Rastafarianism

Origins and Beliefs

• Origins: Rastafarianism developed in the 1930s within Jamaica, following the coronation of Haile Selassie as King of Ethiopia.
• Rastafarians believe that Haile Selassie will return members of the black community living in exile back to their homeland in Africa.
• Many Rastafarians in the UK belong to the organization known as the Twelve Tribes of Israel.
• Rastafarians follow the Nazarite Vow of Separation, which includes practices such as not cutting their hair and abstaining from certain activities.
• Rastafarians do not consider themselves to be Christians, although some beliefs intersect with Christian theology.
• Rastafarians believe in Jehovah (one single God), and some consider Haile Selassie to be Jehovah.
• Rastafarians believe in reincarnation, with life continuing eternally after death.
• The body is regarded as the temple of God, and thus treated with utmost respect.
• Post-mortems are considered distasteful in Rastafarian beliefs.
• Each family and individual case is unique, regardless of their cultural or religious background, and should be handled with sensitivity.