Analyzing Articles on the Rastafari Movement - Essay Example

The Rastafari Movement Hall, Tim. “Rastafarianism: origins and beliefs.” The telegraph, 12 Apr 2007. Web. 18 Oct (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1548384/Rastafarianism-Origins-and-beliefs.html) The article summarizes the origin of the Rastafari movement, which is believed to have begun in Jamaica in 1930. The author argues that Haile Selassie 1 and Marcus Garvey were among the founders of the association. Haile Selassie and other leaders founded Rastafari to oppose the oppression that black people underwent as slaves in the Caribbean. According to Hall, the leaders of the movement aimed at helping African to retrieve their heritage, which had been eroded by the whites through slavery (Hall 3). The leaders of Rastafari came up with doctrines of the religion, which include despising the whites, reading the Bible, growing dreadlocks, and smoking cannabis. The followers of the religion interpret the Bible in an afro-centric way; because they believe that the white people altered the meaning of the readings in the text. Bob Marley, a reggae singer, is one of the followers of the movement. Tim argues that Bob’s songs contain the doctrines of Rastafarians (Hall 6). Hall believes that the movement is a way of life because it lacks organization like other religions. The author is an evangelist in Australia, and he researches about religious movements in the world. The article is relevant to my research because it explains the origin of the movement and its principles. The author states the founders of the movement, and he also gives an example of Bob Marley as a Rastafarian. The author has failed to give an example of principle that Marley spreads through his reggae songs (Hall 8). The author also fails to give details of how Haile Selassie 1 and Garvey succeeded in creating the movement, even after claiming that they died as a result of their struggle to save Africans from slavery. This means that the article is not wholly reliable. Murrell, Nathaniel. “Jamaica: The Rastafarian movement.” Global exchange, n.d 2011. Web. 18 Oct 2013. (http://www.globalexchange.org/country/jamaica/rasta) The article states the meanings of symbols of the Rastafari movement, and he explains how the doctrines of the association have spread to the whole world. Nathaniel argues that the word Ras means Christ; while Rastafari refers to Haile Selassie, the founder of the movement (Murrell 4). Rastafarians claim that Haile Selassie is their Christ who died physically, but lives in their souls. The believers argue that Christ shall come back to save them from the world, and he shall take them to Ethiopia. The followers argue that Ethiopia is the land that Christ promised them, and they refer to it as Mount Zion. The author argues that the movement has spread from Jamaica to the United States in cities such as New York, and the Great Britain (Murrell 8). Nathaniel, however, believes that the movement is more of a culture or political association rather than a religion. This argument is similar to that of Tim Hall, and it indicates that numerous researches have been conducted to determine the classification of Rastafarian movement. Nathaniel is an associate professor in the University of Carolina. The professor teaches philosophy and religion, and he has written several books in these topics. Murrell’s research specializes in the Caribbean and world religions. The article will help the research to explaining the real meaning of terms used by the Rastafarians. The author has analyzed how the movement spread to countries such as America and Britain, and he also explains the origin of the Rastafarian doctrines. The author has failed to describe the spread of the movement in details, but his work is reliable because his arguments are similar to those of Tim Hall, and they are more detailed. Barnett, Michael. "The Many Faces of Rasta: Doctrinal Diversity within the Rastafari Movement." Caribbean Quarterly 51.2 (2005): 67-112.print. The article summarizes details of members of the Rastafari movement. According to Barnett, the followers of the movement include the twelve tribes of Israel, Nyabhingi order, and Ethiopian Congress (Barnett 68). The author argues that members of the three groups have different principles, although their origin is similar. Members of the movement who belong to the Israel tribes have twelve doctrines. The major principle of this group is that one has to read the bible everyday and finish all the chapters in three and a half years. The Ethiopian followers believe that Marcus Garvey is their Christ while Haile Selassie is the king. Members wear turbans on their heads. The Nyabhingi believe in feeding on vegetables only as a way of honoring their faith (Barnett 102). Michael Barnett is an international relations researcher who has taught in