Worshipping emperor is the worst part of Roman religion, and among early Christians it was a form of idolatry. However, the Rastas worship Emperor of Ethiopia, why?
because he was a prophet or a messiah, I believe. Not just an emperor. But I'm not a Rasta and don't know everything about their religion, so I could be wrong.
They don't worship him, they exalt him I guess is the word. Hes viewed as a messiah yet not held up as an Idol. Emporer worship existed in Rome because of Julius Caesar, renaming himself the Pontifex Maximus. Which was a title he dug up from the old Babylonian Kings. Being the supreme political and religious leader and basically a demi-god. Guess who has that name nowadays? The Supreme Pontiff, the Pope. Many cultures beleived in Emporer worship, which does show the truth of the universal hierarchy. God-Sun-Emporer-People. Yet this is a major facet that the Rastas hate when they speak of Babylon.
In the Bible somewhere, it says that 124th(??) decendent of Queen of Sheiba and King Soloman would become Emporer of Ethiopia; seek the help of the world when a great army would invade (Germany and Italy) but said that the Emporer would ride into battle on a white horse and defeat them... this man would be God in human form... Haile Selassie was this man. I think anyway, my dad is a rasta and has taught me a fair amount, but i could be mistaken.
it's not different than worshipping jesus, they were both a person who was god at the same time (i am not rastafari, nor am i christian)
from my understanding, Hailie Selassie was belived to be Christ in the 2nd coming. You can watch plenty of documentaries on Bob Marley, and he begins to explain the signifigance of Selassie. But Rastafarianism goes back to Marcus Garvey and the African Orthdox church...(yes, Rastafarianism began as an offshoot of Christanity, appealing especially towards the suppressed black population of European colonies...) I sure do hope I have my facts right (I am a Christian who belives that God has his people in many persuasions. I believe there is One truth in all faiths, and we are all brothers and sisters)
Rasta do not worship man. I and I worship I Father, the creator of all. I and I exalt H.I.M. Those who overstand Biblical prophecy know why. One Love Prophet7
the irony of it all is, bob marley called Haile Selassie I, a prophet while infact, he himself was (the) one! remember he prevented a civil war and united to people peace
its in the book of revelations 19:11-16, also it is 225 generations from King Solomon to Haile Selassie I. I and I haven't been able to find anything that says exactly how many generations it will be, just that it will be from King David's branch.
Many people get confused Not all rasta see haile as god or jesus incarnate The Twelve Tribes of Israel is a Rastafarian group founded in Kingston, Jamaica, and now functioning worldwide. Its founder, Vernon Carrington, was known as Prophet Gad, and taught his students to read the Bible 'A Chapter A Day'. Twelve Tribes of Israel (Ysrayl) Rastafarian organization accept Yahshuwah (jesus )The Messiyah/Yesus Kristos as Master and Saviour, and H.I.M. Haile Selassie I as divinely chosen by the Creator to represent him on earth and not jesus himselfHes like a teacher of a preacher . Due to the stigma associated with slavery and the false/pagan use of the name "Jesus" by enslavers/colonialist not practicing what they preached, it is preferred to use the ancient names of The Messiah (Ha Mashiyahch) which is Yahshuwah, Yahoshua or Yahshua (original sacred Hebrew name) and/or Yesus/I-Yesus Kristos (Amharic/Ge'ez name). H.I.M. is seen as a divinely anointed king in the lineage of King David and King Solomon. While he is considered a type/representation of The Messiyah in Kingly Character, he is not Yahshuwah The Messiyah/Yesus Kristos himself, but a representative of the everlasting Davidic covenant, which is to be fulfilled by The MessiahYahshuah/ I-Yesus Kristos when he returns as The Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Yahudah). The Twelve Tribes symbology is based on Yahqob's (Jacob's) 12 sons, and correspond to the months of the ancient Ysraylite (Israelite) calendar, beginning with April and Reuben. The Most High Jah/Yah/YHWH gave Yahqob a new name which was Ysrayl (Israel). Some people further relate the 12 Tribes to metaphysical signs. Thus Bob Marley came from the Tribe of Yowseph (Joseph), the eleventh of the biblical Ysrayl's (Israel's) twelve children (because he was born in February). The name Levi in Ijahman Levi represents the third child who was born to Yahqob (Jacob). Another well known reggae group of this organization is Israel Vibration. Bob Marley, by quoting a biblical passage about Yowseph (Joseph) on the album cover of Rastaman Vibration, was acknowledging his own support for this sect. Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor, Mikey Dread and many other roots reggae artists were associated with The Twelve Tribes of Israel (Ysrayl).
