Positive Influences of Rastafarianism.
The roots of Rastafarianism can be traced back as far as the 1780s when a few slave preachers adopted "Ethiopianism," or the Ethiopian Baptist church. The more true roots of Rastafarianism, however, came much more recently with Marcus Garvey's Black Africa Movement. On the eve of Garvey's departure from Jamaica for the US, he said "look to Africa for the crowning of a Black King; he shall be the Redeemer" (Cutri). Therefore, those who followed Garvey's teachings took it as a revelation from God when Ras Tafari was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930 (Life and Times). These followers viewed Ras Tafari, later know as Haile Selassie, as the living God for the black race and are therefore known as Rastafarians. Although many classify certain facets of this religion unethical, the principles of Rastafarianism embed a glimmer of positivity in an increasingly negative society.
Although people often latch on to their hatred towards Babylon, the Rasta's hope for Zion follows the Rastafarian guidelines more closely. Many of those opposed to the religion feel threatened by the Rastafarian's strong opposition to Babylon. The mere fact that Rastafarian's created the term "Babylon," the white political power structure that has been holding the black race down for centuries, frightens those in power (Rastafarian). Those opposed to the religion view Babylon as a manifestation of the Rastafarian's hatred for the government and the entire white race. This idea of Babylon did not originate with the religion; on the contrary, this view was not instilled until the second-generation of Rastas came along (Lieblich). The antithesis of Babylon, Zion develops the Rasta ideology of serenity. Rastafarians commonly use the term "Zion" when referring to any known ancient or possible future holy land (Zion). Many Rastafarians, when reading the .
Edwards ii.
Biblical story of Adam and Eve, look upon Ethiopia as the Garden of Eden mentioned in the Bible, a theory supported often by archaeologists who view Africa, "particularly in the Horn, [as] the cradle of civilization" (Zion).
