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His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie
Frankly, much of what passes as scholarship these days is nothing more than intellectual gymnastics. A case in point is Dr. Carolyn Cooper’s take on Rastafarians’ veneration of Haile Selassie.
Speaking recently on Q95 Fm Hot Seat with Matt Peltier, the UWI professor described the Rastafarians’ worship of Selassie as God “a wonderful post colonial moment.”
According to her, “claiming of Selassie as God is a wonderful post colonial moment where, as Garvey said, we must recreate God in our own image. For me, the Rastafari celebration of a black God is a moment of emancipation from mental slavery, an idea that Garvey himself conceived which was popularized in song by Bob Marley.”
One excited caller to the programme gleefully welcomed Cooper’s comments as “enlightened discussion.”
A closer look at the professor’s comments however would show that the worship of Haile Selassie or a black God is neither wonderful, nor enlightened. While I understand and appreciate Garvey, Marley, Rastafarian and other Pan-Africanists efforts to decolonize the black mind and inspire Africans at home and in the diaspora to take pride in their blackness and African heritage, the idea of Haile Selassie as God is simply preposterous.
First and foremost, for those of us who accept the Bible as the final arbiter in all matters relating to faith and conduct, it’s important to note that the Holy Writ nowhere substantiates the claim. The idea, as Dr. Cooper rightfully states, is wholly the invention of Marcus Garvey, popularized in song by the legendary Bob Marley. So while the idea makes for a lively discussion on Pan Africanism or conscious reggae lyrics, it’s terrible theology. The unyielding and uncompromising declaration of scriptures have always been and always will be “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Tim 2:5).”
Secondly, a salient point that seems lost to most Pan-Africanist, is the simple fact that before Africa lost its way in animism and worship of the ancestors, it worshiped the one true God of the Bible. The continent has always been organically and historically linked to the ancient land of Palestine and by default, to Judaism and Christianity. Long before Christianity became the state religion of the Roman Empire under Emperor Constantine, the Christian faith had already spread to all of the great civilizations across Africa (Acts 2; Acts 8). Before the Muslims invaded and conquered Northern Africa in the seventh century, Christianity was already established and the worship of the God of Israel was already well established for centuries before. Long before the Greeks and Romans founded empires across the Middles Eat and Africa, Africa helped birth, protect and preserve the Jewish nation and its religious traditions (Gen 45:7;Hos 11:1; Matt 2:15).
This vital link and cross fertilization of cultures between African and Palestine, explains why the ancient Greek historian Herodotus was surprised to find thriving Christian communities in Africa when he visited. It accounts for the widespread penetration of Jewish and Christian traditions in the Falasha community and Coptic churches in Ethiopia and Egypt. This also explains why it was easy for our African brothers and sisters to reconnect to Christianity during slavery. They knew God and worshiped him not as a black God (or white God for that matter) but as a Spirit just as they did for millennia before in Mizraim, Phut and Cush and the other great civilizations of our African homeland.
Of course the Rastafarian faith to a large extent derives from the Old Testament and therefore central to their belief, as is the case in Judaism, Christianity and Islam (which all claim roots in the common ancestry of Abraham and the prophets), is the idea of monotheism. Moses exhorted the Jews, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord (Deut 6:4).” If we allow for the recreation of God in our own image as Garvey suggests, then we will have to allow for a white and yellow God and a thousand other shades and hues of Gods as there may be ethnic and people groups. God thus becomes beholden to our ethnicity. A reasonable question might therefore be which of the God’s would truly be God? Would it be the black God, yellow or white God? Obviously, this makes little sense as it contradicts a core tenet of the Rastafarian’s own faith (and more importantly the Bible). Fortunately the scripture simplify things by the simple declaration –God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
Finally the Bible concludes that the worship of any person or thing other than the one true God is idolatry (Exodus 20:2-; Deut 6:13). Jesus reminded Satan that worship rightfully belongs to God alone (Matt 4:10). That makes the veneration of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie idolatry. Selassie is not the Christ nor is he the second coming of the Messiah. He never claimed to be God or even a prophet. In fact, when he visited Jamaica in April 1966 and exited the plane on arrival at the Norman Manley Airport, he retreated when he saw the thousands of Rastafarians shouting Jah Rastafari in worship. Many were carrying signs that read “Selassie is Christ”, “King of Kings” and “God Anointed”. Selassie who himself claimed to be an ardent follower and worshiper of the Lord Jesus Christ, was not only according to Dr. Cooper “intimidated by Rastafarian veneration of him,” he was mortified. Like the Apostles Peter and Paul, he rejected man’s worship for he knew that worship belonged to God alone and no mortal. In 1967, during a radio interview he thus set the record straight when asked what he thought about the Rastafarian claims that he was the Christ. “I have heard of that idea. I also met certain Rastafarians. I told them clearly that I am a man, that I am mortal and that they should never make a mistake in assuming or pretending that a human being is emanated from a deity” he said.
