Rastafari Movement

Rastafari movement members worship Haile Selassie I as an incarnation of the one true living God, following a syncretism of Judeo-Christian values and African practices.

Rastafarians meet on a weekly basis for a time of worship and prayers, though they do not have a specific holy day for such services. As Lincoln Thompson sang: Sunday morning, the heathen running to the temple, during the week they are the devil's disciple."Part of the service often consists of smoking marijuana, a plant with great spiritual significance to them. They support the legalization of marijuana, citing in their defense several Bible verses:

"He causeth the grass for the cattle, and herb for the services of man." - Psalm 104:14

"...eat every herb of the land." - Exodus 10:12

"Better is a dinner of herb where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith." - Proverbs 15:17

They also regard hair styles as having religious significance, citing the Mosaic law:

"They shall not make baldness upon their head." - Leviticus 21:5

Rastafarians also eat only ital food and abstain from alcohol, milk, coffee, and preparing food with salt. [1]