Rastafarianism in Jamaica

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Rastafarianism arose in the slums of Jamaica around the time between the nineteen twenties and nineteen thirties. It has a lot of inspirations of Christianity combined into its culture. Rastafarianism is a very interesting religion; it’s followers known as Rastafarians as well as Rasta’s or Rastafaris, derived from Jamaica to form a unique clan of Jamaican-English. For most Rastafarians what they believe is not a religion, but simply just a way of life. Rastafarians share their emotions about oppression, poverty, and black discrimination along with their religion. The next few paragraphs will explain Rasta history, major beliefs, religious practices, and the religions subdivisions. In the early years of this religion a man by the name of Marcus Garvey, born in Jamaica in 1887, started teaching to other Jamaicans to stand up for their race and culture. He formed the Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1914. Marcus Garvey preached all over Jamaica, he believed that Jamaicans were really Israelites and were shunned to Jamaica as a punishment. Garvey wrote a very powerful play called “The Coronation of The King and Queen of Africa”. Many Rastafarians have said Garvey told them they need to go to Africa and there they will find the king they are looking for to save them. Soon after on the second of November 1930 they crowned Ras Tafari Makonnen as their emperor of Ethiopia. This emperor took the name of Haile Selassie, which by definition means “Might of The Trinity”. To many he was a form of Jesus Christ. On the other hand Marcus Garvey disliked emperor Selassie immensely, he thought that he was an unequipped leader. Haile Selassie spread the thought that god created the black man before he even created the white man. “Rastaf... ... middle of paper ... ...birthday and a certain color. Rastafarianism began on the principles of equality and black freedom. Over many years it has grown into a huge religion practiced by many. It has spread not only in Jamaica, but the Caribbean, England, the US and Canada also. There are now over one million people today that practice the religion of Rastafarianism. If someone wanted a calm, peaceful, and meaningful life without hatred they should defiantly consider practicing the religion of Rastafarianism. Overall this religion brings the unity of all ethnicities and the harmony and unity of its people with the environment. Works Cited Beyer, Catherine. "Rastafari." . N.p., 2012. Web. 6 Apr 2012. . . "Rastafari." . N.p., 2004. Web. 6 Apr 2012. . . "Rastafarian History." . BBC Religion, 21 Oct 2009. Web. 6 Apr 2012. .

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