I find it unfortunate when black go against black for any reason. If one black “group” wants to do or say something good for all Africans (black people) then all Africans should join. It is unfortunate there is divide amongst the African people. We need to unite.
No my brother, I can’t go for that as a conscious black man. It’s not about black vs. white. It’s about good curses evil. If a black man steps up to your mama and socks her in the jaw-Lord forbid, are you gonna give him a high five since it’s a brother who did it and not a white guy, Arab or Chinese etc. It sounds ridiculous! Doesn’t it? That’s what you’re saying in effect. Think about it. Love!
I also just want to say, there was something wonderful about Emperor Haile Selassie, He could pet lions, without them hurting him! Do you know anybody else who could do that?
He could pet Lions? So if a man can pet Lions that makes him GOD? Could he speak to them? Think about it, petting lions is still small game compared to Solomon Talking to Animals and David being in the Lion’s Den..
God – man do i hate this topic – but a GOD – any GOD can at least talk to an animal after-all he created the stupid lion – lions are stupid compared to humans and compared to God they are insignificant, and compared to the all powerful creator they are only a thought.
Could That emperor talk to lions – could he find out how hungry they were, what their future would be – their troubles and their concern facing extinction?
Is that really a valid point that he could pet lions – so whites have a white god so we should have a black god? Chinese have their god and we should have ours?
Think people, think!!! Its emperor not GOD Selassie.. People today communicate with the deaf – 200 years ago they could not – there was no language for the deaf. So who is better – the man who invented the deaf language or the man who pets lions. I see so many Discovery Channel edits of men playing with Lions and all types of wild animals…
Let me ask everyone just a simple Question – -Did Emperor Selassie create the moon, the starts the universe? Did he create Lions? Did he create you and me? After-all a living God cannot die, can a GOD die, how can GOD die. Could that God not predict his own death and stop it – can you image GOD having a shit in a toilet – now that’s just plain foolish.. Why would God ever shit and sleep and get old? why the heck would he get grey or take a plane to Jamaica – could he not just use a flying carpet or walk on water.
God is perfection right? Think for a moment about the WORD “PERFECT” – i mean perfection means without any flaw what so ever.
A PERFECT creator means without any error or mistake, everything is to perfection and operates exactly as he (the creator) meant it to operate.
A god getting sick – a GOD having to have pet lions caged? God don’t need them caged he commands them and they obey – he says hey lion so and so from the plains of Africa – “I command you to come here and stay in my kingdom forever” – in fact i command all lions and wild beast to come and stay in my kingdom – i will not chain you.
Mankind is so easily impressed – the bar the impossible to reach bar for a GOD, a deity, the creator is now set so LOW that even a DOG can be called a God – in some cultures a Vagina is worshiped, a monkey a cow – – what about proving the impossible – give Selassie a task – tell him to make the sun set in the NORTH – tell him to fashion with his own hand another human – tell him to end world hunger, – ask Selassie to end death for surely if he was as you say he is – then nothing is impossible for the i…
I love how whenever Christians want to prove a point about religion, they go straight to the Bible as if its some scholarly text that has been universally accepted as truth and contains no fiction or controversy. You quote it as if it is proof or validation of your beliefs when, in reality, it is no more credible than the Talmud, Qu’ran, or the Bible of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster for that matter. This article is not about history, discourse, or education. It is simply an homage to the age-old practice of Christian elitism crying, “I am right, you are wrong, and I have a book to prove it.” Case in point: You derived your historical facts from the Bible. How ridiculous is that? Are you next going to tell me that the Earth was created 3000 years ago and then cite Genesis like it is supposed to mean something or lend scientific credibility to your ridiculous proffer? By the way, why is this article on a news site? If anything, it should be on christianevangelism.com or something of that nature. At least rename the category from “Religion” to “Christianity is Superior”. We all know you believe that Christianity is the one true religion and that the rest of us are going to hell, but it is confusing as most people would think that a religion section would contain discourse from many religious viewpoints rather than just proselytizing from the followers of Christ.
