Why do Rastafarians worship Emperor Haile Selassie?

Rastafari, sometimes called Rastafarianism, is a religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. It is classified as both a new religious movement and a social movement by scholars of religion. There is no central authority in control of the movement and much diversity exists among practitioners, who are known as Rastafari, Rastafarians, or Rastas.

Rastafari beliefs are based on a specific interpretation of the Bible. Central is a monotheistic belief in a single God, referred to as Jah, who is deemed to partially reside within each individual. Rastas accord key importance to Haile Selassie, the emperor of Ethiopia between 1930 and 1974; many regard him as the Second Coming of Jesus and Jah incarnate, while others see him as a human prophet who fully recognized Jah's presence in every individual. Rastafari is Afrocentric and focuses attention on the African diaspora, which it believes is oppressed within Western society, or "Babylon". Many Rastas call for this diaspora's resettlement in Africa, a continent they consider the Promised Land, or "Zion". Some practitioners extend these views into black supremacism. Rastas refer to their practices as "livity". Communal meetings are known as "groundations", and are typified by music, chanting, discussions, and the smoking of cannabis, the latter regarded as a sacrament with beneficial properties. Rastas emphasise what they regard as living "naturally", adhering to ital dietary requirements, wearing their hair in dreadlocks, and following patriarchal gender roles.

Rastafari originated among impoverished and socially disenfranchised Afro-Jamaican communities in 1930s Jamaica. Its Afrocentric ideology was largely a reaction against Jamaica's then-dominant British colonial culture. It was influenced by both Ethiopianism and the Back-to-Africa movement promoted by black nationalist figures such as Marcus Garvey. The religion developed after several Protestant Christian clergymen, most notably Leonard Howell, proclaimed that Haile Selassie's crowning as Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930 fulfilled a Biblical prophecy. By the 1950s, Rastafari's countercultural stance had brought the movement into conflict with wider Jamaican society, including violent clashes with law enforcement. In the 1960s and 1970s, it gained increased respectability within Jamaica and greater visibility abroad through the popularity of Rastafari-inspired reggae musicians, most notably Bob Marley. Enthusiasm for Rastafari declined in the 1980s, following the deaths of Haile Selassie and Marley, but the movement survived and has a presence in many parts of the world.

The Rastafari movement is decentralised and organised on a largely sectarian basis. There are several denominations, or "Mansions of Rastafari", the most prominent of which are the Nyahbinghi, Bobo Ashanti, and the Twelve Tribes of Israel, each offering a different interpretation of Rastafari belief. There are an estimated 700,000 to 1,000,000 Rastafari across the world. The largest population is in Jamaica, although small communities can be found in most of the world's major population centres. Most Rastafari are of black African descent, and some groups accept only black members.

[missmarya]

Only one God, that is the God of Abraham, Issac & Jacob. Who sits on the throne. Who is THE ALPHA AND OMEGA.

[solorina]

I'm Ethiopian but only Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Selassi was a highly respected man, however he was only human and is dead today. Jesus is not dead. He lives. Follow The Living God people.

[JahBlessTravels]

Thanks for sharing, enjoyed watching the video and learning more about Jah people....

[waynesmith]

Yahushua the messiah son of Yahweh is the only hope of salvation, Selassie was only a king on earth

[shonemarcus]

Rest in peace: "King-Haile-$alassie." Emperor of Ethiopian Utopia! God bless his soul & everyone involved with
the#Emperor channel#101

[michaelmitchell]

Jesus too was a man. God lives in all men. Jah Rastafari

[philliplyn]

Loving this one thanks for sharing very information blessed love to all knowledge is power hopefully everyone pays attention keep up the good work 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[clintonhines]

Yah rastafari is the protectorate of all human faith and Ruler of the universe. Babylon be still ❤️💛💚🇬🇭

[alisonhaggard]

From a child he had a mission .And, that mission was to make Ethiopia stand strong . He came as. a simple man , who never seek to be worship . Until. his people unite and become. Of one mind , body and soul .

