Rastafari movement /

The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a monotheistic, new religious movement that arose in a Christian culture in Jamaica in the 1930s. Many of its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, former Emperor of Ethiopia (1930–1974), as God incarnate, the Second Advent, or the reincarnation of Jesus, while other adherents believe that Selassie is simply their earthly king chosen by God. Members of the Rastafari movement are known as Rastas, or Rastafari. The movement is sometimes referred to as "Rastafarianism," but this term is considered derogatory and offensive by some Rastas, who dislike being labelled as an "ism." The Rastafari movement encompasses themes such as the spiritual use of cannabis and the rejection of western society, called Babylon (from the metaphorical Babylon of the Christian New Testament.) It proclaims Africa (also "Zion") as the original birthplace of mankind, and embraces various Afrocentric social and political aspirations, such as the sociopolitical views and teachings of Jamaican publicist, organizer, and black nationalist Marcus Garvey (also often regarded as a prophet).