Rastafari

[Omi]

I have been wondering for quite some time now, what is a general communist stance on the ideology/religion of Rastafari?
I have been thinking about it because a lot of young people around me seem to idolize Bob Marley, and other reggea artists, and the presumed rasta-lifestyle this music promoted.

But what is behind the herb-smoking and sun-dwelling, what are the political stances of this religion, and how did it evolve. Did it play a part in the class struggle against imperialist britain?
And besides that, what was the regime of Haile Selassie like, who the Rastafari seem to idolize?

If anyone can suggest a good article or something about this subject, I would be very grateful.

Peace out.

[nuisance]

Traditionally, so I recall, it's racist and homophobic, despite the general western notion of it solely being about smoking weed.

Ain't read all this, but it seems informative- http://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/general/bldef_rastafarians.htm

["Red Scum"]

Its Christianity, of course its racist and homophobic comrade :rolleyes:

[Omi]

Traditionally, so I recall, it's racist and homophobic, despite the general western notion of it solely being about smoking weed.

Ain't read all this, but it seems informative- http://atheism.about.com/library/glossary/general/bldef_rastafarians.htm

I read the article, and it was pretty informative. But it only contained some basic information about the belief system itself, which I am already pretty aware of. Thank you though, maybe someone else will gain some insight from it!

But the problem is, I could not find an article about it from a revolutionary perspective, which is why I turned to this site to ask for it. ;)

[blake 3:17]

TABULA RASTA: gANJA: BAD BRAINS: RIP bOB mARLEY

[Weezer]

TABULA RASTA: gANJA: BAD BRAINS: RIP bOB mARLEY


:rolleyes:

[Omi]

Someones been hittin the ganja a little to hard so it seems...:rolleyes:

[ReggaeCat]

wll actually communists are against of any drugs (heroine,coca,ganja,LSD) and so it would not be welcomed at an socialist circle the way of smoking weed abd chillin caus eyou loose your revolutionary mission by being asleeped and such ..xDtho there are many researches that tells us that ganja is not addictive and so..but still...about rastas i dont know a lot they kinda primitivist also they share a lot of christian and jew symbols..not very kind of em although reggae music ahs a lot of talented musicians who are not rastas but they speak about revolts and freedoms and such...dont forget that babylon is like capitalism and they have and very slightly anticapitalistic feeling..:)

[Chicano Shamrock]

wll actually communists are against of any drugs (heroine,coca,ganja,LSD) and so it would not be welcomed at an socialist circle the way of smoking weed abd chillin caus eyou loose your revolutionary mission by being asleeped and such ..xDtho there are many researches that tells us that ganja is not addictive and so..but still...about rastas i dont know a lot they kinda primitivist also they share a lot of christian and jew symbols..not very kind of em although reggae music ahs a lot of talented musicians who are not rastas but they speak about revolts and freedoms and such...dont forget that babylon is like capitalism and they have and very slightly anticapitalistic feeling..:)
Maybe the "communists" you hang around but most of us don't take a stand against drugs. Communist does not equal straight edge.

It is a separate issue if someone is heavily abusing a drug though.

[ComradeMan]

Most rastafarians I have known, the real ones that is- not just fashion dreads, were some of the most decent people I have ever had the privilige to meet. As for the rasta doctrine, well, I don't see how it can easily meet with communism. Even the name takes itself from Heile Selassie, the King of Kings, and so a global monarchy-theocracy with the Solomonic house of Prince Tafari is not exactly communism is it? Re the cannabis use, the true rastas only smoke pure cannabis as part of their visionary experience and as it was probably used by peoples all over the world for millenia! They refrain from meat, alcohol and tobacco- the latter two being the drugs of capitalist society.

There is a problem however with rastafarianism, as usual, that some groups have some tenets which could be seen as racist and also they rely on Old Testament/Tanakh scripture too, to the letter in many cases. However the rastafarians I knew were not in one bit racist or intollerant, so speak as you find.

PS I knew some who didn't even smoke cannabis.

[ReggaeCat]

Maybe the "communists" you hang around but most of us don't take a stand against drugs. Communist does not equal straight edge.

It is a separate issue if someone is heavily abusing a drug though.

well..talking about coca and heroine...where is the line of heavily abusing and slightly abusing???cause i know they're pretty addictive..and most of us SHOULD take a stand against drugs seeing that you cant really be free when you're addicted

[Dimentio]

I have been wondering for quite some time now, what is a general communist stance on the ideology/religion of Rastafari?
I have been thinking about it because a lot of young people around me seem to idolize Bob Marley, and other reggea artists, and the presumed rasta-lifestyle this music promoted.

But what is behind the herb-smoking and sun-dwelling, what are the political stances of this religion, and how did it evolve. Did it play a part in the class struggle against imperialist britain?
And besides that, what was the regime of Haile Selassie like, who the Rastafari seem to idolize?

If anyone can suggest a good article or something about this subject, I would be very grateful.

Peace out.

Haile Selassie used to give his dogs geese while the people starved.

[CELMX]

wll actually communists are against of any drugs (heroine,coca,ganja,LSD) and so it would not be welcomed at an socialist circle the way of smoking weed abd chillin caus eyou loose your revolutionary mission by being asleeped and such ..xDtho there are many researches that tells us that ganja is not addictive and so..but still...about rastas i dont know a lot they kinda primitivist also they share a lot of christian and jew symbols..not very kind of em although reggae music ahs a lot of talented musicians who are not rastas but they speak about revolts and freedoms and such...dont forget that babylon is like capitalism and they have and very slightly anticapitalistic feeling..:)

there are many commies that smoke weed... (as a recreational activity)
i mean, come on, there's even a stoner's thread (http://www.revleft.com/vb/stonertalk-iii-t125108/index.html) :D

[MilitantWorker]

omi your avatar scares me

[Omi]

Of course it does, Chuck Norris scares us all.

[Commiechu]

They also have an extreme distaste for "Isms" believing that Capital"ism", Social"ism", Commun"ism", and other "Isms" over complicate the world, they especially reject the western trend of calling their religion Rastafarian"ism" but all in all their religion does have a bit of a revolutionary character, so it is hard to say.

[Quail]

Apologies for the off-topic reply =\


well..talking about coca and heroine...where is the line of heavily abusing and slightly abusing???cause i know they're pretty addictive..and most of us SHOULD take a stand against drugs seeing that you cant really be free when you're addicted

You can't really be free when you don't have the right what to do with your own body. There is a difference between using and abusing I think, using being using responsibly and abusing being using as a coping mechanism. Ideally, society would not stigmatise problems such as drug dependence, and so people would be able to get support if they found themselves in that situation, or even before they felt the need to turn to drugs. Also, there would be real, unbiased information about using drugs safely available to everyone so that they can make an informed choice about whether the risks are worth the experience.

[therockman]

Rastafarians are Christian, so you have to consider everything they say and do with that in mind. They preach Zionism amongst themselfs, so they are a dangerous political group.

[Commiechu]

Something I suppose I should mention is that like many other religions Rastafari does have a Revolutionary history (Mostly inherited from Christianity) There are even some Rastas with Egalitarian ideas, one that comes to mind is Max Romeo with his song "Revelation Time/Hammer and Sickle"

[Communist]

.

To Religion, from Theory.

Moved.

.

[Invincible Summer]

Verbal Warning to Gangsterio for flaming. Keep it civil and constructive.