[asagemini]

Many inaccurate statements were made from the outset of this video which would heavily mislead the new listener into concepts about “Rastafarian” faith which the narrator of the video cannot substantiate. It is imperative, even if only for educative purposes, that distinctions are made about the contrasting ‘beliefs’ between the various houses of the Rastafarian practice. The blanket statements made here about how the Rastafarians reached conclusions about Haile Selassie’s divinity, if at all, are overwhelmingly generic and fail to pinpoint the culture or “livity” of Rasta which goes beyond the words and/or works of Haile Selassie but instead takes root in antiquity, honouring the memory of the first original inhabitants of earth who lived in accordance with the laws of Nature before Scripture became indicative. If one needs elaboration on this, then it is necessary for the curious mind to simply speak to 10 Rasta adherents who will, in an intimate and deeper reasoning, elude to the conceptualisation of what ‘god’ is, in which you will find that no single perception is uniform. Further misrepresentations were made in this video when the narrator asserts what’s Rastafarians “believe” about King Solomon and Queen Makeda of Sheba, without mention of writings such as Kebra Nagast “Glory of Kings” which in the Ethiopian religious framework is something of an extracurricular bit of reading for the avid Bible reader. Kebra Nagast, in addition to the book of Kings in the Bible states that the King Solomon and Queen Makeda consummated and conceived a child, this wasn’t simply the unwarranted belief of the Rastafarians. This was quite a discrepancy which highlights the bias of the video to depict the faith as something of lunacy and without complexity. The new listener should be advised that this video should only be taken literally from 3:20 when facts are being presented about His Imperial Majesty, which one should also note neither imagines his so-called divinity nor detracts from it, for they are not opinions but historically verified events e.g. birthplace, forming the OAU.

[RudyTheInternetGod]

He protect those that just wanna chill and relax🙏🏾

[JSTNtheWZRD]

Because he was an African king, calling the shots, finally after all those years, he looked like the messiah to a put down people - a black man in power was a beauty to behold and there were already traditions in place, he fit perfect right into the whole mythic reality of it - in my opinion

[fixitmaraj]

Believing is one thing, knowing is another thing .What u believe u do not know.A person must be inspired to live his or her own way of life Just apply your inner you to figure why it is like that.All Prophets n Messengers has gotten great flights, even from their own households and was being accepted by strangers instead.Only then they were greeted by their own because that is indeed the Power of D Creator speaking through that individual (Jah in flesh)🙏 Note: "If you cannot see me in the seeing things, how can you see me in the unseen" .All Prophets and Messengers of D Creator are doing D Creator's will and they are doing it for All Humanity regardless of Race Color and Creed Just follow the truth of how they teach their own people n you teach yours because that is their way of life and their development 🤔🙏 U cannot love D Creator and hate anyone, protect urself, hating funny ways isn't hating the person .critics isn't hate, leave them alone and they will come running home 🏠 Continue to do Jah works all the time without hate n race n being bias because He's for All Humanity . Blessings 🙏 to all of us The same way Equally ❤️💛💚🖤🇬🇾🇬🇾🙏

[kurzeful]

Jah bless!! King Selassie the first, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, conquering the lion of the tribe of Judah. May Jah guide you throughout creation.

[lisaspikes]

I would have liked this video if I were able to follow the narration. It was difficult to understand that robot voice. Too bad.

[maregalhabeshi]

I’m Ethiopian, and I really don’t want Jesus Christ The Only Lord and King of king to be compered with Selassie. May all Jamaican see the Truth, Selassie was just a Human

[stevesutton]

There is only one name given among man that we can be save and is Jesus at the name of Jesus every knees shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord.

[michaelclarke]

HIS KINGDOM HAS COME, AND HIS WILL HAS BEEN FULFILL ON EARTH AND NONE CAN CHANGE THAT.

[delawaredoomoho]

5:35 king neegas (however its spelled) had me pretty bad over there 😭😭😭😭😭😂😂😂

[hazzuladesouza]

During my awakening stage I remember having horrible dreams about being chased by evil spirits I was so scared and as I was about to give up I saw HIM stretch his hand out and saved me. It’s so much more to say. After that experience I know that Rasta is the way.