rastafari pp

8/11/2019 Rastafari PP

1/23

Rastafari Movement

Amber Mckin

Erin OBrian

Lindsay Strait

Evan Salvador

Hannah Downs

Alex


2/23

HistoryofRastafarians

Tradition was to resist against the

system

Prophet figure was Marcus Garvey,

shaped the movement with his

philosophies and promoted blacknationalism

Was influential to lower-class black

in Jamaica

Rastafarians can be seen as

extensions of Garveyites (Garveys

followers) The Holy Piby is one writing that is a

primary source of information

Holy Piby taught self-reliance

and self-determination


3/23

History continued

The name Rastafari comes from

Ras; meaning head or leader

The Rastafarian movement is

generated by Reggae music(Expecially Bob Marley)

Leonard Howell (considered the

first Rasta) formed a

communion at Pinnacle

consisting of 5,000 or more Cannabis is used frequently for

spiritual use


4/23

TheFiveMainDoctrines

The doctrines of Rastafari are

completely opposite from the

basic norms of the modern

mind. Rastafari stresses loyalty to

their vision of Zion, and

rejection of modern society.

Individual Rastas work out their

religion for themselves,resulting in a wide variety of

different doctrines.


5/23

Afrocentrism

Rastas believe that scientists try to discover how the world is

by looking from the outside in, whereas the Rasta approach is

to see life from the inside, looking out.

Rastafarian is viewed as a response to racist negativity of

black people

They also believe that living close and a part of nature as much

as possible is African, and they show that through dreadlocks,

ganja, ital food, and in all aspects of the Rasta life.

Another important Afrocentric identification is with the colors

red, gold, and green, of the Ethiopian flag as well as, the

addition of black, the colors of "Pan-African Unity" Red stands for the blood of the witnesses, Gold stands for

wealth prosperity, or the sun which gives everything light, and

Green stands for the vegetation of Africa.


6/23

HaileSelassieandtheBible

Haile Selassie I was crownedthe Emperor of Ethiopia onNovember 2, 1930.

The Emperor of Ethiopia is theliving God who will lead the

African people into a promisedland and a world of fullfreedom, and divine justice.

Most Rastas believe the onlyhalf of the bible is written andthat the other half was stolenfrom them along with theirculture. Halie Selassie


7/23

RepatriationandRace

Repatriation is the desire to

return home to Africa after

400 years of slavery.

They believe it also is livingforever in peace, love and

harmony.

They declared that the

teachings of the Bible is the

route to spiritual freedom forpeople of any racial or ethnic

background.


8/23

ChurchandTheHolyTrinity

Some Rastas believe that their body is the true

Church or Temple of God.

They believe there is no need to build churches or

temples out of physical buildings

They believe Hali Selassie is God the Father and

God the Son of the Holy Trinity

They also believe that potentially humans embody

the Holy Spirit


9/23

PhysicalImmortality

Physical immortality meansthey believe that a selectedfew will continue to liveforever in their current

bodies. An example of physical

immortality is Bob Marleysrefusal to write a will

They believe that writing

a will would mean theywere giving into deathand forgoing their

chances at everlivinglife.


10/23

Rasta culture consists of

an ital diet.

Ital is derived from the

word vital meaning anatural and healthy way of

life

They believe your body

is a temple and you needto rid it of impureness.

Diet


11/23


12/23

Politics

Rastas originally did not vote

At the One Love Peace Concert on April 22, 1978 Peter

Tosh decriminalized against cannabis while smoking a

spliff and was beat up 5 months later by JamaicanAuthorities.

At the same concert Bob Marley led Prime Minister

Michael Manley and opposition leader Edward Seaga

onto the stage and took a famous picture of all three

holding hands, a symbolic gesture of peace during a

violent election

In the United Kingdom some Rastas work with the police

to help keep peace on the streets


13/23

Language Rastas believe that their African languages were taken from them

during the slave trade and that English is a colonial language. Created their own vocabulary and dialect showing their desire to take

forward language and confront society

I-tal = vital (used to describe diet)

Overstanding = understanding (denote an enlightenment which places one

in a better position) Irie = used to denote acceptance or positive feeling, describe something

that is good

Livication = dedication (ded-ication associated with death)

Downpression = oppression (pressure is being applied from a position of

power to put down the victim) Zion = Paradise of Jah or Ethopia

Laryic = substitution for I-and-I referring to Jah and includes the

presence of the divine in an individual. Also can be the separation of an

individual from the community.


14/23


15/23

-ISMS

Rastas rejects allisms because they want no part in them

such as communism and capitalism.

Especially reject Rastafarianism because they see

themselves as having transcended -isms. Created conflict between the Rastas and the scholars

studying the Rastafari movement who insist on calling

their religious belief Rastafarianism despite disapproval

from Rastas. This practice has continued among scholars however

because it fits with their academic standards of use.

Rastas think that this analysis is unnecessary.


16/23

There are two types of Rasta religious ceremonies. A

reasoning ceremony is a simple event where the Rasta's

gather; smoke ganja; and discuss ethical, social and

religious issues. The person in authority lights the herb andpasses it clockwise, unless in time of war they pass is

counter clockwise.

A binghiorgrounationis a holy day, binghis are markedby much dancing, singing, feasting and the smoking of

ganja, and can last for several days.

Ceremonies


17/23


18/23

Dreadlocks

Rastas believe dreadlocks to besupported by Leviticus 21:5 ("Theyshall not make baldness upon theirhead, neither shall they shave off thecorner of their beard, nor make anycuttings in the flesh.")

The length of a Rasta's dreads is ameasure of wisdom, maturity, andknowledge

The way to form natural dreadlocks isto allow hair to grow in its naturalpattern, without cutting, combing orbrushing, but simply to wash it withpure water.

It is not deemed necessary for, orequivalent to, true faith.


19/23

Ganja

spiritual act, oftenaccompanied by Bible study

cleans the body and mind,heals the soul, exalts the

consciousness, facilitatespeacefulness, bringspleasure, and brings themcloser to Jah.

Genesis 3:18 "... thou shalt

eat the herbof the field."


20/23

Colors

The colors of Rasta are the colors of the Ethiopian

flag - red, gold and green

The green is for the earth that people walk on, towhich Rastas feel a special connection.

The black is for the skin of the people.

The red is for the blood of all living things in the

world.

The gold is for the sun and Jah's light that shine on

people.


21/23


22/23

Reggae Music

Originated from Kingston, Jamaica and wasa combination of Jamaican folk music with

R&B, jazz and ska.

Bob Marley helped spread Reggae and theoriginal nyabinghi chants by incorporating

them into his music.

Many Reggae musicians incorporate Rastahistory, doctrine and culture into their music

Many reggae songs also praise Jah


23/23

Rastafari Today

Rastafari is not a highly organized religion and many Rastasbelieve it is not a religion but a way of life.

Rastafari encourages one to find faith inside themselves

although some identify with the mansions of Rastafari being

Nyahbinghi, the Bobo Ashanti and the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Women are starting to have a greater role and are now acceptedin religious and social ceremonies.

Rastas are strongly again birth control, abortion and

homosexulaity

Rastafari has grown to incorporate more races today instead ofjust Black African.

A small Rastafari group has also sprung up in Japan where they

created special shops selling natural foods and spread the reggae

music

rastafari pp

Documents