سلام
نعم عزيزي هناك ديانة الراستا
لقد أتيحت لي فرصة ملاقاة فرقة الويلز التي اسسها بوب مارلي حين مشاركتها في مهرجان الصويرة في الصيف الماضي ودار الحديث حول مبادئ هاته الديانة وعلاقتها بتدخين الحشيش ونبذ العنف والدعوة الي العودة الي اثيوبيا مهد الانسان واعتبار ان الزنوج هم شعب الله المختار
اعتقد ان احسن كتاب تناول هاته الديانة هو السيرة الذاتية لبوب مارلي
شكرا لك

There is one other interesting tidbit about Selassie that doesn't seem to have been mentioned in Wikipedia. He actually thot the Rastas a bit nuts. He didn't agree with them, but as you found he didn't really disagree with them either.

But then they invited him to Jamaica. He agreed, flew in and the place went nuts. My understanding is that he didn't even stay the day. He just turned around and went right back home. The Rastafarians acted like God himself had descended, as they in fact believed.

Selassie realized how far they were from him and privately distanced himself from them and their mania and religion based upon him. It's interesting a faith could be based upon a man who really didn't know anything about it and eventually sort of shunned the believers, believers in him.

I can't remember the whole deal with marijuana and the rastas, but it is an integral part of the faith, used on a daily basis at least. It's a curious faith. Even more curious when one examines the music that came from it.

Not only did you get reggae, a wonderful music form but from that you got Ska -- No Doubt the most current band influenced by the ska movement. But bigger still is the electronic bands that came forth.

All of the big reggae hits from Marley and the rest were remixed for the dancehalls. These mixes were wild stuff, long before the era of computers and electronic trickery. DJs/producers would loop cables and all sorts of things to create wicked delays in the music, something only using bits and pieces of the original sung portion of the tunes to create huge aural tapestries for the Jamaican dancehalls.

British and American bands began to get wind of this as copies of these B-sides began to get out. Bands like Depeche Mode, Echo and the Bunnymen and so many more were digging into this. Clash guitarist Mick Jones got Big Audio Dynamite going based upon these remixes. Even the bands that didn't directly get influenced by it eventually did.

Now, as music is so possible on your computer much of what is being done electronically is what those early guys were doing to the Rasta tunes. Massive Attack is a direct descendent of this. A guy named the Mad Professor was one of the early pioneers. He's been picked up by numerous artists for remixes of their work (Massive remixed Madonna). The professor was a bit mad, burning down his studio in Jamaica at one point.

The Rastafarian religion is indeed fascinating, in part because it's whole foundation is just really peculiar. But also in part for what it wrought. So much of the music of the 80s -- Peter Gabriel, Pete Townsend picked it up for the Who -- were utilizing the skills of these Rasta remixers. That output continues to shape music today. It's really quite amazing.

Rayhane, that's very interesting about you meeting Bob Marley's band, the Wailers, and talking with them about this all.
Thanks for sharing :)

And Jeff, thanks for all the information, you seem to know a lot about this. That's really cool and interesting stuff.
Being a huge music fan, I've known a lot of the musical side of this, and I do agree that it has had a great effect on the music world.

And yeah it is quite interesting and peculiar how this religion came into existence revolving around a person who didn't even know about it or believe in it.

I think the whole marijuana thing is a bit weird too.

GREETINGS from the most high JAH RASTAFARI! well to all who dont kno bout us look deep and you will find that nothing about rasta is weird,we just live the upful life which alot out dere can't do, so they use words such as weird,cult,foolish,and drug heads to describe us,do to de fact dem dont understand I n I.IN fact we get stronger when this occurs,its just like the bible stated.." the new name would be terrible and dreadful in babylon letting us kno these are the days which are crucial not to loose ya head when they say those things about
I n I.weed? well i-mon no look and call it weed I call it the fathers food reason being it grows on the earth,its also known as herb...now the father tell I say "he cuaseth the grass for the cow to eat and the herb for the use of man..yes rasta so I n I just use it and meditate ..cigarettes is babylon herb cuase them put all kinda ting inside it fee kill de youth dem..u can make tea wit herb not cigarettes.well dis is just a tad bit of info on I n I the bible say seek and find so if yu wan more just search me IDRENS well I n I will just step ONE LOVE

big up all rastas in the name of jah rastarians smoke the most purest herb in whole world. remember me tell ya luv , peace and harmony big up rasta. one thing for sure we will get up and stand for our rights peace and nough respect

yo. cna i just ask, wot dus i n i mean?
cheers

i jus love dis rasta religion jus do ya thing ratsa and stay strong one day we will win and jah will judge us jus want big all de rasta jah rastafari!i n i bless all in de name of jah

Jah Blessed are those who chant babilan and free their souls and spirit from diz babilanistic views of the messire-Chant babilan and free urselves from the system....

i believe !!!!!!!!!!!!!
fire for those who dont!
an it ent no werid!!!

i understand what de rasta dem doin, yes but haile selassie, or as allyuh say, king selassie, yuh claim jah rastafari, king selsassie n yuh praise dis man who dead, allyuh dont blieve it, but you cyant see him, it say selassie was a christian, and yuh praise a man who tink yuh mad,in de bible it say ting, yes yuh read it right but you interpret it wrong, it say clearly EAT DE HERB when it ever say smoke, blaze anything of dat sort? neva, so i say wha happen to allyuh? allyuh feel yuh way is de truth ya say w/e, i not de one to disrespect so keep on, yuh say bun up we boi jesus, but when allyuh dead from waitin yuh whole life for jah to give u d signal, ull see who will BUN u or my boi jesus,

no direspect, and always love

Im thinking about becoming a ras.I just need to clear the air on some stuff

1)Did bob marley become a christian or is it a hoax/rumour because i dont believe a man who devoted his whole life to H.I.M would change so quick

2)Can white people be rastas?

3)Do you reckon you could guide me on my path as a ras? if any would be so kind ill give you my email.

Peace out and JAH guide brothers and sisters

All men were Created Equal,And Until the Nation Realizes that War will continue until there is no more.I believe Exactly what the Bible speaks in a sense within 2 thousand years Christ shall return King of King,Lord of Lords Decendant of Solomon and Sheeba Thats Haile Selassie 1st.I believe that all people are Created the same therefore there is no one Race Better than the Other. 2006 was a Bad Year for Everybody,That was the Devils year 666 but 2007 is the Exact oppisite,7 is the Holy number 777 and I'm not Referring to lottery,Sampson Had 7 locks,His Majesty Unlocked the 7 seals and to the Outlawz why do you think Pac choose the 7 day theory?

All men were Created Equal,And Until the Nation Realizes that War will continue until there is no more.I believe Exactly what the Bible speaks in a sense within 2 thousand years Christ shall return King of King,Lord of Lords Decendant of Solomon and Sheeba Thats Haile Selassie 1st.I believe that all people are Created the same therefore there is no one Race Better than the Other. 2006 was a Bad Year for Everybody,That was the Devils year 666 but 2007 is the Exact oppisite,7 is the Holy number 777 and I'm not Referring to lottery,Sampson Had 7 locks,His Majesty Unlocked the 7 seals and to the Outlawz why do you think Pac choose the 7 day theory?