Roots Archives Forum

Hi arize rootsman,

Don't know that I can even come close to answering that question. I do know a lot of Rasta's feel that most divisions of Christianity have been indoctrinated and "brainwashed" to believe things that are outside of the things written in the books of the Bible (i.e. a lot of rastas really have some disdain toward the Catholic church). They believe that Rome and the Europeans changed the Word of God to suit their own political or social needs at the time (and continue to do so). They believe that black men suffered because of the racism of biblical scholars who were in charge of translating and canonizing (what gets in and what is left out).
They often include the book of Enoch from what most Christians call the Apocrypha in their readings and site that the Old Testament prophet was black and therefore became cutting room floor material when the Bible was canonized. They also have the Kebra Negast which some Rastas read and refer to but not all.
Because of these facts, I believe they would differ from Mormons in their set of beliefs. I don't believe they recognize Joseph Smith as a prophet or hold the belief that the chosen 144,000 will be from the Mormon church. Their belief tends to focus more on reclaiming their Biblical ancestry and heritage and being able to stand clean before God. Repatriation, the tribulation, and judgment seem to have diffferent connotations and implications with the Rastas.

That's about all I know, hope this is useful info.

i was going to tell them to bring over their daughter or sister instead of preaching .. think i should open the door naked with a beer on hand..

suit urself

IrieMystic: please stop your teasing. It seems like you're only trying to piss off people here. I don't know what went wrong between the both of you and frankly I don't want to know. But stop behaving like little children.

Thanks Ron, such ignorance doesn't need to be a part of this forum.

Arize_Rootsman, thanks for your respectful comments in the face of such...

Respect.

Let's face it, rastafarianism, as all religions, are man-made creations that were created to civilize people. People have faith in their beliefs because they have been socialized to believe so.

robe619,

To me it seems that our beliefs are what give many hope and a reason for living. Mankind seeks to have a relationship with his Creator in order to achieve spiritual fulfillment that is otherwise lacking.
Religions get blamed for a lot of stuff (war, racism, classism, etc), and these facts may be true. But we often discredit the charitable things people do in the name of their Creator as well.
I don't believe most religions are as simplistic as you might suppose. They go a lot further than just reinforcing social mores and codes of conduct. They have members that are not maniacal zealots but actually admirable people who help our world be a better place. I have seen a lot of wonderful, unexplainable things that make me certain that there is a Creator.
As Albert Einstein said:"There are two ways to live your life. One is as if nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is."
I'd prefer the latter.

But if u really think about it, it all comes down to the same thing believing in good and in God. thats what matters i personally believe Jahovah is the God and Jesus Christ is his son who sacrafised himself for us.

Don't get me wrong. Religions have, for the most part, served their purpose. They allow people to believe they have some meaning in their lives. It gives people hope. And for those reasons, religions were created.

However, I am thoroughly convinced it has done more evil, injustice, and suffering than it has good. And as history has progressed, religions have changed their own dogmas to serve their own purposes. The Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, etc. There are people in our day and time, who in the name of religion, inspire intolerance, hate, and violence.

Anyone famailar with the dna tests done on Selassie?I have vague memorys of it from a National Geographic tv show.From my vague memorys i believe somehow they concluded he was not from King Solomons bloodline.