The Rastafarian movement is a Religious cult that sprang up from Jamaica in the early 1920's - 30's, following the teachings of Marcus Garvey. They follow Emperor Haile Selassie whose name was Ras Tafari before his enthronement. Ratafarians believe as the Bible teaches that God is a spirit. However, this spirit manifested in and represented by the King H.I.M. Emperor Haile Selassie I, who the nations of Babylon have conspired against, (see Psalms2). This spirit of God, through the grace of Jesus Christ also lives in the hearts of all believers. They said there is no other name by which man receives salvation but through the name and belief in Jesus Christ.
To them, Jesus Christ was a direct descendant of King David. This family of King David is represented today by the Ethiopian Solomonic Dynasty bearing Ethiopian and Shemetic physical characteristics. Hence, any artistic representation of Jesus Christ should therefore logically bear similar physical characteristics of living family members descended from this Royal House. Thus reject Michael Angelo's painting representing Jesus and Mary with Blonde hair and blue eyes. This misrepresentation of the racial characteristics of Jesus and Mary by European artist (which defies geography) is significant in that it can affect the national pride and self denied of this joy and dignity in accepting the reality that Jesus and Mary were people who looked like black people (Africans). The psychological damage to Africans in perpetuating the myth of the past and coming white redeemer may be that of seeking outside of their own kith and kin for a solution of their condition.
They believe themselves to be the original Lost Tribes of Israel that were once scattered, but now found because of the preservation and appearing of Judah, David's seed, in the person of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, and that they will be returned to Ethiopia by God's will and power which they see as there Zion as against Israel.
For more info, visit; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastafari_movement
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