A Sociological View of Rastafarianism Essay - 3688 Words

Organized religion is a duality between the religion and the church which represents it. Sometimes the representation of the religion is marred and flawed to those who view it because of the bureaucracy contained within. Unknown to those who gaze upon the dissolved morals and values of what is perceived to be the contradiction known as modern religion, it was never intended to be this way. Most religions started off as a sect, a minor detail on the fringes of the society it never wanted to represent. Rastfarianism is such a sect. The differences between Rastafarianism and a normal â€Å"mainstream† religion are numberless, including: no set membership, no authoritative leader, no offices of authority, no trained clergy and no involvement with†¦show more content†¦He saw African civilization as anterior to all others and used bible verses which were easily interpretable to portray Africans as the chosen people mentioned in the bible, as in Psalm 68: â€Å"Princes shal l come out if Egypt and Ethiopia shall stretch forth his hands onto God† (Barret 78). Garvey’s persistence culminated in the crowning of Ras Tafari as Negus of Ethiopia. He took the name Haile Selassie and added â€Å"King of Kings† and the â€Å"Lion in the Tribe of Judah†, placing himself in the legendary line of King Soloman, and therefore, in the same line as Jesus Christ of Roman Catholicism. Out of this came Rastafarianism which took over Jamaica at a time when it was â€Å"in a low tide economically and socially. Socially, people experienced the brunt of the Depression as well as disaster due to a devastating hurricane. Politically, colonialism gripped the country and the future of the masses looked hopeless. Any doctrine which that promised a better hope and a better day was ripe for hearing† (Barret 84). Weber analyzed conditions such as these as a theodicy of suffering. â€Å"One can explain suffering and injustice by refrying to individual sin committed in former life, to the guilt of ancestors . . . to the wickedness of all people. As compensatory promised one can refer to hopes of the individual for a better life in the future of this world or to the for the successors, or to a better life in the hereafter† (Weber 275). In other words, those who are disadvantaged in aShow MoreRelatedA Sociological View of Rastafarianism3718 Words   |  15 Pagesthe religion is marred and flawed to those who view it because of the bureaucracy contained within. Unknown to those who gaze upon the dissolved morals and values of what is perceived to be the contradiction known as modern religion, it was never intended to be this way. Most religions started off as a sect, a minor detail on the fringes of the society it never wanted to represent. Rastfarianism is such a sect. The difference s between Rastafarianism and a normal mainstream religion are numberlessRead More Nature in the Rastafarian Consciousness Essay example3436 Words   |  14 PagesNature 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, tooRead MoreEssay Webers Approach to Religion and Sociology1706 Words   |  7 Pages Webers general approach to sociology is known as verstehen sociology; that human action is directed by meaning and that action can only be understood by appreciating the world-view of the social actor concerned. Since religion is an important component of the social actors world-view, religious beliefs can direct social action, and hence bring about social change. In The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Weber explores the relationship between religiousRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 Pagesus to survive and thrive This page intentionally left 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 rejectsRead MoreSlavery in Latin America vs Us3432 Words   |  14 Pagesabout many changes, with respect to African-Americans and black culture. Those changes had long lasting effects, not only on how blacks view and are viewed in society, but also on how the destruction of our culture influenced our current life-style today in United States and Latin America. Skin color is still an important factor in today’s society, due to the sociological affects from slavery, which started over 500 years ago. After the conquest, Latin America was referred to as the New World,