SHARI BLAKE ID# 00043080

PORTFOLIO 2: RASTAFARIANISM

1. How did the session affect/ alter your thoughts on the particular religion? I really enjoyed researching Rastafarianism because while it is a widely known movement in the Caribbean it is not well understood. Like most people my main understanding of Rastafarianism comes from listening to Reggae music. In reggae music various Rasta chants and sacred words and phrases are sung. Many peoples belief is that Rastas are a reclusive people who lock their hair, dont eat meat and retreat to the hills to live a simple agrarian lifestyle growing food and smoking the holy herb. Because of the seclusiveness of the Rastafarian communities it was interesting to learn that Rastafarians use the Bible as their main holy book. Many elements of Rastafari reflect its origins in Jamaica and Ethiopia, two countries with predominantly Christian culture. Ethiopian Christianity traces its roots to the Church of Alexandria, founded by St Mark, and its 5th-century continuation in the Coptic Church of Alexandria.[4][5] Rastafari holds many Jewish and Christian beliefs and accepts the existence of a single triune deity called Jah, who has sent his son to Earth in the form of Jesus (Yeshua) and made himself manifest as the person of Haile Selassie I. Rastafari accept much of the Bible, although they believe that its message and interpretation has been corrupted.[2] Rastafari are monotheists, worshiping a singular God whom they call Jah. Prophetic verses of the Hebrew Bible (such as Zephaniah 3:10 "From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring my offering") have been interpreted as subtly hinting that the messianic king will be in Ethiopia and the people will come from all over world beyond its rivers. DREADLOCKS Rastas maintain that locks are supported by Leviticus 21:5 ("They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in the flesh.") and the Nazirite law in Numbers 6:5 ("All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.").

2. What three aspects of the religion covered stood out to you and why? How did todays session affect/alter your thoughts on this particular religion?

Beginning in Jamaica in the 1930s, the Rastafari movement perceives Haile Selassie as a messianic figure who will lead a future golden age of eternal peace, righteousness, and prosperity.[13] Haile Selassie was an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian throughout his life. Haile Selassie's full title in office was "His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of Kings of Ethiopia, Elect of God".[nb 3][citation needed] This title reflects Ethiopian dynastic traditions, which hold that all monarchs must trace their lineage back to Menelik I, who in the Ethiopian tradition was the offspring of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.[20] The name Rastafari is taken from Ras Tafari, the title (Ras) and first name (Tafari Makonnen) of Haile Selassie I before his coronation. In Amharic, Ras, literally "head", is an Ethiopian title equivalent to prince or chief, while the personal given name Tfri (teferi) means one who is respected or feared. Jah is a Biblical name of God, from a shortened form of Jahweh or Jehovah found in Psalms 68:4 in the King James Version of the Bible. Most adherents see Haile Selassie I as Jah or Jah Rastafari, an incarnation of God the Father, the Second Advent of Christ the Anointed One, i.e. the Second Coming of Jesus Christ the King to Earth. The three aspects that stood out to me were 1) Emperor 2) Use of term Jah 3) Link between Judaism and Rastafarianism According to tradition, Haile Selassie I was the 225th in an unbroken line of Ethiopian monarchs of the Solomonic Dynasty. This dynasty is said to have been founded in the 10th century BC by Menelik I. Menelik I was son of the Biblical King Solomon and Makeda, the Queen of Sheba, who had visited Solomon in Israel. 1 Kings 10:13 claims "And King Solomon gave unto the Queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants." On the basis of the Ethiopian national epic, the Kebra Negast, Rastas interpret this verse as meaning she conceived his child, and from this, conclude that African people are among the true children of Israel, or Jews. Beta Israel black Jews have lived in Ethiopia for centuries, disconnected from the rest of Judaism; their existence has given some impetus to Rastafari, as Rastas believe it validates their assertion that Ethiopia is Zion Rastas claim that they are the real Children of Israel. The Rastafari seek to validate a link between Ethiopia and Israel, pointing to the title Lion of Judah, and their goal is to repatriate to Mount Zion, that is, Africa.

1) EMPEROR HAILE SELASSIE I 2) USE OF THE TERM JAH

3) HOLI FESTIVAL OF COLORS

BIBLIOGRAPHY "Rastafari movement." Wikipedia. N.p.. Web. 31 Mar 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastafari_movement>. "Haile Selassie." Wikipedia. N.p.. Web. 31 Mar 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haile_Selassie_I>. "Jah." Wikipedia. N.p.. Web. 31 Mar 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jah>.