wauw u guys are haters
@thinker ib
God would ever shit in a toilet?it seems u out to bash rasta so u not even seeing the folly in ur own words.
If u would believe such a thing then I would assume u are a antichrist bcuz the son of God did walk on earth in the flesh and once u are in the flesh u are subject to the natural daily happenings of the flesh such as eating drinking and shitting.for as long as u eating u gota do dat,seen?so christ ate so wat u think,he was constipated?they won’t say all dat in bible bcuz it not relavant.and the same bible told us that any flesh dat confesses dat God is only of the spirit and not of the flesh is wat,A ANTICHRIST!but any dat confesses dat he cometh in flesh is of GOD.(1john 4:2-3)so wenever God or christ,whichever u wanna call him,touch ground here he GONNA look like us,a human being,eating,walkin,shittin even.taking bus,plane,boat(like christ) so use ur common sense.so if the emperor is God in flesh on earth,den dat mean he gona eat drink and ude toilet too.but leeave it up to allu careless ethiopians,confused israelites to always want a sign wen it is before allu faces.u want him to walk on water or fly and not tek plane.if he did allu would say he a obeah man or devil.hmmm.if we do wrong they complain,even if we call the father s name its the same…remember christ born in a manger as humble as lamb,they still was luking for a grand royal coming of the king of the jews.know yourself.
Akoma with all due respect breadrine – I fully disagree.. Again you mentioned Christ to be the son of God – - not that he was GOD… and please ras – check the bible a few times, not once did Christ in his own words say he is GOD – he did not say in his own words “i am god so worship me”…
the son of something and the actual real deal are two different things.. GOD – the almighty GOD can never ever be humbled and tied to the worldly laws of this insignificant world (ras – this is what we are – we are the creation and insignificant when compared to the sun, the galaxies and milkyways and multiverses) – mankind – you and i are only specs).. we beat our royal chests and rant and rave, and war, and sin and do about every despicable thing that is contrary to the commands of the most high)…
GOD – forget the word GOD, lets use the creator of all CREATION, the one who created you and Jesus and Selassie. Did that creator ever get constipated? NO, that all knowing, all powerful is never subjected to the laws of his creation and man. to fit his own majesty he is above and beyond those elements of his creation. The creator created: TIME, Light, Death, hope, fear, prayer.. So would you dare assume that GOD left his throne came to the planet earth (the only planet in his billions of plannets) and came to pray to who – who the HECK was god almighty praying to… thats such a contradiction – - who was GOD who created jesus praying to…
I dont want to get side tracked as this is really about Selassie being GOD – and u think i am hating the man.. i agree is he was king and he deserves the respect and title that comes with it.. if he was a 2nd rate king or the greatest king, then he deserves to be called and respected according to his title. This is about GOD Selassie and not the son of a god. so by your very words it means if Selassie is GOD, then he created Jesus.. its just to confusing for me – maybe you can educate me in those matters. I am always willing to be humbled and learn more, especially in a time of so widespread ignorance – everyone today is a scholar.
GOD – did not die, he did not sit on a toilet and he did not have sex with a woman and make babies.. use that brilliant intellect of yours and contemplate the thought of the all mighty the one with no equals, without needs and wants of his creation. Did he subject his magnificence to come on this earth to be killed or was it someone else.
What is your definition of the creator of all things that ever existed and will ever exist. the master of the day of judgment. The creator of life and death. The creator of divine law and will. The one who created divine decree and who loves us more than a mother loves her own children. What is your definition of that creator …. is he the same one who created Selassie or is he Selassie?
