Religious Fanaticism: Is Rasta Guilty?
Posted: Monday, August 27, 2001

( RootsWomb(man) ) RELIGIOUS FANATICISM (excessive and irrational enthusiasm or zeal for a belief or cause)

IS RASTAFARI ALSO EFFECTED BY THIS?

Once again, much Raspek is due unto the I's (Ras Jahaziel) Epistles! The I has spoken TRUTH, and we all know that TRUTH stands on its own. It is in that Spirit that InI would like to address this very issue of RELIGIOSITY which also PLAGUES Rastafari. We ALL should know that when the finger is pointed out, there are always three pointing back at us. Part of the Healing of the Nations, and Afrikan Liberation, is not only to REVEAL the destructive OUTTER influences which plague us, but most importantly, how those ideals have been ingrained into the Mindz of the Black Nation, and to COURAGEOUSLY tackle our own "dirty laundry", so to speak. It is much easier to point the finger at the origin of the infection, than to begin to cleanse its stench and foul pus.

The Global White Supremist System has affected ALL of Creation and Her children. Only a fool could deny the RESIDUAL effects of the Afrikan Holocaust which continues to plague us. Indeed, the I mention Willy Lynch, which is an excellent point. Would the I agree that Willy Lynch is just as pleased with the ongoing effects of his MIND-SET inna Rastafari as he is with the rest of the Black Nations? Can it be denied that Rastafari Houses are also GUILTY of "allowing IGNORANCE and FANATICISM to disguise itself as RIGHTEOUS ZEAL for the cause"? When the Nyahbinghi House chants down the next house (or vice verca) because one sights "Jesus Christ" as being the "savior" while the other sights Gad, and yet the other sights or Prince Emmanuel, or Rastafari? Can it be denied that Rastafari also suffers DISUNITY and STAGNANCY due to squabbling over who is the "true messiah" and over the Divinity and Deification of Haile Selassie I? How many Rastafari Idren beat the next Idren over the Divine Nature of this god-man as opposed to INCULPORATING his Teachings and his Examples? It is in InI opinion (due to experience) that Rastafari sons and dawtahs spend much more energy in "comparing notes" (as to this house's principles/tenets versus that ones) than we do in Pan Afrikan WORKS. It is oddly remiscent of the the "jesus freaks" who exhault much more energy squabbling over the deification of the MAN rather than his teachings…

Is it so far fetched to say that the FALSE interpretations of our Afrikan Sacred Texts and Teachings have also bled into Rastafari? (EXCLUDING the Koptic Teachings, Faith, Church and Traditions of Haile Selassie and Eastern Koptic Christianity) Is it so far-fetched to admit that the OPRESSOR'S teachings and mindset also affect Rastafari? If RELIGIOSITY has effected the ENTIRE GLOBE, than how has Rastafari not been effected, seeing that we are still using his interpretations of the bible? How many Rastafarians actually follow the SAME TRADITIONS as His Majesty? How many Rastafarians read The Gospel of Myriam? How many venerate Myriam as did His Majesty? How many study Ge'ez and follow the ceremonies of the Koptic Church? How many Rastas have read the Quran, the Torah, etc, as did His Majesty? How many Rastafarians DEIFY the man rather than actually FOLLOW his teachings? Is Rastafari also guilty of BLIND FAITH and religious (King James) fanatisism? Who can deny having experienced the chanting down of one house or the other in the name of biblical differences, this scripture versus that one, and debates over who is the "messiah"? Can it be denied, for example, that the Nyahbinghi House would deny "membership to the inner circle" based on "religiosity" , treatment of the Afrikan goddess (woman), Pauline principles, etc?, or straight out deny the "rastaness" of this or that Idren based on their interpretations, rules, regulations, and order? Does not EVERY RASTA HOUSE consider itself more "rasta" then the next? Its akin to the "brown paper bag test", when degrees of melanin were used to define "blackness", only to turn around and have WE USE IT ON OURSELVES, not only in regards to light-skin/dark-skinn issues, but "degrees of Rastafarianism" based on this one or that one's interpretations, when in fact FEW, and I repeat FEW, actually follow the SAME TENETS AS HIS MAJESTY! Am I the only one to sight a CONtradiction here??

