The Rastafarian Movement

The Rastafarian movement is less about acceptance of a set of doctrines and more about the way one lives. For the Rastafarian, it is the way of life that is extremely important. There are, however, certain fundamental moral principles which most Rastafarians would strive to put into practice, beginning with the the two great commandments which enjoin the love of JAH and the love of thy neighbor. These two commandments, along with others, can be best kept in a natural situation; that is, in a sense where living conforms to the laws of nature.

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For the Rastafarian, it also means living in a society where obedience to its laws is the bedrock of morality and righteous living. In practice, living naturally means living off the land. It means producing ones own food and respecting the land's sacred character by refusing to use it as a commercial commodity to be sold for profit. Rastafarians are aware and very careful of the traps of Babylon or one risks becoming almost totally dependent for one's pleasure and comfort on "artificial" techniques and gadgets which enslave I-N-I, both mentally and physically. Also, it will cut I-N-I off from all real contact with nature. Rastafarians must test what they hear and read, discerning truth by intuitive overstanding (understanding) and experience. This can be done by communicating or head-resting with JAH on an individual basis and also collectively at reasoning sessions or groundings, where members develop and articulate an overstanding of themselves and the world derived from reflection on the bible and their own history and experience as individuals.

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It is our claim that the bible (in translation) was originally written in stone in Amharic, which cannot be literally taken. The translators, ignorant of Amharic, mistranslated some sections and omitted other sections in order to conceal things. Through meditation which puts I-N-I in communication with JAH, and through experience and intuitive knowledge I-N-I come to realize what is true and what is false in the bible, and the extent and meaning of sections omitted and thereby arrive at a rounded faithful rendering of its contents. Approached critically in this way, the bible can be used to interpret the past, present, and predict the future. 

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But, what it teaches can never be divorced from what is learnt from the book that's within yourself, from intuition and experience, which comes from the inner divine presence. From what has just been said, it is clear that ultimately the most valid criterion for establishing truth is personal experience. We do not wish to be led by others, but prefer to listen to and be guided by JAH. I-N-I should remain skeptical about everything I-N-I hear and read until I-N-I test or discern its truth by intuitive experience, which is the principal means of validating the truth. Of course, the knowledge that JAH dwells within provides the rationale for this individual autonomy and ability to discover truth.

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From experience and correct reading of the bible, which substantiates what is learnt from experience, I-N-I claim to possess true knowledge about JAH, man, and the purpose of history, as distinct from mere faith. I-N-I does not simply believe in JAH, I-N-I knows JAH and JAH's purpose for people. Knowing JAH is ultimately a matter of knowing oneself, of realizing ones potential, of enhancing respect for the self, but also shielding it against doubt. Mere belief, then, is not something that appeals to I-N-I. Our religious quest consists of knowing with certainty who I-N-I is and where I-N-I is going; in determining events rather than being determined by them; in exchanging the mentality and status of slavery imposed upon I-N-I by Babylon for that of a KING. Knowing is not meant to mean, of course, the rational approach for overstanding of the philosopher, but something closer to the biblical meaning of the term as found in such passages BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM JAH.

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RASTAFARI!