Give thanks for the thoughts. The question, Is Selassie I God, should not be answered until clarifications are made and then the question should not be answered in the context of western thought pattern. What is the meaning of the English word GOD, and what is the Eastern meaning of the word. It is clear that if the meaning of GOD is the creator, then obviously Selassie I is not the creator in the creator’s fullness. It is your duty to define Selassie I within the context of your own self and african tadition. The word Haile selassie I means the power of the trinity. Irrespective of the deep indulgences in the western religeon’s view of the trinity, that might seep through inferentially within the reasoning, the trinity can only be defined in a purely abstract factoid manner. There are only three things in existence. 1. The creator, 2, The creation [ process of creation, which is continuous and ever happenning, disregard the genesis 7 days ] and 3, the created, the product of the creator utilizing the creative process. The power of the three is life. That is the power of the trinity. His majesty is God in that he has lived to the utmost, to the fullest extent that the spirit of the creator can exist in the flesh created, the Alpha Male of this millinium.That is why many werterners calls him the perfect man god].
You can examin the life of his majesty and he will far exceed , in virtue, truth and rights and the love of life , all the others, saints and messiah alike.
This rerasoning is ongoing
Oh what a fellin I get when I get opportunities like this – to s.h.a.r.e with mai bread-dreads an sis-dreads. I truly appreciate this opportunity even though I have no real authority and to some extent credibility in this livity, JAH bless the initiator and to HIM for the inspiration.
This is one of the oldest and most under-rated q’s in and of all time: many take it for granted and some think have the answer but cant provide straight proof to this q’n. it is the most asked coz jesus, whose real and actual name is EMMANUEL, was asked this q’n even by His disciples, those who said and supposed to have better knowledge of HIM truly; what is happening even in this time and age amongst and within ini.
There is a new topic I started called – “lost in translation” – which part of I reveal in this sharing session on wherethere SELASSIE I is GOD OR NOT?
Well, as u can recall the decsiples asking HIM to explain who he realy was and who he actually was and he said: “I AM WHO I AM!” now we know that was a coded name of his; a name when translated into numerics, the old way writing, we find his name, what it means in the script’s original language. But what is really is interesting and stands as testimony to his prophecy that the truth or the word will be “hidden” in the scripture as many though have eyes will not see and as though have eyes they will not hear, is his real name, EMMANUEL, coz this is very important in finding who he is in truth, in fact, in essence and in real life, that is human form co the name means “GOD WITH US!”. This one of the most biggest revelations humanity has ever received but ignored to us fulfilling a prophecy coz as the proverbs teach: “prophecy is for the faithful; those who have the faith” coz even when He was revealing this to his instrument issaih he clearly explained why he was doing this as he said: “there will nolonger be a mediator, a middleman between us, man and JAH” that should have been enough for us to have faith in him and follow him but we still needed more proof as so he provided through out the jurney to his crucificition: * recall when he was asked by his servents where he was going where they could not go until the time arrives he said – “I am going to MY-SELF… to prepare a place for you”, that is a hudge revelation that we missed again but predictably too.
· recall again the encounter with the 7-demon possessed man? What those demons said to him when they saw him but what was even revealing was his reply as he said in a very strong and warning voice and tone: “don’t u reveal me or my name to these people”, that was very powerful too, telling and clearly revealing who he was even in that lowered human form;
· and again the word states that “there was first the WORD and the word was with god and the word was GOD, spoken of among the nations, qualified in the spirit revealed to all and saw reseracting to the heavens” maybe in not so many words, and so later when he came to reveal he clearly admits that he is the “WORD”, “THE TRUTH” AND “THE LIGHT”, CLEALR revealing HIM-self to all.
Now some might asking what does this have to do with SELASSIE I coz “rasta no believe much less talk about no jesus” naff said coz that is not what they are actually saying coz we now know how crucial a name is to a person’s identy or his-story: it reveals all, from who he is to where he’s from down to his physical features and appearance as prophet jewel warned of the “locust’s” intention to the “stalk”, what the missionaries did to the real identity of christainity.
