What is Rasta?Submit YOUR questions, through our easy to use form,
to our team of mature Christians known as the Email Evangelists! Question: What is Rasta? Answer: Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican, formed the religion commonly called Rasta (Rastafarian). The crowning of Ras Tafari Makonnen (Haile Selassie I) as "King of Kings and Lord of Lords" took place in Ethiopia in 1930. The use of marijuana (pot) as a "sacrament," prescribed by Rasta as an aid to meditation, is not a Biblical principle. The Bible also does not command the wearing of "dreadlocks" as a prescribed hairstyle as does Rasta. Some of the beliefs of Rasta are undoubtedly true, as no religion is entirely a lie. However, the black separatism and the hatred of whites engendered by this movement certainly are antithetical to the teachings of Jesus. Many view the belief in the superiority of the black race, as promoted by Rasta, with skepticism. We are all equal in God's eyes: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus . . ." (Galatians 3:28, NKJV) You asked if Haile Selassie of Rasta was the highest honored emperor on Earth. Only a few million people, at most, revered Mr. Selassie, and there have been emperors who have had tens of millions of adherents (China's rulers, etc.), and since only a few outside of Africa (mostly the educational "elites" and "progressives" as communists like to call them) - were even aware of Mr. Selassie's existence. It is therefore not true that he was the "highest honored emperor" on the planet - even though he was no doubt highly esteemed by those who believed in Rasta. Marcus Garvey claimed that Ras Tafari Makonnen (Haile Selassie) was essentially God in the flesh, the second coming of Jesus, the Messiah and was worshiped as a god. Furthermore, quoting from a Rasta-related web site: "To greater represent the truth, Rasta rejects the Bible used by most Christians, opting instead for a 'black man's Bible' known as the Holy Piby." |