The emergence of the Rastafarian Community, 1916-1930 in Jamaica, came
during the rule of British Colonialism. Lacking an Ethiopian educator, the early
Rastafarian Community developed their faith out of mis-interpretations and
slight ignorance. These statements did not reflect the true 'tenets' necessary to
establish Temple Worship. During the early forties, several individuals would
then emerge with their own tenets as religious directives dealing with the
fundamentals, such as Baptism. In opposition to British rule and rejection of
the Christian dogma, many Rastafarians were driven away from the ritual of
Baptism.
The lack of religious discipline and over zealous fanatics did not allow any form
of re-examination of our Ethiopian tradition; this was partly induced by the
strong personalization of the elders in the community. The guidelines in
Emperor Haile Selassie I's utterance quotes "...tradition and customs must be
modified so as to insure the continuity of our people". This statement was
rejected by the Iyabinghi leadership, who were the dominant Rastafarian
denomination at the time. Any form of religious tenets which had similarities
with Christianity, such as church worship and baptism were totally rejected.
Irrespective that the Iyabinghi's doctrine could be interpreted as religious
anarchism, which could only undermine the future development of their
community and its religious status.
Disregarding Ethiopic religious tenets, causes the profaning of the name
Emperor Haile Selassie the First and opens the door for infiltration by
undesirable elements posing as Rastafarians. The sanctification of the name
Emperor Haile Selassie I had to come about in order to fulfill Ezekiel 36 v19-28.
It was imperative that the church established an initiation of members in the
name of Emperor Haile Selassie I in order to be in total fulfillment of Isaiah 43
v18-19, "remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Behold I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I
will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Rastalogy declares this prophecy as The Church of Haile Selassie I and the act of
initiation as one in the same. Rastalogy declares the ritual of baptism as one of
the greatest divine attributes to Emperor Haile Selassie I for children are
blessed in his name Haile Selassie the First, St. John 3 v1-12 validates the
importance of baptism. In these days, the Rastafarian Community must except
the development of Rastafarianism. In order to legitimize our religious belief
and fulfill the criteria as an established faith.
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