Now we know that jesus or Emmanuel was never crowned “king of kings, lord of lords the conqouring lion of the tribe of juda” coz as he said he was only coming to “fulfil the law” of moses as he later clearifies by saying he is the “fulfillment of the law” meaning he was GOD coz we know that “through the law u are made free of the law of man” coz through “his light we see the light” as he is the light. Only the one “worthy” to open the 7th seal will be crowned as such and that will be the revelation of GOM HIM-SELF, a “perfect manifestation of god” as some refer to him meaning and indirectly confesing that he is GOD and not a god or prophet but a MESSIAH as john revealed of the one “whose shoe laces he cant even tie up”. Only HELESSIE THE FIRST was crowned that by all the nations on earth when the 72 representatives gathered in his coronation in 1963, including the he-she devil pope and elizard-bitch. They went crowning him as emperor or king or ruler or president but giving him the third and final crown to seal the prophecy – the “POWER OF THE TRINITY” ONLY GOD CAN BE CALLED THAT as the scripture clearly states and HAILE SELASSIE means just that, THE POWER OF THE TRINITY, revealing that he is GOD in human form coz the lamb is among us and not in heaven only his “power” lies in the heavens; and even he was asked in a radio interview of his visit to JAH-MAKER, get it?, of what he had to say when “some people” believed him to be GOD, and not a god, he said something like: “if that is what they believe me to be let them” neither denying the title or discouraging it. And by the way, the visit was on the 23rd of April, remember Egypt, pharoh and moses, now recall his reasons for going to JAH-MAKER as he listed them – “to stop the blood ….” That is no coincidence. He then reveals that in Ethiopia now called, they have the “oldest bible” in the world, what does that mean? That it was first written there as paul reveals in his acts b4 he crucified himself in the boat that he was sent to “teach the about the good word to the isrealites scattered umongst the gentiles, the gentlemen of this age, we now know that pope credeibility as the receiver of the right or authority to call himself “the vicor of Christ”, to form a church in italy was all thanks to this foundation john left when he went there;
And recall the story, to some fiction, of rita Marley’s final seal into the movement? When he showed her and prophet BOB joseph his wholes proving that he was one and the same man as jesus, infact emmanuel, as he was Jacob, melchezidech, proving that yes whe he prayed he prayed to himself as he did in the mount when his disciples saw three figure, Elijah was one of them; now we know that the name HAILE SELASSIE is three names combined and when dissembled ELIAH, AND ELIJAH are found and remember when emmanuel cried out in the cross? And to sum it all up he said way back in the beginning of it all – “I need not sacrifiesed but for u to acknowledge me as God, your God!” – that is the biggest revelation of it all, one that completes his motives and reveals him totally – from the way he looked to the way he lived, that was big. Ask yo-SELF why it is so hard to just acknowledge HIM as GOD, we haven’t talked about ganja, tribes, and all the rest yet, for the same reason we are all in this mess – that “we saw HIM and where terrified”; the same reason our forefathers didn’t’ want to climb the mount; the very reason there was a war in heaven that later created the monster Lucifer and humans – that we wanted to GOD as many still bolbly admit and testify. The bible and all of creation prove that “only that ONE WORTHY enough to open the 7th, and not the 7 seals coz we can all open the 6 seals, activate the 6 senses we already have though what we eat, but wisdom, the 7th seal, some bibles call it “intelligence” and some add “insight”, come from JAH as a proverb states and as nature testifies. And also he sais in psalm 82 that as though he “called” us “GODS” WE will die as all creatures do and as ordinary man, as princes of this world. Proving that “only” he can be GOD and not gods. So see, yes SELASSIE IS GOD as the name clearly reveals – H.I.M HAILE SELASSIE THE FIRST, COZ HE IS THE FIRST AND THE LAST, THE WORD THAT WAS SPOLEN THEN SEEN RISING TO AND INTO THE SKIES THAT WAS PREPARING A PLACE FOR US ALL, THAT IS AMONG US. ONLY HE CAN REACH PERFECTION AS WE CAN ONLY STRIVE FOR IT! YOU CAN NEVER BURRY ONE MAN THREE TIMES, THAT IS WHY COULD NEVER FIND HIS BONES, NOMATTER WHAT THEY SAY! COZ THOSE THEY CLAIMED WAS OF HIM WE NOW KNOW THAT THEY COULD HAVE NEVER BEEN OF HIM COZ THEY WERE TOO LONG AS HE WAS A VERY SHORT MAN AMONGST MANY! SO JAH BLESS – AND DON’T BE LIKE PETER DENYING HIM 3 TIMES EVEN WHEN HE SAW AND LIVED WITH HIM! AS THIS WORLD REVEALS – “WE DON’T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RASTAFIANISM IT’S THE CLAIM THAT SELASSIE IS GOD THAT BOTHER US AND THE USE OF GANJA THAT’S ALL” ASK YO-SELF WHY?