Wisconsin and Minnesota Universities. Michael’s highest level of education is PhD, which he acquired from the University of Minnesota. Michael participates in peace building by researching methods of helping the society to maintain unity. The article is reliable for the research because it gives details about the practices of the Rastafarians. The author has explained the founders of these groups, their beliefs, and their way of life. These details will help the research in analyzing the similarities and differences in the three Rastafari groups. The article will also help the research in analyzing the development and changes in the beliefs of the Ethiopian and other branches of the Rastafari. Bonacci, Giulia. "The Ethiopian World Federation: A Pan-African Organisation among the Rastafari in Jamaica." Caribbean Quarterly 59.2 (2013): 73-143.print. The article describes how Rastafarians gained recognition in the world through the Ethiopian World Federation (EWF), an organization that was formulated by Melaku in 1937 (Bonacci 74). The head office of the association is located in New York, and its mission was to unite Ethiopians who lived in the country and abroad. The Ethiopian World Federation also aimed at teaching people the right morals that God accepts in the Bible. The association was developed in Jamaica in 1939 in Kingston. According to the author, eight hundred people registered as members of the association on the day of launching of the party (Bonacci 84). Bonacci also describes how several presidents of the party visited Ethiopia and Jamaica. The mission of the visits was to unify the practices of members in the two countries. Giulia Bonacci is an Ethiopian Rastafari who lives in Addis Ababa. Guilia is a researcher whose works concentrates on the Rastafarian religion and their practices. The researcher has written a book known as Exodus. Exodus is an annual festival that the Rastafarians celebrate every year in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. The article will help the research to find out how the Rastafari movement struggled for recognition in the world through the Ethiopian World Federation. The research will help in analyzing the collaboration of Rastafarians in Jamaica and Ethiopia, and the missions of the presidents of the EWF. The research will also help in finding out why the organization of the Rastafarians has failed to organize the association. The article is reliable because the writer is a member of the movement, and she has done extensive research of the religion. Dunkley, Daive A. "Leonard P. Howell's Leadership of the Rastafari Movement and His "Missing Years"." Caribbean Quarterly 58.4 (2012): 1-145. Print. In his article, Daive highlights the challenges that the Rastafari leaders experienced in their struggle to unify their party. Daive argues that Leonard Howell was among the first leaders of the religion, and despite the struggle to lead the Rastafarians in Jamaica, his leadership failed. Lack of education and poverty are the major reasons for failure of the leadership of Howell and Garvey (Dunkley 27). The article also describes the defeat of Howell by the Nazi Germans that led to the disappearance of the leader. Dunkley describes how the Rastafarians practiced peasant farming as the main economic activity. The article explains how the German police massacred the peasant farmers of Pinnacle, the town where Leonard was the leader, after his death (Dunkley 36). Drunkley Daive is a lecturer at the University of West Indies, in the history department. Daive specializes in research of the ancient and modern Caribbean. The researcher has written a book known as the agency of the Enslaved Jamaica. The article will help the research in analyzing the challenges that faced the early leadership of the Rastafari. The research will also help in comparing the lives of the past and present followers of the movement. The analysis will help the researcher in concluding the reasons for the disorganization of the Rastafarian religion. Emery, Marc. Rastafari; the secret history of the marijuana religion. Cannabis culture,28 Aug 2009. Web. 18 Oct 2013. (http://www.cannabisculture.com/content/rastafari-secret- history-marijuana-religion) The article describes the slavery and oppression that the citizen of Jamaica underwent that led to the formation of the Rastafari religion. Emery describes how slaves were exported to England through the Caribbean Sea to work on sugar farms. The article also describes how slaves escaped from the English farms to Kingston where they found better jobs (Emery 5). Slaves also escaped to Kingston because that was the only town where there was peace, and numerous black people had established homesteads in the region. Emery also describes how Garvey, the founder of the movement, travelled to England and United states. The aim of the travels was to negotiate