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103-552: Saint George , officially the Parish of Saint George , is a parish of Antigua and Barbuda on the island of Antigua. Saint George borders Saint Peter to the southeast, and Saint John to the west and south. Saint George is mostly farmland and savanna in the south, dense forest in the Blackman's Peninsula area, marshland in the Fitches Creek area, and dense forest in the northwest. It is
206-504: A covenant with him and thus have a special responsibility. Rastafari espouses the view that this, the true identity of black Africans, has been lost and needs to be reclaimed. There is no uniform Rasta view on race . Black supremacy was a theme early in the movement, with the belief in a distinctly black African race that was superior to other racial groups. This has opened the religion to accusations of racism . While some Rastas still hold such beliefs, black supremacy has waned in
309-465: A literalist interpretation of its contents. Rastas regard the Bible as an authentic account of early black African history and of their place as God's favoured people. They believe the Bible to be key to understanding both the past and the present and for predicting the future, while also regarding it as a source book from which they can form and justify their beliefs and practices. Rastas commonly perceive
412-506: A new social movement , and a cultural movement. Many Rastas or Rastafarians—as practitioners are known—nevertheless dislike the labelling of Rastafari as a "movement". In 1989, a British Industrial Tribunal concluded that, for the purposes of the Race Relations Act 1976 , Rastafarians could be considered an ethnic group because they have a long, shared heritage which distinguished them from other groups, their own cultural traditions,
515-648: A "radical, even revolutionary" stance on socio-political issues, particularly regarding race, with a "profoundly traditional" approach on other issues. Rastas typically look critically upon modern capitalism, instead favouring small-scale, pre-industrial and agricultural societies. Some Rastas have promoted activism for socio-political reform, while others believe in awaiting change that will be brought about through divine intervention. In Jamaica, Rastas typically do not vote, dismissing politics as "politricks", and rarely involve themselves in political parties or unions. The Rasta tendency to believe that socio-political change
618-499: A Biblical prophecy. By the 1950s, Rastafari's countercultural stance had brought the movement into conflict with wider Jamaican society, including violent clashes with law enforcement. Early Rastafari often espoused black supremacy as a form of opposition to white supremacy, but this has gradually become less common since the 1970s. In the 1960s and 1970s, it gained increased respectability within Jamaica and greater visibility abroad through
721-475: A Cambridge School/CXC examination, 13.68% had a GCE 'O' level/CXC General, 2.26% had a GCE 'A' Levels, CAPE, 8.12% had a college certificate, 3.09% had an associate degree, 4.63% had a bachelor's degree, 0.52% had a post graduate diploma, 2.38% had a professional certificate, 1.84% had a masters or doctoral degree, 0.29% had another degree, and 5.60% didn't know or didn't state their examination level. In people of African descent, 43.20% had no examination, 8.25% had
824-516: A Naval Air Station at Crabbs, Saint Peter. The U.S. flag was hoisted on 21 March 1941, even though the Antigua agreement was not signed until 28 May and the entire lease agreement not until 27 March 1941. Even earlier, on 4 February, work had started building the Naval Air Station, and on 17 March, a detachment of fifty Marines, the first American military personnel, arrived. On 13 May, construction on
927-495: A certificate with examination, 9.29% had a certificate without examination, 9.77% had a diploma or advanced diploma, 2.72% had an associated degree, 3.79% had a first degree or post graduate degree, 9.04% had a professional qualification, 0.97% had another qualification, and 5.79% didn't know or didn't state. 17°07′N 61°48′W / 17.117°N 61.800°W / 17.117; -61.800 Parishes and dependencies of Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda
1030-489: A common language, and a common religion. Rastafari has continuously changed and developed, with significant doctrinal variation existing among practitioners depending on the group to which they belong. It is not a unified movement, and there has never been a single leader followed by all Rastafari. It is thus difficult to make broad generalisations about the movement without obscuring the complexities within it. The scholar of religion Darren J. N. Middleton suggested that it
1133-1095: A daily salary, 30.92 per cent of workers were paid a weekly salary, 21.59 per cent of workers were paid a fortnightly salary, 44.45 per cent of workers were paid a monthly salary, and 1.15 per cent of workers were paid at some other rate. In 2011, of all the people in Saint George, including those in school or those that have not begun school, 3.68% had no education, 1.23% had their highest level of education be day-care education, 2.23% preschool, 1.88% pre-infant/kindergarten, 5.32% primary/elementary (1-3), 14.11% primary/elementary (4-7), 3.78% junior secondary, 8.60% secondary form 1–3, 27.75% secondary form 4–5, 0.89% sixth form ("a" level lower), 2.65% sixth form ("a" level upper), 1.01% post secondary, 10.12% college, 1.47% post primary/vocational, 0.45% special education, 8.86% university, 1.53% other, and 4.43% didn't know/didn't state. 2,224 people attended school full time, and 200 people attended school part-time. In 2011, there were 2,424 attending an educational institution. 3.54% of those people attended
