Nature in the Rastafarian Consciousness Essay example

Nature in the Rastafarian Consciousness Living in harmony with the environment and the laws of Nature is one of the central ideas of Rastafarianism. To live in accordance with the Earth is to live in accordance with Jah; it is incorporated into the morality that is Rastafarian consciousness. The Rastas reverence for nature is influenced by the traditional African religions which are still practiced in Jamaica and which have also influenced Christianity on the island tremendously. Hinduism, too, has influenced many Rastafarian beliefs and practices. Through the Rastafarians calculated rejection of Western cultural norms they have come to realize capitalism and the environmental destruction it has caused as Babylon, a place of†¦show more content†¦Thus the religion of the slaves believed that,the entire realm of nature has been endowed with personal life; and every tree or plant, every river or stone, becomes a source of energy or power which may be used, abused, offended or destroyed (Morrish 17,1983.) Unlike in Haiti, where slaves wee virtually forced to accept Catholicism by the French, the British found their slaves to be unworthy of their religion. One hundred and sixty-one years after the British took over the Jamaican House of Assembly passed an act to bring Christianity into the lives of the slaves. However, opposition to the act was so strong among the British planters that no clergyman would risk the support of his parish in order to carry out the task. In fact, it was missionaries from outside of Jamaica that brought Christianity to the slaves. The Moravians, Methodists, and Baptists were the first to come. They were non traditional denominations that had exuberant services that fit into the excitement of Kumina ceremonies. What resulted from the influx of Christianity into the Afro-Jamaicans life was a religion that was basically a mix between the African tradition and the new Christianity (BarrettShow MoreRelatedBob Marley And The Wailers1654 Words   |  7 Pagesmusic genre that evolved from the Jamaican music style called ska, and was influenced by American rhythm and blues. Reggae contains many references Rastafarianism, which many consider the result of Bob Marley’s practice of integrating reggae with Rastafarian ideology. This paper serves to examine reggae, with special emphasis on a lyric analysis of Jamaican reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers. The major question this paper addresses the social context that led to the dominance of social criticismRead More A Sociological View of Rastafarianism Essay3688 Words   |  15 PagesJamaicans believed, was compensation for the deplorable state in which they found themselves.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Rastafarian way of living and their everyday activities began as a deviant social behavior, but rather was a routinization of the masses into one cohesive unit, following the same general creed under different principles. This point can be seen most specifically in the modern Rastafarian hairstyles. In â€Å"traditional Rastafarianism† most Rastas do not cut their hair but allow it to grow naturallyRead MoreA Sociological View of Rastafarianism3718 Words   |  15 Pagesunderrepresented Jamaicans believed, was compensation for the deplorable state in which they found themselves. The Rastafarian way of living and their everyday activities began as a deviant social behavior, but rather was a routinization of the masses into one cohesive unit, following the same general creed under different principles. This point can be seen most specifically in the modern Rastafarian hairstyles. In traditional Rastafarianism most Rastas do not cut their hair but allow it to grow naturallyRead MoreThe People Believe About Rastafarians2044 Words   |  9 PagesDespite what many people believe about Rastafarians, there are many misunderstandings. Many are set on calling any person that has dreadlocks, or anyone who lives away from the Rasta society. Reggae musicians, weed smokers and Jamaican lingo talkers are in the make beliefs of the Rastafarians. Clearly those exterior references only create a more confusing understanding of Rastafarians. For anyone to call themselves Rasta, one must know everything about their culture. Unlike other religions whereRead MoreThe Rastafari Mo vement: Seeking Understandig1727 Words   |  7 Pageshere familiar with the term Rastafarian? Could you provide some terms that come to mind when you think about Rastas? b. Reason to Listen: Unlike the popular negative conceptions, Rastafarianism is actually a movement that promotes positivity. c. Thesis statement: The Rastafari movement is a positive movement that promotes peace amongst all, self-respect, self -awareness, and respect for others. d. Credibility statement: I am of Jamaican and Rastafarian decent, and my family belongsRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pagesleft blank Foreword One of the most useful things about Ennis Edmondss Rastafari: From Outcasts to Culture Bearers is that it correctly traces the connection between the emergence of Rastafarianism and the history of resistance and black consciousness that has been part of the Jamaican experience for years. The truth is that there has always been a committed Jamaican counter- culture that celebrates and sees redemption in Africa and rejects the European values that have oppressed a societyRead More Garveyism and Rastafarianism Essay3979 Words   |  16 Pagesin the aftermath of the First World War. Rastafarianism was the second movement to emerge, lead by Leonard Howell during the depression years of the 1930’s. Garveyism and Rastafarianism are both resistance movements based on the same ideal: consciousness and essentialism of Africa and its descendants. The founding brethren of the Rastafari movement were Garveyites themselves, although not members of the Universal Negro Improvement Asscioation (UNIA), they agreed with and defended the principalsRead MoreReggae Is Not Only A Type Of Music1560 Words   |  7 Pagesof popular culture, reggae is able to be found in many communities, such as Native American, Aboriginal Australian, Hawaiian and Pacific. Reggae has a very well known and well defined associated culture. It must be kept in mind the appeal of the Rastafarian ‘lifestyle’ associated with the reggae genre. For many youth in indigenous communities, this lifestyle may be seen as more attractive than the music itself, hence why the popularity of the gen re in countries where youth are displaced, disenfranchisedRead More Rastafarian Symbolism In The Visual Arts Essay5414 Words   |  22 PagesRastafarian Symbolism In The Visual Arts Works Cited Missing [NOTE: BECAUSE OF CONCERN ABOUT RIGHTS, WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO POST THE IMAGES THIS ESSAY REFERS TO] Art has the power of liberating man from certain drudgeries and their way of life. A man who was born in the ghetto cant afford to be a Sunday painter, his whole life is involved in getting across his ideas; Rastafarianism, politics, Black culture and all that. Even our meeting here now is an artistic involvement. Some peopleRead MoreAnalysis Of Jan Johnsons The Soul Wound 1604 Words   |  7 Pagesgroup of nine Greek Goddesses who regulate the arts and sciences. It has often been used as a way to heal mental and emotional pain; â€Å"music speaks directly to the body through intuitive channels that are accessed at entirely different levels of consciousness from those associated with cognition† (The Music Effect.24). In Jan Johnson’s Soul Wound, Johnson discusses the historical trauma of Native Americans and the rage that is associated with it. This rage, as she later states, â€Å"is generally turned