for the end of the oppression that black people underwent in these regions. The author also discusses the leadership of Leonard Howell, and Bob Marley’s prophecy about the coming of Haile Selassie. Emery’s discussion explains the homosexuality views of the Rastafari, and the incorporation of white people in the religion. Marc Emery is the founder of the cannabis culture magazine, and he used to be a marijuana businessman in Canada before being imprisoned. The United States government imprisoned Emery for selling an illegal drug in the country. The article will help the research in analyzing the slavery of Jamaicans in England, which led to the formation of the Rastafarian movement. The analysis will discuss the development in the leadership of the movement from the time of Garvey, Howell, and Bob Marley. The article will also enable the researcher to find out how the white people joined the religion. David, Erin. Nature in the Rastafarian consciousness. The dread library, 22 April 1998. Web. 18Oct 2013. (http://debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/david.html) David describes how the Rastafari worship nature as a way of life. The worship is influenced by the belief of the group that living and non-living things in the world have a soul (David 4). The followers respect nature by co-existing with all the things on the earth. This means that they preserve the environment from destruction such as deforestation. According to David, the belief is similar to that of Indians, and this may prove that Rastafari is a religious movement. The article also discusses how the movement adopted the use of marijuana from Indian traders. David discusses the meaning of symbols such as dreadlocks, marijuana, and Babylon. David Erin, a member of the Rastafari movement, writes about the religion. The researcher contributes his ideas in the dread library, a website that is used to discuss the developments of the religion. The article will help the research to analyze the practices of the movement. The analysis will focus on the respect of nature and the meaning of symbols in the religion. The findings of the article will enable the researcher to compare Rastafari to Hindu religion. The article fails to discuss the limitations of the use of marijuana among members of the group. This is because the report highlights the origin and use of the drug; while it ignores the undesirable effects of smoking ganja. Cox, Lauren. Medical marijuana; benefits vs risks. Livescience, 5 Nov 2012. Web. 18 Oct 2013. (http://www.livescience.com/24554-medical-marijuana.html) Cox highlights the effects of the use of marijuana as a drug. The author argues that marijuana, which contains tetrahydrocannabinol, may have higher risks than benefits (Cox 4). The benefits of the drug include relieving pain and eliminating nausea; while the undesirable effects include lowering the immune system of the body, and interfering with efficient decision-making. According to Cox, some researchers argue that marijuana may cause cancer, although others oppose this postulation (Cox 6). This argument indicates that smoking of marijuana may be harmful to the body, and this may mean that Rastafarians may be spreading the incorrect gospel. Cox Lauren is a medical researcher who contributes his findings to Livescience website. Lauren specializes in studying the maintenance of beauty and health, although she has an interest in economics. The article about risks and benefits of marijuana will help the research in finding out the dark side of the Rastafari religion. The analysis will aim at finding out whether the undesirable effects of the use of the drug contribute to the criticisms of the religion. The author has failed to discuss details of the criticism of Rastafari, which results from the smoking of marijuana. Lacey, Katrina. Rastafari, reggae, and resistance. Performance and politics in the Americas,n.d. web. 18 Oct 2013. (http://hemi.nyu.edu/journal/2_1/lacey.html) Lacey, in her article, “Rastafari, reggae, and resistance,” discusses how the religion has experience resistance from the time it was formed. The resistance began in Jamaica when Garvey and Honnell were creating the movement. During this period, police brutalized members of the religion by cutting off their dreadlocks, and killing those who resisted western laws. Reggae music, which is associated with the faith, was also banned in Jamaica severally between 1970 and 1980 (Lacey 7). The government opposed Rastafari claiming that it was a cult, and that the practices of the followers such as growing dreadlocks were evil. Other critics of the religion argue that Rastafari is a political rather than religious movement. This is because members of the group contest for political seats in Jamaica unlike in other religions. The author is a student who claims to be a Jamaican from Tamara. Lucey’s parents