Am I a Rasta? How flexible is the spirituality?

So, most of the beliefs of Rastafari resonate very deeply withing me; but there are a few aspects of it that I don't think I could accept within myself.

The first is viewing Selassie as a god. Another is the idea that people don't die. It's not that I deride these concepts as much as that I could never believe them. The only one that touches on my sentiments is that a rejection of death represents an attitude for living in the present moment rather than the future (one's own death, which creates that prevents one from living their life) or the past (the death of others, which creates the soul-destroying animus of revenge and debilitating despair of undue mourning). I guess the fear/respect of the first could represent ego-death (which I see as pretty cool, although I've never dropped LSD) while the love of Selassie could... well everybody is deserving of love.

I suppose it is not necessarily part of the religion and has been moved away from more recently, but from what I know there are a lot of sentiments of patriarchy, something I have strong sentiments against.

Now for the things that resonate within me:
I hate man-made chemicals, particularly if they are psychoactive. I don't smoke cigarettes or chemically treated tobacco. I view alcohol with the sentiments of 'firewater'. It'll just make you stupid, closed minded, and fuck up ya body.

I smoke herb for its psycho-spiritual effects. I seem to get something new, generally humanistic sentiment or concept of unity, out of it every time. Smoking grass has been the only genuinely spiritual experiences of my life. It's very meaningful each time.

I'm a strict vegan (but I eat salt and I don't see that changing anytime soon).

I don't use soap or shampoo (I hate chemicals) but I do still use deodorant, which I am trying to figure out some ways to get by without.

I hate patent medicines, especially those from major pharmaceutical firms (fuck Merck Medical).

I don't shave or comb my hair. A friend of mine backcombed my hair, but I realized that that method was an embodiment of vanity so I decided to just leave my hair alone. I see the comb and razor as tools of Babylon not because of any reason beyond their sole purpose of supporting vanity.

I feel like we're all one, interconnected and interdependent, All's actions affecting All. I use the word All a lot to express my humanistic sentiments, but I'm fond of 'I and I' for the same reason.

I find racism reprehensible. My major concern, however, avarice. I don't distrust the white man; I mistrust the rich man. I do, however, see a rich man as innocent until proven guilty of avarice. I also see the underlying cause of most (but not all) racism currently in this world. I spoke with a panther (he's sort of like a third parent), who was very involved in the '60s and '70s about this, and he was quick to assert that evil's always been about money.

I don't know any Rastas so I would not say I am familiar with the Rasta community as it actually is. I only know about it from various interviews and read a book written primarily from interviews with various Ras's and inspirational/organizational leader, articles the Jamaican newspaper, and Jamaican interpreted historical facts about the Jamaican independence movement.

Below is what Babylon means to me:

Babylon is never a person, for they are our brothers and sister, although sometimes poisoned in the mind and heart.

Babylon is Exon Mobile, Shell, Haliburton, war for oil, and smog, fumes rising to drown out the world

Babylon is the state, oppression, reeking in the horrors of men such as Pinochet, Phi bun, A. Sharon, Bin Laden, Bush; interventionism, military aid flowing to whatever totalitarian regime will benefit our markets and spread US hegemony, a state sponsored liquidation, torture complicit, a dull scream drowned out by the afterburners of an F-15 poised to strike, CIA’s smug snuff of ‘blowback’

Babylon is toxic, smoke spewing, chemicals poured forth of poison, firewater and tainted herbs, nicotine precluding enlightenment, and some day everything will die under those smokestacks, but persons just can’t give up chemical venom

Babylon is Wall Street, greed, avarice haunting the hearts of the once sane man, sin of money, green turned red with the blood of the oppressed, or stained of sweat of the young and weak, the trapped by the bourgeoisie

Babylon is death to the soul, rejection of natural ways, or even human ways, no love in worry of self, an ego above all else, a human shut out to humanity, complicit in suffering and murder

Babylon is a screen, opiate of reality, opiates in reality, Merck, the drugs of pharma, a nation of Prozac oppressed from suffering of ‘experts’, enjoying their consumption of poison for mind body and spirit

Babylon is the cruelty to the Other, an animal or that which is seen as less than human, even though nobody will admit it

Babylon is hierarchy, patriarchy, racism, slavery, the reason they were burned at the cross, the lashes on the back, the police sending a fatal jolt or a hail of 41, a degradation of the carriers of life, a force precluding freedom, a demand enforced

Babylon is sin, evil at the core, a purge of Humanism and scourge upon humanity, burning reality in it bloody ways

I may add more to this list later but I think this paints a fairly clear picture

Other symbolic language (not necessarily from Rastafari) I like:

Babylon is ‘mine’ and ‘thine’, not ‘a’ and ‘the’
Babylon is ‘bought’, not ‘liberated’
Babylon is ‘own’, not ‘have’
Babylon is ‘Me and You, Us and Them as Observer and Other’, not as ‘I and I’ or ‘Us and We’ or ‘All’
Babylon is ‘money’, not ‘sin’ (I’ve got 20 sins in my wallet)
Babylon is ‘high’ and ‘stoned’, never ‘enlightened’

