The source of Rastafarianism lies
in Ethiopia. In 1930 a man called Ras Tafari, who descended directly from
King David was crowned emperor Haile Selassie I. of Ethiopia. He formed
the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Rastafarians acknowledge that their religion
is the blending of purest forms of both Judaism and Christianity; they
also accept the Egyptian origins of both those religions.
Rastafarians live a peaceful life with low
claim. Six out of ten Jamaicans are believed to be Rastafarians.
Worldwide, the Rastafarian movement has over
one million "members".
Rastas, as they are more commonly called, have
special beliefs and practices.
They use Marijuana
("ganja";"Weed
of Wisdom") as a sacrament for an aid to meditation and as a religious
rite.
They have special dietery and hygienic laws,
which say that they have deny all the things that are not Ital.
This is common language for pure, natural or clean. They are not allowed
to consume alcohol, tobacco and meat.
It is also forbidden for them to cut or comb
their hair. Dreadlocks have their origin in this rule.
The Rastas deny allegations by other religious
groups that they were anti-white or anti-brown. They think that there exists
a secret hour known only to a devout few, when all the Rastas return to
Ethiopia, leaving behind the tropical Jamaica. Until that time, Rastas
would refuse to take part in the machinations of daily life and commerce
in "Babylon", which means literally the Hell on Earth. As Rastas, they
could now await with dignity the Judgement Day, when the last shall be
the first and the first shall be last.