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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Lots of people contact Rasta Ites with questions and I try to answer them as best I can.
Some of these questions and answers will be posted here....... a sort of FAQ page.
I stress that answers are only IMHO (in my humble opinion). Please feel free to contact Rasta Ites with more reasoning.
JAH blessings and guidance

I always, see pictures of rastas making their hands into a trianglular/diamond shape? what does this mean?

The hand sign the I refers to represents the Holy Trinity.

Here is a quote from Miguel Brooks' translation of the Kebra Negast (not the best translation btw). There is a picture of His Majesty making the sign of the trinity. The words underneath are

"Haile Selassie I (Last of the Solomonic Kings) H.I.M. Negusa Nagast, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I (Power of the Holy Trinity) Emperor of Ethiopia, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Elect of God, Light of the Universe - displaying here the mystical and metaphysical "Salutation of Peace" or the Sign of the Holy Trinity. The triangle pointing downwards is and esoteric symbol representing the material phase of the Seal of Solomon' the six-pointed star is also know as the Star of David."

Praises due to His Imperial Majesty every time
Reasoning added 12/01/07 from Kyle Russell
"I would like to think that the hand "mudra" you mention in your Q&A section is, in fact, a representation of the Star of David, because although it points largely downward, the thumbs point upward, and you do have the combination of upward & downward pointing triangles."

I would like to find some more information on the teachings of Jah. I'm looking for the origin and the ways to pray and things of that nature if you can help me or just direct me in the path I would be very thankful. Alujah

To learn the teachings of Jah, you must read the speeches of His Imperial Majesty. There are some on the website and also links to some more in the links section. Also read Jah Bible and the Kebra Negast. The origin of Rastafari is creation. I&I here from creation, seen. As for how to pray most ones link their hands in the way that His Majesty so often did and offer a prayer to the father. Here is the most used prayer although it varies slightly from house to house ........ still the I could use your own words to commune with the father. Also some use the Lord's prayer.

For the preaching of the cross is for them that perish foolishness
But to I&I who are saved it is the power of our Jah
Prince and princess shall come out of Egypt
Ethiopia now stretch forth her hands unto Jah
Oh thou Jah Ras Tafari of Ethiopia
Thy blessing has come into I&I hearts
To dwell in the paths of righteousness
Lead I&I
Help I&I to forgive that I&I may be forgiven
Teach I&I love, loyalty on Earth as it is in Zion
Thy blessing to I&I
That the hungry to fed
The naked clothed
The sick nourished
And the infants cared for
Deliver I&I from I&I enemies
That I&I may prove fruitful in the last days
When I&I enemies are past and decayed
In the depths of the Earth
In the depths of the sea
Or in the belly of the beast
Oh give I&I a place in thy Kingman for Iver and Iver
So let the words of I&I mouth
And the Iditation of I&I heart
Be acceptable in thy sight
Oh Jah Ras Tafari I&I strength and I&I redeemer who liveth and reigneth in the hearts of man and ooman
Selah

There are also Nyabinghi chants on the website.

Question: Isn't it some kind of contradiction using the internet when you think of the Rastafarian concept of Babylon which includes sometimes also Western technology? And also to put some links on a site like this that do route you to sites where rasta-stuff is sold like T-shirts or music. It's a thing that I don't understand, because I thought that rastas do consider all these things like being a part of the evil. So I would like to know what you and other rastas think about that.

You have asked for my personal opinion and that is all I can give :-) I cannot speak for anyone else. Firstly concerning Western technology and the internet. It is not the technology that is evil or good but the people who use it. For instance the internet is a wondrous tool and is used to form contacts with people all over the world and to spread knowledge. This is when it is used well..... On the other hand it can be an evil tool used to promote child abuse, pornography and terrorism..... that is when it is used in a evil fashion. The same is true of any implement.... a knife is a wonderful tool and can be used for millions of things including cutting up food, carving wood, etc etc etc.... it can also be a deadly weapon.

Babylon is the system of "spiritual wickedness" that has been used by some people to downpress other people. It does not include technology but could include the way that it is used as in the above examples. To quote the Bible Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Ras Tafari is a way of life based on the divinity of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia as I am sure that you know. I&I follow the example set by HIM and HRH Empress Menen. Emperor Haile Selassie worked hard from his youth to raise the standard of living in Ethiopia and to bring the country into the 20th Century. He built roads, schools and hospitals and introduced education and modern medicine into the country. He also introduced modern technology and flew in an aeroplane to show his people that it is a safe form of transport. Considering all this I do not see how technology can be at odds with I&I livity.

Concerning the second part of your question. The Online traders links page tries to support businesses owned by Rastafari, also ones run by black people or ones selling ecologically friendly products. Many Rastafari and black people find it hard to get work and hard to make it in the business world because of racism, prejudice and because of competition with large companies. Many people who are not Rasta try to use Rasta colours, images etc to sell products and these are also in competition with Rastafari run companies. I try not to list companies who are just living off Rasta imagery still it is not always possible to see who is who online.

Question "Why would you believe in someone but don't follow his teachings, did any of the Rasta's reaseach Haile Selasse speeches. I'm a christian who believe in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and after reading Haile Selasse speeches he believed in the Trinity and instructed his follower's to abide in God and to become Christ like and to follow Christ. ............ but somewhere it had to be someone or something that had a greater influence to the Rasta than Haile Selasse."