 

a few random thoughts in response to your thread:

your descriptions of babylon are poetic. dont worry about whether you fit within the definition of a 'true rasta'. just do what you feel in your heart. babylon wants you to to choose a label for yourself, like 'i am rasta' or 'i am not rasta', 'i am white', or 'i am rich/poor', because it is these labels which separates us. just be, and keep on thinking the way you are thinking.



now i don't consider myself a "rasta", but rather i agree with some of its ideas.

thoughts:

babylon is not the physical constructs, such as skyscrapers and wallstreet which bind us. these are only creations of our society's progress. these things can exist outside of babylon, but it is the state of mind with which these constructs are implemented which makes babylon.

babylon is not a physical system, but rather a way of thinking which is to value possessions over a state of mind

babylon deals with what can be bought and sold, therefore has no need for love or compassion.


babylon is the system which rewards for unethical and immoral acts. By cheating, you get ahead in the system. By lying, you gain. By pushing others down, you take what was theirs. babylon is a temptuous whore and that's why it can never be stopped. the lust for gain and false happiness is too seductive for man to be free of it. it is no use to fight babylon on the physical plane. fight babylon in your mind and you can become totally free of it. almost every religion has a line that goes something like what jesus said, that 'the kindom of heaven is within', meaning that no matter where you are physically, babylon and 'zion'(if you are comfortable with that term) are within your own conscious frame.

money and possessions is not 'sin' as you have stated. currency is only a form of energy which we manipulate to provide sustenance for ourself. money is only 'sinful' if one is attached to the money. desire(lust) for money, not the money itself, is the 'sin'.


also, i would suggest other entheogens other than just cannabis. rastafarI's position on 'ganga' was strongly influenced by indian (hindu) slaves and indentured servants in jamaica. the hindu tradition also includes the use of other entheogens. 'soma' comes to mind. not manmade.

 

yeah. i eventually realized that i just shouldn't pick a label for myself. it's an interesting social phenomenon that one will generally look for a label even when against the norm.

yeah, i'm interested in trying a lot of other psychedelics. i'm still on the fence (which means i'm not going to do it) about whether or not i should use LSD. i just can't get over the fact that it's pretty unnatural.

 

yes, ive followed the nazerite tradition for many years and in the past few years have begun to identify with the rastafarI movement. ive learned, though, that labeling yourself as one can bring out negative stereotypes from those who don't understand what you actually believe. what got you interested in rastafarI?

 

I think you fit in pretty well with most people's definition of a Rasta. There's even disagreement within the movement as to whether Selassie is God, Jesus reincarnated, a prophet, or simply a wise, spiritually advanced man. And many, if not most, religions believe in eternal life in one form or another, whether reincarnation into the physical world, heaven, paradise, or purgatory...but I don't think it's a requirement.

 

The word Rastafari is taken itself from Haile Selassie as before he was crowned Emperor he was 'Ras Tafari Mekonnen'

Ras meaning prince, Tafari being his born name.

So for people to call themselves, or to associate themselves with Rastafari, but not believing Selassie to be god is not only contradictory but also very offensive to Rasta.

You cant just pick n choose bits from our faith and then label yourself as a Rastaman, especially if you take out one of, if not THE main point.

I'd say, personally, and speaking on behalf of all the Rastamen i know....you are not a Rasta if you dont believe Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia is god.

Look for Revelations 5:5, written proof.

Part of the reason that Rasta are getting bad publicity, stereotypes or just ultimately not being taken seriously is in a vast majority due to babylons children attempting to join our ranks without first knowing the oneness of Rastafari.

I am a Rasta because i truelly believe Selassie is god, let alone the fact he came to me twice in two seperate near death experiences, i am growing my dreadlocks, i dont shave my beard etc..... i follow the teachings of Rastafari and the teachings in the kebra nagast (Rasta bible, basically an unedited version of the old testament).

Some people who claim themselves Rasta even say that i cannot be Rasta because i am white, however an arguement for this is that Rastafari said himself 'The color of a mans skin is of no more significance then the color of his eye' so for Rasta to judge me on the color of my skin is a direct insult to Rastari.

'Real Rasta' who follow the teachings of Jah and the version of the bible that WASNT edited by the dickhole king james, are soooo few and far between, especially in babylon, and its BECAUSE of babylon.

And for the creator of this thread, if you believe in death, you will die. If you believe in everlife, then forever will you live. 'Live for yourself and you live in vain, Live for others and you will live again' - Bob Marley. Do not touch LSD, this is known as the Devils drug to Rasta. Avoid at all costs i say.

And to Codone, Jesus and God are the same thing, Jesus is just God in human form, As is Selassie I.

Jesus said 'blessed are those who believe in me yet have not seen me' IE before he came to earth.

Im not trying to rant or to hurt anyones ideology of what Rasta is, or if themselves can be Rasta, but when there is a virus in your body, does your body not fight it?

