Blessed Love,
This quote, along with others, has lead many to believe that this is reason enough to debase Rastafari theology. There are several things that arise from this that we have to think about first!
First off, the reason His Majesty speaks like this is for one obvious reason, He's a Christian. I don't know why people are so shocked to here things like this. If His Majesty claimed to be a Christian and didn't say these things wouldn't that be contradictory? Haile Selassie is not a Rastafari and Jesus Christ is not a Christian. Haile Selassie is the Essence of Rastafari.
"Remember, the above statement was not made by I, it was made by H.I.M. Therefore it should be be part of I and I livity right?"
His Majesty was also and African Mason of the highest degree. Are you going to run over to Kemet and study for 40 years to do the same? His Majesty did many things to make Himself known to different people and groups. What about the other statements made by HIM to InI, like, "Your work is purposful" and the famous, "organize and centralize." His Majestys visit to JA and meetings with Elders confirmed the faith. He didn't say you have to be christian.
"Were the thoughts of Plato and Socrates, the beliefs of Christianity and Judaism not harmonized with Hindu philosophy; were Yoga and its various stages not exposed to Western thought; had Western religion and philosophy not been exposed to the philosophy and religion of the East through Your Excellency's persistent endeavour, how much the poorer would human thought have been!" - I Majesty
"No one is today so foolish as to believe that any one nation constitutes a perfect monolith of faith and ideology. Nor could anyone wish that there should be such utter vanity of thought and aspiration." - I Majesty
"Ethiopia is a country with her own culture and mores. These, our cultures and customs, more than being the legacy of our historical past, are characteristics of our Ethiopianness. We do not want our legacies and traditions to be lost. our wish and desire is that education develop, enrich, and modify them."
"Above all, Ethiopia is dedicated to the principle of the equality of all men, irrespective of differences of race, colour or creed.
As we do not practice or permit discrimination within our nation, so we oppose it wherever it is found.
As we guarantee to each the right to worship as he chooses, so we denounce the policy which sets man against man on issues of religion.
As we extend the hand of universal brotherhood to all, without regard to race or colour, so we condemn any social or political order which distinguishes among God's children on this most specious of grounds." Haile I
"Since nobody can interfere in the realm of God we should tolerate and live side by side with those of other faiths. In the mystic traditions of the different religions we have a remarkable unity of spirit. Whatever religion they may profess, they are spiritual kinsmen. While the different religions in their historic forms bind us to limited groups and militate against the development of loyalty to the world community, the mystics have already stood for the fellowship of humanity in harmony with the spirit of the mystics of ages gone by." Black Majesty
"No one should question the faith of others, for no human being can judge of the ways of God."
"It is our conviction that all the activities of the children of men, which are not guided by the Spirit and council of God will bear no lasting fruits; they will not be acceptable in the sight of God. It will therefore come to naught as the tower of Babel came to naught. The grace of God is Eternal. Angels in Heaven and the Creation on Earth sing His Praise . We thank the Master of the world Almighty God. Power belongs to God. May God Our Creator, the Helper and Guiding Light of us all grant you His Wisdom that you may bear fruits for His Glory."
And just for balance....
"The love shown by our God to mankind should constrain all of us who are followers and disciples of Christ, to do all in our power to see to it that the message of salvation is carried to those of our fellows who have not had the benefit of hearing the good news."
Bless
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