Greetings I could answer your question with another question. Why do Christians worship Jesus (we call him by his true name Iyesu (Yesu) or Yeshua) when he told us to worship God only.
Of course we follow Iyesu because this is what His Imperial Majesty told us to do. Christ died for our sins, without Him there is no redemption; Haile Selassie didn't die as this sacrifice has already been made. All Rastafari research Haile Selassie's speeches as you also have .... I think? If you check my website you will find many speeches there. No one has a greater influence on Rasta that Haile Selassie I.... for HIM we are named, after his title Ras Tafari or Head Creator. At coronation he took his baptismal name of Haile Selassie or Power of the Trinity. He is also known as King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of Judah. Check your prophecy. Christ promised that He would return in Power & in Glory.... those who have eyes to see, let them see. I realise this can be confusing to one who has not received the revelation.... maybe you are one who is receiving it, I do not know. Life is a spiritual journey and we are instructed "Seek and ye shall find". I pray that you will find whatever it is that you are seeking.

Question "Do Rastamen believe in Jesus Christ (who has crucified ) or have another Jesus?"

I&I don't see Christ in the same way that the Christian Church does. For a start his name wasn't Jesus it was Iyesu. He was not a white man with blue eyes. These are Northern European features. He was a black man and of the royal bloodline. He was a dreadlocked Nazarite, livicated (dedicated) to the Most High from birth. (see Numbers 6 for the Nazarite vows)
Personally I don't believe in a virgin birth, the word translated as virgin in the Bible actually means a young woman who has not had a child yet. Still some Rastafari might disagree with me there :-))

Question "Can I explain I and I .........about the whole thing concerning Rasta women?"

The whole thing concerning Rasta Women :-)) that is a very hard question LOL. Anyway here goes and please remember this is only my humble opinion. Thinking on the role of women has changed in recent years as it has in most of the world. The ideal is a one man, one woman relationship where the man and woman are two parts of one whole. When this combination works it can be a wonderful experience still all too often it seems that relationships break down because of differences of opinion concerning these roles.

His Majesty showed I&I that times have changed by crowning the Empress Menen on the same day as He was crowned. This was a break with tradition in that the Empress would previously have been crowned 3 days later. Here are also some of His Imperial Majesty's words on the education of women and on the passing of Empress Itegue Menen

In the past (and even now) many ones believed that man is the natural head of any relationship. This is mainly based on Paul's teachings (Ephesians 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body") also on Genesis 3:16 "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee."

Still one should look further and also consider that many think that the Adam & Eve story was added to Genesis during the Babylon captivity. One reason for this is because before Adam is mentioned, Genesis states in Chapter 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them" Also here we see that God is male and female...... the Holy Trinity...... father, mother, child. The mother has been replaced by Babylon with a Ghost.

This has lead to the mistreatment and abuse of women's rights to such an extent that most women nowadays (given the opportunity) will not put up with this treatment any more.

To see further that the subjugation of women stems from Babylon, one could read in the Bible about the Babylonian King Ahasuerus and Queen Vashti. The queen refused to come to her husband when he called her, see the whole story in Esther chapter one. Here is the outcome, the King's advisors see the rebellion spreading, see Esther 1:17 "For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not...............

and verse 22 "For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people."
Personally I see that man and woman are created equal but different. I disagree with feminism in that women will not get equality by trying to be men. As one could see the fruits of feminism are that women are now expected to go out to work and raise families, do the housework, cook the food etc. If one is in a relationship I feel that both partners should have equal rights and the power to decide their own actions and destiny, although each should take the needs and wishes of the other into consideration at all times. Jah have given all of I&I works to do and if woman is kept down she cannot fulfill her portion of the works. At my stage in life (I am a grandmother) I have decided to be on my own as I feel I can fulfill the works Jah have given I more easily as an independant Rasta woman.

Here are teachings from some Ras Tafari Organisations:

Nyahbinghi perspective : one / two
The Bobo Dread perspective

Interesting article about Jamaican women The last part deals with the subordination of Rastafari woman in the early days and how this has been changing over the last 20 years.

Question "I&I from russia,and a situation with rastafarian religion are stay critical,all right rastafarians will make a organisation,for the solve problems,and up to spirituality inna rastafarians mind,can u help us,and give da contacts of rastafarian organisations in all world?"

I am sorry but not surprised to hear that it is still a dread situation in Russia for I&I. It is so in many countries still and from what I see of Russia on the news it seems that the fall of communism hasn't really changed much!!! Here is a list of websites for different organisations that the I might want to contact. The first two sites are in Russian, you probably know of them..... http://www.zhurnal.ru/music/rasta/index.html
Here are some organisation links:
Nybinghi http://nyahbinghi.org/index.htm
Bobo Shanti http://www.houseofbobo.com/
Twelve Tribes of Israel don't have an official site still this is one of their best sites & it also has a message board http://groups.msn.com/TwelveTribesLiveUp/_whatsnew.msnw
Ethiopian World Federation http://www.ethiopianworldfed.org/

These are the main worldwide organisations still there are many more, check the Rasta links page on my site http://rastaites.com/rastalinks.html and the non-English sites page at http://rastaites.com/nonEnglishsites.htm
Please feel free to reason and ask questions on Rasta Ites message board at http://groups.msn.com/RastaItes