Rastafari: A Collaboration of Multiple Religions?

This weeks assignment was to watch the following video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCUy48bt3B8 ) and the comment on variuos symbols we find and what it says about Rastafarian beliefs. What I learned from this video is that Rastafarian principles come from a variety of religions. For example, one man named Ancient was taped saying that he wakes up at 3 am, 9 am, noon, and 6 pm for Psalms. (Or at least I think he said Psalms). The Psalms, as we learned, is practiced in the Christian faith, so already we see a bit of Christianity being incorporated into Rastafari. Ancient also explains that it is a daily ritual, which is very similar to the religion of Islam which requires its followers to pray five times a day, which I believe is called Salah. Sabath, which is practiced in the Jewish religion, is also practiced in Rastafari.

To further prove this point, I've included a picture on the left. I typed in "Rastafari" into Google, and this is one of the images that came up. This image shows that Rastafari is a religion about unity, as it so clearly says in the image.

What I find confusing, though, is the white and black hands touching. This suggests equality between races. However, in the youtube video there is a poster of a black "R" over a white "X" which is meant to symbolize "good over evil". This indicates that the white race is evil, so why in this picture are the two races uniting? Also, if white is viewed as evil, how does Rastafari claim to be a religion about unity? This seems ironic.

I didn't know much about Ethiopia at all prior to reading this story. Actually, I didn't really know anything about it except that it was in Africa.

I really liked that the Queen of Sheba ruled Ethiopia for six years, alone. I think it says a lot about the country. I mean, look at our country: Just now, 2009, we have a black a president in office, and a woman running for president.

Religiuosly speaking, I disocvered Christianity and Judaism are faiths heavily centered in Ethopia. Ethiopia plays a role in Christian and Jewish faiths. The fact that their line of kings descended from king Solomon gives a lot of strength to their country. While Jerusalem is often gone to on pilgrimages, not going to Ethiopia is like only understanding part of one's religion. So this story gives a lot of significance not only to Jews and Christians around the world, it also gives an identity to the peoples of Ethiopia.

Learning about a country's past kings is a great way to help you understand their religion. Not only do we understand about religion, but we learn alot about a country's history and values.

Symbolic Numbers

In St. Augustine teachings he explain the significance of why we fast for forty days.  He explains that four is how everything is divided.  For example, the four seasons, or the four different parts of the day.  Four seemed to represent an idea of universality.  Then I googled some websites to find more information on the number four and it's symbolism.

I found what St. Augustine was saying about numbers and their symbolism to be very interesting so I went online to find some other interpretations and their symbolism. Here is the website: http://vic.australis.com.au/hazz/Numbers.html

According to the various websites I googled, four represents the idea of creation.  The fourth verse of the bible reads: And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

I think it is interesting the symbolism of numbers, and how in different religions they represent different things.  It says a lot about religion, I believe.  I think it shows the religion is about interpretation, which is where the values come from.  

St. Augustine on Christian Teaching Book II

In Book II, St. Augustine spends a great deal of time discussing the idea of symbols and the ways in which we can and cannot interpret them.  She also expresses that ones "fear of God is the beginning of wisdom" and "those who fear God...seek the will of God".  I interpreted this to mean that we must understand that God is a transcendental being, and when we do this we, naturally, will fear God.  This isn't a negative thing however.  It simply means that God holds ultimate power, and we must look to God for help and guidance.  I believe that this idea is differently prevalent throughout the Psalms.  What I got from reading the Psalms is that if we put our faith in God, and follow certain requests (i.e. do good, commit no sin ... ) then God will protect us.  I think this is an idea underlies the basic ideals of most religions.  

Tattoos and Piercings

I know this doesn't have much to do with Psalm 18, however, me and my friend were talking today about how in Judaism it's against "Jewish law" to pierce and tattoo ones body.  People with tattoos and piercings are not allowed to be burried in a Jewish cemetery.  I find this interesting that not getting tattoos or piercing is a test of faith, and respect for religion.  How is personal appearance a test of faith?  Me and my friend then got to talking about how Rabinical law should be adjusted to suite the times.  It's a new day in age, and tattoos and piercings are seen as less taboo then they used to.  I also then got to thinking about the idea that religions can be adapated. 

I think I said this in one of my other blogs too, but i've always been under the impression that religions are set in stone, or that the underlying beliefs that come from religion are set in stone. Because this isn't the case it makes me feel like religion is less solid then i've previously viewed it.  It makes me believe in it less.  So what is religion really?  Is it just something to believe in  to make life seem more interesting?  Is it just something to guide us so we don't feel lost? ...

Psalm 18

As in most of the Psalms, in Psalm 18, God is represented as a healer, and as a guide.  God is very powerful in this Psalm, as he is capable of granting a multitude of various requests.  Of course, these requests come with qualifications, as is expressed in verse 21: The LORD dealt with me by my merit,/ for my cleanness of hands He requited me.  As long as we are free of sin, God will protect us and grant our requests.  Not only does God repay those who do good, but he punishes those who sin.  To me, it kind of seems like God was manifesting himself in the whomever the speaker is.  It is as the he is becoming human and coming down to Earth.  

This is very powerful, and through the humans actions and power he gains from God, we see what it is that God is capable of doing.  For this week's blog, you ask the question: is the image of God as a fighter and aid in battle scary?   I do not think this is scary, rather I see it as a very influence song.  It's as though the message conveyed in this Psalm is, if I am to believe in God, and if I am to follow the proper requirements that keep me from being a sinner, God will grace me with his power and protect me from all evil.  This Psalm gives me the image of God giving me special powers that turn me into Hercules, but I just have a weird imagination. 

Also, to answer the question: is it problematic that elements of this FOd have been borrowed from other religious traditions? my answer is no.  I think every interpretation comes from an influence of some other interpretation.  

Questions about the Psalms

I personally am very confused by the Psalms.  I do not really understand how to read them, or how to interpret it.  It's difficult because I have a hard time identifying the speaker of each song, and I also am unfamiliar with the historical context.  This might sound stupid, and perhaps ignorant, but who wrote all the stories in the Psalms?  How did these stories earn such an authoritative role in the world of religion? These are stories that make up the basis of Christianity.  I just find it interesting how quick people are to believe these stories, and view them as a type of spiritual guidance.  Especially when there are so many interpretations of each Psalm.  

I think it is very interesting that there are so many different interpretations of the Psalms.  I think it says a lot about religion.  When I was growing up, I used to believe that religious views were set in stone.  Raised Jewish, I used to believe that during, what is now called Passover, Moses parted the Red Sea.  I searched online for other stories of Passover and I, unfortunately, couldn't find any.  However, it is interesting because the story of Passover, or Pesach (as it is called in the Torah), probably comes from interpretation as well.

This might sound ignorant of me, but this is not my intention.  I am not a "religious" person, per say, however I would really like to understand what drives people to follow a certain religious belief.  I feel that when faced with multiple translations of the Psalms, I'd question the legitimacy of what I'm being taught.  However, what the knowledge of the Psalms having multiple interpretations has taught me is that religion is all subjective.  Each religious view is carried out based on each individuals personal interpretation.  I, now, feel that religion offers a set of guidelines for us to follow.  How we carry out these guidelines however is entirely subjective.  This is very different from my previous idea of religion, where I believed different religious offered single-minded approaches as to how one should live life.  I see now that this is not the case.