The Rastafari movement developed in Jamaica in the 1930's, with the central belief being that Haile Selassie is God and that he will repatriate all Africans who have settled outside of Africa due to the slave trade and colonisation. There are over 1 million adherents of this faith worldwide.
Far from the assumptions of some people that the use of drugs leads to anarchy and a somewhat nonchalant attitude towards rules and regulations Rastafarians adhere to many rules and laws which are based on verses found in the Old Testament. Check some out below...
Rastafarians...
· Eat strictly 'I-tal' which usually means organic or natural food.
· Do not eat pork and are unlikely to eat any other form of meat.
· Will not eat fish more than twelve inches long.
· Do not drink alcohol.
· Do not drink milk or coffee.
· Do not cut their hair – hence the dreadlocks.
Marijuana is usually referred to as the ‘holy herb’ by Rastafarians and they refer to Biblical quotes in order to clarify their use of marijuana (some below).
Marijuana use is central to ‘reasoning sessions’ which is what Rastafarians call their form of communal worship which include dialogue, chanting and a form of music called Nyabingi. Marijuana is seen as the key to clear thinking a teacher in its own right – a theme which runs through many of the other drugs discussed on this blog.
The use of the ‘herb’ is highly ritualised with a prayer being read before smoking...
“Glory be to the father and and to the maker of creation. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be World without end: Jah Rastafari: Eternal God Selassie I.”
The Rastafari movement came into the public eye with the music of Bob Marley. In this video (above) he voices his views about the use of marijuana and why he believes it has been banned by many governments. Although now the use of marijuana has come to be accepted by some government as a religious right... click this link for the full scoop!
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