TO ADD ON – THE SCRIPTURE SAID IN HEBREW THAT “THE ONE TO COME LATER WILL HAVE CHILDREN (SEEDS)” AND IT ALSO SAID “HE” WILL KNOWN OR ALSO CALLED OR NICKNAMED “MR SMITH” AND “MR STRONG” AND WE KNOW THAT ONLY HIM HAILE SELASSIE I WAS THE ONLY RULER TO BE CALLED THAT – WHEN HE WAS INVITED BY THE ITALIANS FOR DISCUSSIONS HE WENT BUT THEN REALISED IT WAS A TRAP, A PLOY TO CAPTURE HIM SO TO INVADE AND PLUNDER ITHOPIA BUT AS THEY LOCKED HIM IN THEIR PRISON AND BEGAN INVADING ITHIOPIA HE WAS THEN SEEN IN THE BATTLE FIELD WITH AN “OCEAN” OF AN ARMY RIDDING ON A WHITE HORSE WITH THE PRISON GATES WIDE OPEN IN ITALY WITH NO ONE BEING ABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW AND WHEN, AND AS MUSSILINI SAW THIS HE FIRED A CANNON BALL AT HIM BUT SELASSIE I STEPPED ON IT WITH HIS FOOT AND STOOD OVER IT WITHOUT IT EXPLODING SO FULFILLING THE PROPHECY “MR STRONG” AND THAT NONE OF THEIR WEAR-PONS WILL WORK AGAINST HIM AND THE LETTER FULFILING THE “MR SMITH” PART OF THE PROPHECY. REVELATION REVEALS HIM TOO, NOT EMMANUEL OR JESUS BUT HAILE SELASSIE. ISSIAH SPEAKS OF HIS REVELATION OF THE SON TO COME TWICE, 1ST AS A MAN IN A HUDGE CLOUD COVERRING A THRONE CARYING CHERUBIM AND 2ND AS EMMANUEL AND THEN AS THE SON, THE COMFORTOR, DEFENDER AND THE WAY. THERE ARE SO MANY, CAN FIND THEM? IF U CAN PLZ SHARE WITH INI. PLZ LET US SHARE BREAD-DREADS. PEEEEEACE!!!
The world should know that he is the Almighty, it is prophecised, the prophecy has been fulfilled, open your eyes and look. Haile Selassie from his youth, was a mysterious person who was said to have been feared by priest and other persons working in the palace. His first born name was Ras Tafari which means “head creator”, but Tafari alone means, “to be feared” and so he was. The coming of the child was one in a million since the time of Christ, when Christ was born, the planets of the universe aligned themself, and this is a sign of a Great person to be born astronomers say. Their was the worst drought & famine in Ethiopia than ever seen before, days before he was born, Ethiopia purged itself to accept him & now Ethiopia purges itself to accept Jah children, for when we repatriate. Their is a story about Haile Selassie in his youth, his father & mother was astounded by his vast knowledge and wisdom of and from the bible. They brought in priest to talk with him to ask him where he knew all these things from, Haile Selassie knew books that aren’t printed in the bible, like the 8th, 9th & 10th books of Moses, the Dead Sea Scrolls, he would know line for line. The priests would ask him questions and he would call them to tell them the answer in their ears and the answers he would give would frighten the priests away, and some would never return to see him. At one time their were two priests talking to Tafari, who had claimed he talks to animals and the wild beasts in the jungles of Ethiopia, One of the priests asked Tafari to draw one of these animals, so Tafari requested for crayons and a piece of paper and began to draw it formed into a dove of bright multi-colors and before the priest could question Tafari about the bird on the page he was dumbfounded when he saw it arise off the paper and fly through the window, the two priests hysterically left the palace and never returned.
Tafari the Mystical Youth, Give Thanks.
BLESSED ONE LOVE