The treatment of RASTAFARI WOMEN and the SEVERE INBALANCE OF THE OMEGA PRINCIPLE is enough to make us realize that RELIGIOSITY and Pauline Teachings PERMEATE our "LIVITI". What about the Idren who INSULTS the Mother of Creation by sabotaging the works of Rastafari Women, in the name of "domestic duties", or chants down the sistren for being "feminists" or "lesbians" when in fact they are merely following the Nyahbingi Priniple of RESTORING THE OMEGA BALANCE? A nation which does NOT uplift its WOMEN is a nation DOOMED FOR FAILURE. The FACT that the eurocentric bible are still regurgitated among InI cannot be denied. The fact that EDUCATION is still considered "Babylon" by many Rases is not only a direct insult to Garvey and His Majesty, but "education" in and of itself is still misinterpreted among InI. Western education is mistaken for ecudation in general. How many Rases chant down the study of Ancient Khemet (Egypt) as being "pagan", STILL NOT OVERSTANDING that Khemet is KUSHITE in its very foundation. How many still chant down the Principle of Osiris and Isis (Auset and Ausar) as being "not rasta", when IN FACT, those very principles are IMBEDED and ORIGINATED out of Ethiopia? (ROOT of Rasta)

Indeed….RELIGIOSITY is alive and well among InI. Fanatisism and intolerance is alive and well inna Rastafari as it is elsewhere.

"Throughout the long history of black struggle for liberation there have always emerged leaders who became "GODS" AND "MESSIAHS". Their exalted status of honor and worship has been in most cases A RESPONSE TO THE SHEEP MENTALITY'S NEED FOR SOMEONE TO WORSHIP. In their SHEEP MENTALITY the people yearn for someone who will be SUPER-MAN, someone who will miraculously do all that they themselves fear to do or fail to do. This IRRESPONSIBLE condition opens the door wide for THOSE THAT CRAVE WORSHIP, and a circle of RELIGIOUS FANATICISM evolves to become an obstacle in the path of that liberation which both leader and follower claim to be pursuing."

"While the political campaigning, the fratricide, and CHARACTER ASSASSINATION is going on, the train of liberation slows to a halt...........AND WILLIE LYNCH LAUGHS. "Well done boys, keep it up"…

THE ABOVE TRUTHFUL STATEMENTS ARE JUST AS APPLICABLE TO SELF (RASTA NATION) AS THEY ARE TO BABYLON (OPPRESSOR)

THE ONLY TRUE "SAVIOR AND MESSIAH" IN THIS IWAH IS NOT IN THE HANDS OF ONE MAN, BUT IN THE RIZING OF OUR COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS AND RESPECT OF OUR DIFFERENCES WHILE ALL THE WHILE HONORING "ONE GOD, ONE AIM, ONE DESTINY AND ONE GOAL".

I have posed many THOUGHT PROVOKING questions, which may or may not present a response, however these questions are questions which we MUST ask of ourselves. It is not my intention to offend but to enlighten and create solutions in order for us to FORWARD IN UNITY UNDER THE BANNER OF THE BLACK, THE RED, GOLD AND GREEN. SELAH.

ROOTS
_________________________________________________

( IanI ) Irie Sistren

How could the I offend when the I writes such Wisdom? Only those that be guilty could be offended... seen.

The Wise One knows an sees the Truth. Perhaps the day or iwah will come when those that no see will recieve the Wisdom and embrace it. If not, sadly they too will go down and not forward. Jah know.

Give Thanks for the reasoning. Is strong and Power-Full!

In the Name of the Almighty Most High
Selassie I
IanI Rastafari

Guidance and Protection  

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