Rastafarianism Religion

Around the world there are countless religions being practiced, and each retains their own set of viewpoints on topics discussed throughout history. Today the two religions of focus are Rastafarianism and Buddhism, and the topics are ecology, sustainability, and the environment. Whereas Buddhism and Rastafarianism appear quite different in their terms of environmental greed, they show important similarities in their values on sustainability and the physical environment. Before discussing their values, a brief history on each religion, as one is widely known while the other has a much smaller following.

Marcus Garvey a Jamaican political leader born 1887 August 17 in Saint Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. He was the youngest out of the eleven children his mother Sarah Jane Richards had. She was a domestic worker and farmer as her job. She was a good influence on Marcus who was once described “ bold, determined, and strong. He refused to yield to superior forces if he believed he was right. His father (Marcus Mosiah Harvey Sr) was known around Jamaica for having a large library where Marcus Garvey learned to read and Self-educated himself. Although he received primary education from elementary school though he went through racism experience. After several years later he decided to leave school and serve as a apprentice of a printer. He also visited

star, after Selassie's arrival in Jamaica, and after so much had been written about the importance of Rastafarianism. The

The most outstanding characteristic of the Rastafarians is then- hair. Although other people view dreadlocks as disgusting, smelly, and as a symbol of craziness, the Rastas see the dreadlocks as part of who they are and what they stand for. The longer and more developed their dreads are represents their status and their faith. They think of their hair as a crown, like the crown of their king, Halle Selassie, or to the main of the lion symbolizing male strength. The Rastas' crowns let people know they are rebelling against oppression and do not want to"fit in"with the people that view them as freaks.

Marcus Garvey, was born in Jamaica in 1887 and is considered to be the father of the Black Nationalism Movement. During the early 1900’s, after reading Booker T.

The Rastafari movement is a positive movement that promotes peace amongst all, self-respect, self -awareness, and respect for others.

Rastafari is an African religion that is still relatively new. The religion was developed in the 1930s in Jamaica after Haile Selassie was named the King of Ethiopia. The followers of this religion believe that Selassie is God and that he will return all of the black people displaced from slavery and colonization to Africa. Bob Marley’s music and success helped spread the religion. The Rastafarians believe that black people are the chosen people of God. Some of the religious practices in the religion include smoking and inhaling marijuana. The purpose of the marijuana is to increase a person’s spiritual state of mind and awareness. Most Rastafarians have long

These alternative faiths are favourable for those who have had dissatisfaction in traditional religious expressions, but still wish to seek personal fulfilment in their lives. Rastafari is an example of a new religious expression that aids its African adherents in the search for personal fulfilment through the ideas of black supremacy and the back-to-Africa movement. Rastafarians lead an alternative lifestyle, with dietary customs of being vegetarian or vegan, using drugs such as cannabis and not cutting any of their body hair. Alain de Botton states that we should be able to ‘pick and choose from religion’ (de Botton, 2012, ABC), which is relevant to the concept that humanity is entitled to both agree and disagree with certain components of religion that benefit their personal fulfilment. As appose to traditional religious that are bound by time consuming rules, new religious expressions are able to ‘adapt and respond quickly to social pressuring issues’. (Hartney, 2011, ch. 16). The inability for traditional religious to adapt to an individual, oriented society has given rise to new religious expressions and spiritualities to contribute to humanities search for personal fulfilment and meaning in a modern day

Who is arguably the father of 20th century Black Nationalism? Some may think of the leader W.E.B. Dubois or even Malcolm X as being the father. Truth be told, the term “Black Nationalism” boils down to one person. Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr is his name. He was the youngest of eleven children and born on August 17, 1887 in St, Ann’s Bay Jamaica. His parents were Marcus Garvey, Sr and Sarah Jane Richards. Marcus Garvey’s father was strict and abusive, but molded him into a strong figure that would soon lead masses

create a music career where his voice as well as others could be heard globally.

Reggae is a musical genre that has revolutionized Jamaican music. Reggae originated in Jamaica in the late sixties, early seventies. It’s slow jerky rhythm and spiritual lyrics have influenced many artists, genres, cultures, and societies throughout the world. This had contributed to the advancement of new counterculture movements, especially in the United States of America, as well as Europe and Africa. In the late seventies, it had impacted western punk and rock/pop cultures, which had resulted in influencing artists such as Eric Clapton, and The Clash. In this same exact decade, it had inspired the first rappers in the United States, which had given rise to the hip hop culture. It had also influenced many singers from Africa. Reggae music grants not only relaxation, but carries a special message of love, peace, and unity. The rhythm of this music is based on the beating of the heart. Reggae music has created an understanding of the Jamaican lifestyle and their culture for the rest of the world. Reggae musicians have become Jamaica’s healers, social correspondents, and prophets. Reggae’s roots stem from Jamaica’s historical conditions of Jamaican slavery and colonialism by different nations. Most of Jamaica’s population are descendants from Africa, who were brought by the English to Jamaica to work as slaves. Reggae’s lyrics discuss themes such as oppression, poverty, crime, economic shortages, racial discrimination, political violence, homelessness, and social injustice.

The Rastafarian’s faith is believed to have been founded by Leonard Howell, which originated in Jamaica in the twentieth-century. This faith was inspired by crowning in 1930 of Ras, or Prince, Tafari Makonnen as an emperor of the Ethiopian Kingdom, at that time one of only two sovereign nations of the African Continent. Moreover, Rastafarianism in actual fact is a creole, religion rooted in Africa, Europe, and Indian practices and beliefs. Rastafarians believe that the life that Christianity relegates to the life of the soul after death is possible in this world. Therefore, instead, as Christians, they focus on the present and not transcendentally realm beyond death (Olmos 192). Due to the fact that they classified their religion as Christians, Rastafarians as Bible believers train themselves to live accordingly.

Historical and Ethnographical Study of the Rastafari Religion The Rastafari people are a group of (primarily) men that originated in Jamaica, especially in and around Kingston, who believe in being repatriated to a designated homeland in Africa. Through their reinterpretation of the bible, an ascetic-leaning lifestyle, and heavy influence of previous Revivalist religions and African Myal traditions, they have carved a religion that is worldly, conscientious, and , now, world renouned. Icons such as Bob Marley, spliffs, their red, gold, and green flag, and their memorable accent make these people very interesting to listen to, and definitely assist in disseminating their belief structure throughout

Marcus Garvey was a public speaker for the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements and also developed a Pan-African philosophy which inspired a global mass movement, known as Garveyism (Mellon, 2012). Marcus Mosiah Garvey was born in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica on August 17, 1887. Growing up as a self-educated young man, Garvey was the youngest of his eleven siblings where his parents labeled him as “severe, firm, determined, bold, and strong.”

Like in the earlier years, it can be seen in this story that Christianity was the most dominant and highly accepted religion in Jamaica. Having contrasting beliefs and practices, individuals would be shunned and ostracized. The author illustrates this idea by showing how Darren’s passionate beliefs in Rastafarianism had resulted in him being kicked out of his house. He was told to “never to come back until he had given up that Rasta foolishness.” Today, the Caribbean has become religiously diverse with a tolerance for different