with the holy herb of marijuana, which is
natural and believed by Rastas to open their mind and
assist in reasoning.”

47. Sects Or Orders Of Rastafari
• There are three main sects or orders of Rastafari today.
All agree on the basic principles of the divine status of
Haile Selassie and the importance of black images of
divinity. Many Rastafari do not belong to any sect and
the movement as a whole is loosely defined and
organized.
• The Nyahbinghi Order (a.k.a. Theocratic Priesthood
and Livity Order of Nyabinghi) is named for Queen
Nyahbinghi of Uganda, who fought against colonialists
in the 19th century. This is the oldest of the orders and
it focuses mainly on Haile Selassie, Ethiopia, and the
eventual return to Africa. It is overseen by an Assembly
of Elders.

48. Sects Or Orders Of Rastafari
• Bobo Shanti was founded by Prince Emanuel Charles
Edwards in Jamaica in the 1950s. "Bobo" means black
and "Shanti" refers to the Ashanti tribe in Ghana, from
which this sect believes Jamaican slaves are
descended. Members of Bobo Shanti are also known as
Bobo Dreads.
• In belief, Bobo Dreads are distinguished by their
worship of Prince Emmanuel (in addition to Haile
Selassie) as a reincarnation of Christ and embodiment
of Jah; their emphasis on the return to Africa
("repatriation"); and their demands for monetary
reimbursement for slavery.

49. Sects Or Orders Of Rastafari
• Members of the Bobo Shanti order wear long
robes and tightly wrapped turbans around their
dreads. They adhere closely to the Jewish Law,
including the observance of the Sabbath from
sundown Friday to sundown Saturday and
hygeine laws for menstruating women. They live
separately from Jamaican society and other
Rastafarians, growing their own produce and
selling straw hats and brooms. They often carry
brooms with them to symbolize their cleanliness.

50. Sects Or Orders Of Rastafari
• “The Twelve Tribes of Israel sect was founded
in 1968 by Dr. Vernon "Prophet Gad"
Carrington. It is the most liberal of the
Rastafarian orders and members are free to
worship in a church of their choosing. Each
member of this sect belongs to one of the 12
Tribes (or Houses), which is determined by
birth month and is represented by a color. 7.”

51. Rastafari Jesus wikipedia.org/
• “Acceptance of the God-incarnate status of Jesus
is Rastafari doctrine, as is the notion of the
corruption of his teachings by secular, Western
society, figuratively referred to as Babylon. For
this reason, they believe, it was prophesied in the
Book of Revelation—"And I heard the number of
them which were sealed: and there were sealed a
hundred and forty and four thousand of all the
tribes of the children of Israel."[15]—that Jesus
would return with a new name that would be
inscribed on the foreheads of 144,000 of his most
devoted servants.

52. Rastafari Jesus wikipedia.org/
• Rastas hold that they represent this fulfillment based
on their experience in the light of Haile Selassie's
return and coronation as the King of Kings on 2
November 1930, whom they see as the second coming
of Jesus or the coming of the holy spirit, and therefore
Jah, onto the Earth. Thus the great messiah king whom
the Jews are still waiting for has indeed now returned
to earth, according to the Rastas.
• Rastas say that Jesus was black while Western Society
(or Babylon) has commonly depicted him as white for
centuries.”

53. An 18th Century Ethiopian Icon Of Jesus
• This image, from a church in Rome, dates from AD530.

54. So, In Conclusion
•Amen!

55. Significant Cultural Points Of Rasta
• Reggae music
• This"messianic religio-political movement," began in the Jamaican slums
in the 1920-30s
• Emperor Hailie Selassie I was crowned in 1930
• Some see Rasta more as a way of life than a religion
• The influence of Jamaican culture
• Resistance of oppression, and pride in African heritage
• The Rastafarian lifestyle usually includes ritual use of marijuana,
avoidance of alcohol, the wearing of one's hair in dreadlocks, and
vegetarianism.
• Natural food (not canned and free of chemicals and preservatives) and
eaten as raw as possible.
• Another central concept is Babylon, which refers to the white power
structure of Europe and the Americas. Rastas seek to resist Babylon,
which once cruelly enslaved blacks…

56. Some Secondary Biblical Points Are
• The Rastafarian lifestyle usually includes ritual use of marijuana,
avoidance of alcohol, the wearing of one's hair in dreadlocks, and
vegetarianism.
• Babylon…. refers to the white power structure of Europe and the
Americas
• True Rastas are believed to be immortal, both physically and
spiritually, a concept called "everliving.“
• Bobo Shanti order …adhere closely to the Jewish Law, including the
observance of the Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown
Saturday ….
• A dietary law called Ital…Old Testament prohibitions against pork
and shellfish are part of Ital…
• Another important symbol is the Lion of Judah, which represents
Haile Selassie as the King of Kings, Africa, and strength.”

57. Some Critical Biblical Points Are
• Messiah Selassie, God (Jah) On Earth
• Messiahship of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I
• Bobo Dreads are distinguished by their worship
of Prince Emmanuel (in addition to Haile Selassie)
as a reincarnation of Christ and embodiment of
Jah…
• What is the Gospel-True Rastas are believed to be
immortal, both physically and spiritually, a
concept called "everliving.”

58. So That’s Rastafari
• Let’s get ready for the S.N.W.M.F.
• Next week a biblical response to Rastafari

59. Happy Father’s Day