Religion is an organized system of practices and behaviors, ceremonies, world views, mythologies, ethics, holy place, and sacred tests that relate to humanity. Different religious groups are made up of various elements. The elements may differ on grounds of what is being worshiped, sacred things, and divinity. All religions have their practices, and these may include sermons, sacrifices, festivals, rituals, initiations, matrimonial services, prayer, music, and dance (Doyle 107). In most instances, religious groups will always have sacred history and narratives, which tend to be preserved in sacred books, and holy place (Jung 112). Through religion, the origin of the universe and humanity at large is explained. Traditionally, faith was cited as the major source of religious views and beliefs. Although some religious groups have contradicting views, some of them believe in almost similar things (Jung 112). With the rise of modernity in the current world, some aspects of religion have received ranging criticisms. The current paper will focus on Rastafarianism and Judaism. Specifically, the paper will discuss why Rastafarianism fits into the definition of religion, the historical overview of Rastafarianism, and later provide a comprehensive comparison between Rastafarianism and Judaism.
Rastafarianism as a Religion
Rastafari worship one God, whom they call ‘Jah.' Jah is a term borrowed from the King James Version of the Holy Bible (Thompson 338). Rastafari view Jah as being in the form of the Holy Trinity, meaning that they consider him as being made up of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. According to Rastafarianism, Jah in the form of Holy Spirt lives among the humans (Lee & Stephen 97). As a result of this, the Rastafari usually refer themselves as ‘I’ and ‘I’, which has an implication that a human being does not walk alone, but he or she is always accompanied by Jah in the form of Holy Spirit. Additionally, they use ‘I’ and ‘I’ as a way of emphasizing the equality among all human beings. The Rastafarians believe that once the Holy Spirit inhabits people, all are made equal and essentially one and the same. The Rastafarianism doctrine concerning Trinity stresses the significance of "Haile Selassie," which means the power of Trinity.
Rastafarianism gives adherence to some ceremonies. Ideally, the religion recognizes two main ceremonies; ‘Groundation’ and ‘Reasoning.' The reasoning is a simple event where the Rastafari gather, discuss issues relating to humanity, and smoke cannabis “weed” (Becker, p. 189). During this particular ceremony, the person who has been honored by being given the chance to light the cannabis usually says a very short sentence beforehand. The cannabis, popularly referred to as “ganja”, is passed in a clockwise way. Only on very special occasions such as during the war, the cannabis is passed in an anti-clockwise fashion. By doing this, they feel that they are reasoning with God (Jah). On the other hand, ‘Groundation’ or ‘Grounation’ or ‘Binghi’ is a Rastafarianism holy day (Jung 121). The ceremony is marked with a lot of singing, smoking of ganja, dancing, and feasting. The ceremony may last for a couple of days. During this particular ceremony, Rastafari says a given prayer, which is compared with the Lord’s Prayer said by the Christians.
Rastafarianism has set and sacred areas of worship. Firstly, Rastafari believes that their bodies are a true temple of worship. Therefore, each Rastafari is committed to making his or her body pure as it reflects a sacred temple of worshiping God (Thompson 334). However, in places where there are large populations of followers, spiritual meeting centers and tabernacles are built to act as worship areas.
Music plays an integral role in Rastafarianism. The connection between religion and music is strong, particularly due to the influence created by some of the reggae musicians like Peter Tosh and Bob Marley. Just as the other common religions plays different music during their ceremonies, ‘Niyabinghi’ chants are always played during Groundation ceremonies (Lee and Stephen 89). They include activities such as drumming, dancing, and chanting. Niyabinghi has its roots in Eastern Africa and particularly in Uganda. The songs were mostly sung by people who opposed the European Imperialism during the colonization era in Africa. Another type of music that is very instrumental in defining Rastafarianism as a religion is the ‘burru’ drumming (Becker 169). Reggae music has also become an integral part in Rastafarianism. It is particularly given credit for the international widespread of the religion. Much of this credit is attributed to the reggae legend and musician Bob Marley.
The orderly way of worship and a focused culture are also instrumental in defining Rastafarianism as a religion. For instance, the religion has developed its kind of dialect, where people use several phrases like ‘I and I’, ‘Irie’, ‘upfulness’, ‘downpressuion’ and ‘overstand’ among other key dialects. Rastafarianism also observes a special diet (Jung 174). For instance, ‘ital’ vegetarian diet plays a major role in defining the religion. The use of alcohol is considered unhealthy. They view alcohol as contractionary to their religion due to two major reasons; first, some Rastafari feels that alcohol is a western ‘Babylon’ thing, and secondly, they feel that the use of alcohol is contaminating the God’s Temple. Dreadlocks and Rasta colors are also instrumental in shaping the religion.