are both Jamaican, and she believes in Rastafari despite the criticisms of the movement. Katrina is a student in Arizona University. The article will enable the research to analyze the criticisms of Rastafari movement. These criticisms shall be classified according to the basis, which include vague beliefs, political involvement, and association with reggae music, which is believed to be illogical. The author fails to discuss the criticisms of the movement that are associated with smoking of marijuana. Koepping, Elizabeth. World Christianity. London: Routledge, 2011. Print. Koepping analyses Christian’s views about Rastafari ranging from their beliefs to practices. The author discusses the Christian criticisms of the religion, one of them being the use of marijuana. Christians argue that marijuana is an illegal drug, which should not be accepted in any society (Koepping 89). Christians base their views on the researches that have been conducted about the undesirable effects of the drug. Most of the governments such as United States and Britain support Christians in criticizing the smoking of the drug. According to the author, Christians also criticize the movement for lack of organization (Koepping 90). Rastafaris have not established sacred regions where they worship like other religions, for example, Christians build churches while Muslims construct temples. This is an indication that the movement is a culture rather than a belief. The belief that non-living things such as stones have souls is also another basis of Christian criticism of the movement. Despite the attacks from criticisms, Christians support the movement in believing in Christ, preserving the environment, and reading the Bible (Koepping 104). Christian leaders, however, despise the followers of the religion for interpreting the Bible in an unacceptable manner. Elizabeth Koepping is a senior lecturer in the University of Edinburg. Koepping is the director of World Christianity center in the university, and she conducts studies about the Christian faith. Elizabeth is also a philanthropist. The text will help in the analysis of the criticisms and support of the Rastafari movement. The book will enable the researcher to find out Christians oppose the movement. Conclusion The above articles will help the research to study the origin of the Rastafari movement. This movement began in Jamaica in 1930, and it has since spread to Ethiopia, United States, and Britain. The spread of the practices of the movement in these regions indicate that it is popular, and should not be ignored. Followers of the Rastafari faith believe that Haile Selassie is the king of Judah, and he shall come to save them from the world. These believers argue that Ethiopia is the Promised Land, and they call it Mount Zion. Garvey and Leonard are other founders of the movement, and they led black people from slavery in Britain and England. The beliefs of the religion include growing dreadlocks, smoking marijuana, which they call ganja, worshipping nature, and eating vegetables. Critics of Rastafarians include Christians, who argue that the movement is political, lacks organization, has vague beliefs, and alter the meaning of the Bible. This information will help the researcher to make concise and reliable findings. Works Cited Barnett, Michael. "The Many Faces of Rasta: Doctrinal Diversity within the Rastafari Movement." Caribbean Quarterly 51.2 (2005): 67-112. Print. Bonacci, Giulia. "The Ethiopian World Federation: A Pan-African Organisation among the Rastafari in Jamaica." Caribbean Quarterly 59.2 (2013): 73-143. Print. Cox, Lauren. Medical marijuana; benefits vs risks. Livescience, 5 Nov 2012. Web. 18 Oct 2013. (http://www.livescience.com/24554-medical-marijuana.html) David, Erin. Nature in the Rastafarian consciousness. The dread library, 22 April 1998. Web. 18 Oct 2013. (http://debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/david.html) Dunkley, Daive A. "Leonard P. Howell's Leadership of the Rastafari Movement and His "Missing Years"." Caribbean Quarterly 58.4 (2012): 1-145. Print. Emery, Marc. Rastafari; the secret history of the marijuana religion. Cannabis culture,28 Aug 2009. Web. 18 Oct 2013. (http://www.cannabisculture.com/content/rastafari-secret-history-marijuana-religion) Hall, Tim. “Rastafarianism: origins and beliefs.” The telegraph, 12 Apr 2007. Web. 18 Oct 2013. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1548384/Rastafarianism-Origins-and-beliefs.html) Koepping, Elizabeth. World Christianity. London: Routledge, 2011. Print. Lacey, Katrina. Rastafari, reggae, and resistance. Performance and politics in the Americas, n.d. web. 18 Oct 2013. (http://hemi.nyu.edu/journal/2_1/lacey.html) Murrell, Nathaniel. “Jamaica: The Rastafarian movement.” Global exchange, n.d 2011. Web. 18 Oct 2013. (http://www.globalexchange.org/country/jamaica/rasta) Read More