Marcus Garvey is credited to be the founder of the religion. Marcus Garvey directed the philosophical ideologies and ideas that turned into the Rastafarian Movement (Rastafarian: An Overview 1). Garvey was a social and political revolutionary who wanted blacks to achieve full and equality in society. He spoke out against poverty, oppression, and inequality (1). Those social problems became the three main things that Rastafarians fought against. Marcus Garvey also told the Rastafarians to "look to Africa for the crowning of a black king, for he shall be the redeemer" (1). A short while after Marcus Garvey made that speech, Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned Emperor of Ethiopia. Rastafarians believe that Ras Tafari Makonnen was the black king of whom Garvey spoke ("The Rastafarian Religion" 1). People say that Marcus Garvey is second only to Ras Tafari in spiri

Another symbol of the Rastafarians is the Lion of Judah. This represents Haile Selassie I, the Conqueror (3). It also represents the king of kings, as the lion is the king of the jungle (3). Others believe that it represents the male majority of the movements (3). This is believed because most Rastafarians are male and a lion is more masculine (3). Haile Selassie I wore a Lion of Judah ring that was given to Bob Marley at the time of Selassie's death, but the ring disappeared after Bob Marley's death ("The Rastafarian Religion" 1).

Haile Selassie I was the emperor of Ethiopia. Ethiopia is now considered Rastas Heaven on Earth ("Rastafarianism" 6). In Ethiopia there is no afterlife or heaven or hell as Christians believe (6). Ethiopia is also referred to as Zion (6). "Rasta believes that Jah will send a signal and help finance the black exodus back to Ethiopia" (6). Any news from Ethiopia is taken very seriously by the Rastafarians as a warning to get ready to leave.

All true Rastafarians are vegetarians. A food called I-tal is the only food they will eat. I-tal is a special food that never touches a chemical, and it never comes from a can ("The Rastafarian Religion" 2). This food is cooked but served in the rawest form possible ("Rasta's Symbols" 3). It is served without salt or any other preservatives (3). Those Rastas who do eat meat are forbidden to eat pig, because they are regarded as “scavengers” of the land (3). They can eat fish but it must be less than 12 inches long (3). They cannot eat crabs, lobsters, or shrimp because they are the “scavengers” of the sea (3). Rastas can only drink herbal drinks, such as tea (3). They cannot drink liquor, milk, coffee, or soft drinks, because they are viewed as unnatural (3). These dietary laws are also found in the Old Testament.

The Rastafarian religion never had many leaders to guide them, but one of the earliest leaders was Leonard Howell. Leonard Howell spoke out against wrong, ("Rastafarianism" 3) and was arrested by the Jamaican government for preaching revolutionary doctrine (2). His arrest helped shape the movements organizational structure because it made the religion leaderless, in fear that successive leaders might be arrested.(3). This decision has strengthened their movement by keeping everyone equal and no one a leader (3). Social equality is a high priority or value among Rastafarians. The Rastafarian religion is a young religion and has only a few important events in its history. One important event was when Haile Selassie I visited Jamaica on April 21, 1966 (2). His visit to Jamaica signaled two things for the Rastafarians. It started a Holy Day for the Jamaicans to celebrate and he told them not to emigrate from Jamaica to Afric

Some topics in this essay:
Rastafarian Religion, Haile Selassie, Rasta's Symbols, Babylon Rastafarian, Marcus Garvey, Leonard Howell, Bob Marley, Earth Rastafarianism, Dreadlocks Rastafarians', Rasta's Symbolism, rastafarian religion, haile selassie, marcus garvey, religion 1, rastafarian religion 1, emperor haile, ras tafari, 1 haile selassie, reggae music, 1 haile, lion judah, rasta's symbols, emperor haile selassie, ras tafari makonnen, twelve tribes israel,