Rastafarianism, also known as Rastafari or Rasta, is an Abrahamic religion that formed in Jamaica during the 1930s. Great diversity exists in the movement, as there is no central authority or official set of doctrines.
Rastas believe in a single God (Jah) who partially resides in everyone. Most believe that Jah took human form as Jesus Christ, and that Ethiopia emperor Haile Selassie was the second coming of Christ and Jah incarnate. Others believe Selassie was simply a human prophet. Rastafari is Afrocentric and considers Western society to be ‘Babylon.’ Some expand this idea into black supremacy. Cannabis is considered a sacrament.
Haile Selassie described himself as a devout Christian and, when asked about the idea that he was the second coming of Jesus, said, “I have heard of this idea. I also met certain Rastafarians. I told them clearly that I am a man, that I am mortal, and that I will be replaced by the oncoming generation, and that they should never make a mistake in assuming or pretending that a human being is emanated from a deity.”
