From Rasta to Rastafringe

[messenger]

From Rasta to Rastafringe
published: Saturday | June 12, 2004

see pic, link at bottom
From left, Chisholm and Haile Selassie

Mark Dawes, Staff Reporter

EVANGELISM TARGETING members of the Rasta community form one of the major articles included in the June 2004 edition of Charisma magazine.

The article penned by Andy Butcher, a senior writer at Charisma, cites a trend in which the Rastafari movement is becoming less focused on the divinity of Emperor Haile Selassie I and is increasingly taking on a New Age character. The magazine dubs the trend 'Rastafringe'.

The Charisma story is seemingly written to give an overview of Rastafari to its overwhelming American readership. The writer seems to argue that Rastafari is increasingly evolving into a hazy spirituality.

To get 'a feel' for the 'Rasta vibe' the author recently attended the 6th Caribbean Reggae Festival held last November at Bicentennial Park in Miami. There he spoke with some in attendance to find out there relationship to Rastafari.

FUZZY SPIRITUALITY

The concert-goers, he described as "The predominantly college-age throng" who "have the same fuzzy spirituality and vague goodwill championed by their babyboomer elders ­ They are laid back rebels with a cause ­ even if they don't know exactly what it is."

The article quotes the Rev. Clinton Chisholm who now serves as Associate Pastor at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in South Florida, as saying that the Rastafringe "fills whatever lifestyle you want to live--There is no pressure on you ethically. It's an umbrella that doesn't put any pressure on you ­ you just love and enjoy your music and do your own thing-- It's significant in that every person who moves towards Rastafari, even if they are not really deep in conviction or commitment, is a harder person to win to Jesus."

Rasta researcher, Professor William Spencer of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, is quoted also. He estimates that 90 per cent of those in the Rastafringe come from Christian homes and are comfortable with Biblical threads in the movement but not with their former churches focus on moral absolutes.

VIRTUALLY ANTI-WHITE

The writer says "With no central doctrine ­ even among orthodox Rastas, views about such core issues as the divinity of both Selassie and Jesus vary widely ­ and no recognisable structure, Rastafari is hard to gauge definitively. But many researchers say that although the Rastafringe numbers in the millions, at the heart there are probably not many more than a million true believers."

The Rev. Mr. Chisholm observes that with the growing popularity of Rastafringe among young whites, this has the effect of blurring Rastafari as a distinctly black religion. Rastafari, Mr. Butcher, notes, was also distinctive in its formative years as being virtually anti-white.

Despite what the article describes as the growing New Age influence in Rastafari, the magazine points to the Twelve Tribes House of Rasta where it says Selassie is honoured but Jesus is highlighted as the Saviour.

Professor Spencer, who is the author of Dread Jesus and co-editor with Dr. Nathaniel Samuel Murrell, Adrian A. McFarlane, of Chanting Down Babylon: The Rastafari Reader told Charisma that though Rastafari is increasingly gaining a white following and acceptance, the movement is likely to remain at its core - a black identity movement.

He believes the best option for evangelism to Rastas is not to urge them to join up with an evangelical church as "this is not necessarily helpful." Instead, he said "If Rastas become better Rastas, they will follow Haile Selassie, and they will worship his Lord ­ Jesus."

EDITOR'S NOTE: Mind&Spirit in its December 16, 2003 edition published a story of an interview done in 1968 with Emperor Haile Selassie I by Dr. Oswald Hoffmann former host of the international radio programme 'The Lutheran Hour. Contained in the transcript of the broadcast are seemingly clear expressions by the Emperor of his Christian worldview, including his personal faith in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world.

www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040612/mind/mind1.html

[JAHchant]

this kind of reminds me of the christafarians,they provide instructions on how to talk to and convert rastas.

[messenger]

Yes, theres a lot of articles out about different topics like this. Heres another one:

www.jamaicaobserver.com/lifestyle/html/20040725T070000-0500_63399_OBS_THE_TROUBLE_WITH_ISLAM.asp

[JAHchant]

i wish everyone would just respect others religous beliefs,without bringing up the skin color or "my way is the only way"attitude. just let it be. these people are actually deconstructing the unity that everyone has worked so hard for. or this chosen one nonsense,we are all chosen to live.right i would like to equalize the nations of these race,class,gender issues. i guess it starts where you are standing. :)peace!

[Irieway420]

I think so too, religion is good in lots of ways and overrated in others. I like it to be personal and spiritual.

[messenger]

Ok, I've had a chance to read the first article, I usually post and never have a chance to read and discuss, but I'm glad that I read this, it is so true, a lot of the changes , well I never believed that rastafari was a black religion, so to say, not religion but way of life, I have known many whites from years back in the late 70's living the rasta way, and today there are so many other races practicing rastafari, I read it and see it.

I'm happy about living spiritually=natural,virtuous!

Back in the day, you didn't notice it , but today it is everywhere.

Rastafringe, is what they are calling it , because they claim that rasta's are becoming less focused on the Divinity of Haile Selassie.

I think that people enjoy the freedom of having a close relationship with Jah , a spiritual relationship, and we want to enjoy life knowing that he is within each of us and he gives us the freedom to be, and we are comfortable with reasoning about Jah and loving and living clean, we don't need religions and other guides. We like being connected and sharing what we've experienced and learning what others feel through reasoning sessions.

Yeah, we will become better Rasta's!

We are Rebels with a cause, and we do know what it is.

ONE LOVE

[JAHchant]

wow, nice words messenger!
i am considered "white"and i believe in the divinity of haile selassieI.i also believe in the divinity of all the living beings.we all have bodies filled with the light and spirit of JAH.(should we choose to recognise it).
i do think the rasta way is focusing more on unity,and change,rather than the oldest debate of beliefs vs. factology.

a great nation is like a man:
when he makes a mistake,he realizes it.
having admitted it,he corrects it.
he considers those who point out his faults
as his most benevolent teachers.
he thinks of his enemy
as theshadow that he himself casts. -tao te ching-

[Irieway420]

I notice lots of people here in New Orleans are wearing natural hair styles like dreads and I hear about groups and have been invited to some but I work nights and most weekends and have not been able to attend. But I believe that many people find that if they pratice spirituality and become one with God they build strength within themselves to be able to live in what we call babylon. Other steps would be changing the way we eat and live.