Historical overview of Rastafarianism
Rastafarianism is African-centered and young religion that originated in Jamaica in the 1930s as a result of the coronation of Haile Selassie 1 as the king of kings. The religion began in the slums of Jamaica, and it was heavily influenced by the African traditions (Becker 202). Biblical themes have also played a big role in shaping Rastafarianism belief system. Rastafari sees Marcus Garvey as a prophet. Marcus Garvey’s philosophy fundamentally shaped the religion with many of the original Rastafari having started as Garveyites. The religion always sees Garvey as the Second John the Baptist. One of the most famous prophesies that was attributed to Marcus Garvey was the coronation of Haile Selassie. He specifically influenced multitudes by giving a prophecy that urged the blacks to look up unto Africa, for there a black king was to be crowned. The prophecy is seen to have passed through Haile Selassie 1 (Jung 121). Marcus Garvey tirelessly promoted the philosophies of Black Separatism, Black Nationalism, and Pan-Africanism. He was of the opinion that all black people in all parts of the world had to join their hands to decolonize Africa from the European colonists.
Throughout the 1920s and 1930, Garvey sought to promote his cause of black pride and as a result, he was very influential and successful, especially among the lower class of black in rural communities and Jamaica. However, it is worth noting that although his philosophies and views were very influential in shaping Rastafarianism, Garvey did not explicitly identify himself with the movement (Lee and Stephen 133). During the time when Haile Selassie left Ethiopia at the time of Italian occupation, Garvey was very instrumental in the trip.
The Holy ‘Piby’ which was written by Robert Athlyi in the 1920s, is often acclaimed by most Rastafari as a primary and formative source for the religion. In 1930, Haile Selassiem1 was crowned the ‘elect of God, King of Kings and Lion of Tribe of Judah’. The event was publicly followed throughout the world, including Jamaica. As a result, some three Jamaicans who were living in other courtesies returned home and undertook the task of preaching in streets. In their preaching, they proclaimed the divinity of Haile Selassie 1 and marked him as the retuned Christ. Nearing the end of 1930, a former seaman, Archibald Dunkley, started his ministry in Port Antonio (Lee and Stephen 133). Afterward, he located to Jamaica’s Capital; Kingston where Kings of Kings Ethiopian Mission was started. The religion then started to grow.
Comparison between Rastafarianism and Judaism
There are key similarities and differences between Rastafarianism and Judaism. It is despite the fact that Rastafarianism is considered to have drawn much of its concepts from Judaism and Christianity. The differences between the two religions mainly arise concerning key person worshiped, key writings and issues addressing who God and Jesus are.
Similarities
Both Rastafarianism and Judaism believe in eternal life. Both religions believe that there is life after death. As such, the religions believe that there is a place where people will live after the physical death, which is a place free from misery and any form of infliction. Additionally, both religions draw heavily from the Bible (Mendelssohn.78). In their main scripts, the religions make use of the Bible as a major reference. Another similarity between these two religions arises from their signature looks. Both Rastafarianism and Judaism have signature looks, which have to do with the head.
Differences
The first difference arises from the fact that Rastafarianism is a new religion while Judaism is very old. In fact, Judaism is considered as one of the oldest religions on the earth. Additionally, the key writings in Rastafarianism include the Bible, the Holy Pity, and the Royal Parchment Scroll of Black Supremacy (Becker 189). On the other hand, the key writing in Judaism is the Tanakh, which is the Old Testament of the Bible. In Judaism, the first five books of the Old Testament are very important. Rastafarianism believes that Haile Selassie is the black Messiah and the living God (Doyle 111). On the other hand, Judaism believes that God is a spirit. In relation to salvation, Rastafarianism believes in Haile Selassie while Judaism believes that salvation can only be obtained through prayer, adherence to Jewish law, and through repentance. There is also a sharp difference between the two religions concerning who Jesus is. Rastafarianism believes that Jesus is the son of God (Mendelssohn, p.78). However, there are varied views concerning who Christ is, to some he was black and on some he is a prophet. On the other hand, there is a divided opinion concearning who Jesus is among Judaism. For instance, some believe that Jesus was a False Messiah while others believe that Jesus was a Martyred Jewish Rabbi.
Conclusion
Religion is an organized form of worship, entailing some specific cultures, beliefs, norms and a directed way of worship. Different religions differ significantly, especially on issues touching on who is worshiped, the key writings, and the origin of the religion among other things. Key feature of Rastafarianism make it fit into the definition of a religion. Some of these features include worship of one God, strict adherence to some religious ceremonies, Holy Scriptures, and places of worship and use of a specific kind of music in worship. The strong culture of Rastafarianism makes it to be considered a religion. The religion originated in Jamaica in 1930s as a result of the coronation of Haile Selassie 1 as the king of kings. There are key similarities and differences between Rastafarianism and Judaism. The differences mainly arise in relation to key person worshiped, key writings, issues addressing who God and Jesus is among others.
Works Cited
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Doyle, Connor. "Rastafarianism & Michael Manley." Caribbean Quilt 2 (2012): 107.
Jung, Carl Gustav. Psychology and Religion Volume 11: West and East. London: Routledge, 2014. Print
Lee, Hélène, and Stephen Davis. The first Rasta: Leonard Howell and the rise of Rastafarianism. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2005. Print
Mendelssohn, Moses. Jerusalem: Or On Religious Power and Judaism. London: Brandeis University Press, 2013. Print
Thompson, Joseph. "From Judah to Jamaica: The Psalms in Rastafari Reggae." Religion and the Arts 16.4 (2012): 328-356. Print
