Analyzing Rastafarianism

Our last class discussion, made me wonder how Rastafari feel about their identity in Jamaica and also made me wonder how this religion would survive in a different environment. The phrase "out of many we are one", would be frowned upon by Rastafarian because that would imply that people were conforming to the colonization that they are against. So what if these conflicts did not exist? Would their still be Rastafarianism?

Many Reggae songs are about freedom of oppression, whether mental or physical, and many Rastafarian are about surviving in a land that is not their home (Jamaica). Since most of Rasta's purpose is to fight the system, what if they had no system to fight and they were back in Ethiopia where they belonged? Because Rastas are still "fighting the system", it makes their religion stronger and more motivating to practice. But would they really want to beat the system? Is that even a possible future anywhere? Maybe they set these "unattainable goals" as motivators of their own faith; something to hold them accountable.

The Rastas do not form a division between society and themselves because they are angry and against everyone who is a different race or religion, but they formed it because it's necessary in order for them to practice their beliefs that do not match up with the system, which once again is their purpose, to not conform; being all-inclusive would imply some degree of conformation.

I feel like this religion is credible, especially at seeing the commitment they had in the video: waking up at 3am to worship, for example. They weren't worshiping just to prove a point (going against the system), they were worshiping the god they dedicate their entire being to, hence why only credible people are allowed to live amongst other serious Rastas. I also don't see the idea of setting an "unattainable goal" at all different from numerous religions practiced in America. For example, in Christianity, a large goal is to be like Jesus who was perfect. Although it's impossible to be perfect, it's something people try to attain every day.