 

redeyedrevolutionary, reading from your first post you seem to have the general mindset of the Rastafari, yet complying with a lifestyle does not mean anything. You don't have to be a vegan, nor do you need dreadlocks. Try reading your bible a chapter a day and finding the truth for yourself.

Try selling that point to the TTI

 

The term Rastafarian comes from Haile Selassie's pre-coronation name of 'Ras Tafari Makonnen' Ras meaning prince, and Tafari being his given name.

So its named after the man himself, so how can you call yourself a Rasta if you dont believe that Haile Selassie is God/Christ or whatever you wanna call the almighty.

Its from people picking and choosing which parts of Rastafari to accept that is giving the Rasta faithful a bad reputation nowadays in the press.

I've never met a single Rastaman that didnt believe that Haile Selassie was God Incarnate or whatever word makes you feel comfortable for the creator, to say otherwise is contradictory to the name 'Rastafarian'.

 

Lawman Gad, please to make your aqauntance
If you look back Revelations, it identifies Yeshua as Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Conquering Lion of Judah, yet we have never called Menelik I, nor Menelik II, Yeshua. Yeshua will come from the root of David, who says it is not H.I.H. Zere Yakob, or even his offspring? Could it be we jumped to conclusions on Marcus Garvey and therefore pushed H.I.M. one place up?
Could H.I.M. not be the prophet, our guiding light in preperation of the return of Yeshua?
Just a few things to meditate on.

Technically the Amharic term Ras literally means "Head", a title which is equivelant to Duke in British terms.
He started out as Lij, meaning "child"
Later his titled changed to Dejazmach, "Keeper of the gate"
And of course under H.I.M. Zewditu he was named Inderase, "Regent"
and of course Negus, "King"

If Garveyites named there movement after Marcus Garvey, would InI not be right in using the name Rastafari?
You think InI should change it to Negustafari? Wouldnt make much difference

InI disagree, it is in babylons interest to try and discredit us and they will stop at nothing. Most misconceptions are specially formatted by so-called experts, who never even see a Rastaman, but you cant stop the truth from coming out!

Eqaul right and justice me bredren!

 

LSD is a naturally occurring substance, derived from Ergot. you can always use Shrooms though.

 

no isms, no schisms

no priests, no baptisms

if your heart is good and you try to live a natural life

then call yourself a rasta if it makes you happy

just as most westerners who call themselves buddhists are shocked by asia

you will find jamaica a rude awakening

[pun intended]

but as a framework for a good life there is no substitute for finding a good philosophy and cutting out the silly bits

[and they ALL have them]

respect

[nasty baldhead out]

 

i also find it somewhat bewildering that claims are made as to the nature of selassie that he himself would deny

how could he be both the denier and the redeemer?

[yumyum, please new pics with grown-out dreads, and we miss you in the reggae threads, i only post muslim prince buster you know]

 

Babylon is ego.

 

I have invested alot of my own time trying to understand Rastafari. Not so much of what it is as much as how it came to be. I really feel the story is amazing and relevant to the way we are today (or the way we are not) )culturally speaking.

The struggle for independence and authority to define culture seems to be the main theme from my exposures to what happened. The fusion, rejection, unification themes play out repeatedly. One of the oldest cultures on Earth forced to fuse with one of the newest religions with all the inter/intra conflict and resolutuions (less of the latter) between Mansions. Seems that the process had changed so quickly and in such a fractionated way, new inertpretations and definitions have and are emerging. Like it or Not. I tend to lean toward not. I see the value in somethings having deep unchanged legacy. Like elements of Yoga, Golf, adn Rasta. As if Christianity wasn't complex enough?

The sad part for me is. I see most of what we call Rasta as adapative responses to a Conquesting religion mandating salvation.

Kinda like: "How much Christian do we gotta put in, and how much of our Culture do we gotta take out to be accepted by you?"

The hopeful part is i think that there is infinite wisdom and knowledge and experience and spirit embedded in there now. Rasta lives on and can be adapted to it's new calling. We have need for it in the World now more than ever.



Jah Live



Reminds me alot of what I learned about Native American legacy and to some extent comtemporary Aboriginals.

 

nat phil

if i were to be a rastafarian, it would be the kind that does not believe in the prophecies of marcus garvey, the holiness of h.i.m., or even the god of the bible

so instead i am a buddhist who likes reggae

 

i feel similarly. however there are some elitists who dont want you to join their religion because you may not fit their criteria. i ranted about this in another thread lol...

 

ranted it putting it lightly

but ya im closer to a Buddhist who likes psychedelics, loves weed and knows there is a God but doesnt think it should have to be labeled and it is not inclusive, rather it is pluralism- there are many ways to achieve the same end result.

 

Your description was beautifully written and you seem to have some good views of right and wrong. Just be true to yourself and I think you'll be great!

 

Further I dont think that the One Almighty God (by any name) would reject people based on labels. There is much more than a label when it comes to where your heart and soul lies....
If I had to I guess id call myself an open minded liberal monotheist.