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#17328594307591236-423: A daycare, 7.51% attended preschool, 12.93% government primary school, 25.55% private primary school, 28.12% secondary school, 7.07% community college, 1.27% vocational/trades school, 2.66% adult education, 7.38% university, 1.31% special education, and 2.66% didn't know or didn't state. In 2011, 42.05% of people had no examination, 8.21% had a school leaving certificate, 2.48% had a high school certificate, 4.84% had
1339-491: A dogma", according to the sociologist of religion Peter B. Clarke . Some Rastas consider themselves Christian, and the religion has been deeply influenced by both Christian and Jewish thought; the scholar Michael Barnett called Rastafari "an Afrocentralized blend of Christianity and Judaism". Like Christianity, Rastafari treats the Bible as a holy book occupying a central place in its belief system, with Rastas often adopting
1442-568: A fixed place of work outside of the home, 2.97 per cent worked from home, 7.03 per cent had no fixed place of work, and 2.78 per cent did not know or did not state. 19.60 per cent of workers were paid government employees, 7.20 per cent of workers were paid statutory body employees, 54.93 per cent were paid private employees, 2.67 per cent were paid private home employees, 4.93 per cent were self-employed with paid employees, 8.86 per cent were self-employed without paid employees, 0.95 per cent had another worker status, and 0.85 per cent dn/ns. According to
1545-541: A man, that I am mortal, and that I will be replaced by the oncoming generation, and that they should never make a mistake in assuming or pretending that a human being is emanated from a deity." His grandson Ermias Sahle Selassie has said that there is "no doubt that Haile Selassie did not encourage the Rastafari movement". Critics of Rastafari have used this as evidence that Rasta theological beliefs are incorrect, although some Rastas take Selassie's denials as evidence that he
1648-544: A millennium of peace, justice, and happiness in which the righteous shall live in Africa. In the 1980s, many Rastas believed that the Day of Judgment would happen around the year 2000. A view then common in the Rasta community was that the world's white people would wipe themselves out through nuclear war , with black Africans then ruling the world, something that they argued was prophesied in
1751-476: A network to plan movement events and form strategies. The term "grounding" is used among Rastas to refer to the establishment of relationships between like-minded practitioners. Groundings often take place in a commune or yard, and are presided over by an elder. The elder is charged with keeping discipline and can ban individuals from attending. The number of participants can range from a handful to several hundred. Activities that take place at groundings include
1854-503: A pair of fundamental moral principles known as the "two great commandments": love of God and love of neighbour. Many Rastas believe that to determine whether they should undertake a certain act or not, they should consult the presence of Jah within themselves. Rastafari emphasises the idea of "living naturally". As an extension of this view, Africa is considered the natural abode of black Africans—a continent where they can live according to African culture and tradition, and be themselves on
1957-581: A physical, emotional, and intellectual level. Practitioners believe that Westerners and Babylon have detached themselves from nature through technological development and thus have become debilitated, slothful, and decadent. Some Rastas also believe they should adhere to African laws rather than the laws of Babylon, potentially putting them at odds with the law of the countries in which they currently live. In emphasising this Afrocentric approach, Rastafari expresses overtones of black nationalism . The scholar Maureen Warner-Lewis observed that Rastafari combined
2060-475: A reclamation of their African heritage. Accordingly it decenters Europe and whiteness and emphasises Africa and blackness, seeking to purge from its followers any belief in the inferiority of black people and the superiority of white people . Rastafari is therefore Afrocentric , equating blackness with the African continent, and endorsing Pan-Africanism. Practitioners of Rastafari identify themselves with
2163-515: A religion, meeting many of the proposed definitions for what constitutes a religion, and is legally recognised as such in various countries. Some scholars of religion have labelled it an Abrahamic religion , while other scholars have also classified it as a new religious movement , a sect , a cult , and a revitalisation movement . Having arisen in Jamaica, it has been described as an Afro-Jamaican religion, and more broadly an Afro-Caribbean religion. Although Rastafari focuses on Africa as
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#17328594307592266-415: A religion, instead referring to it as a "way of life", a " philosophy ", or a " spirituality ". Emphasising its political stance, particularly in support of African nationalism and pan-Africanism , some academics have characterised Rastafari as a political movement, a "politico-religious" movement, or a protest movement. It has alternatively been labelled a social movement , or more specifically as
2369-492: A school leaving certificate, 2.27% had a high school certificate, 4.98% had a Cambridge School/CXC examination, 13.73% had a GCE 'O' level/CXC General, 2.14% had GCE 'A' Levels, CAPE, 8.07% had a college certificate, 2.96% had an associate degree, 4.38% had a bachelor's degree, 0.46% had a post graduate diploma, 1.98% had a professional certificate, 1.56% had a master's/doctoral degree, and the remainder had other examinations, or didn't know/state their examination level. In 2011, of
2472-611: A source of identity, it is a product of creolisation processes in the Americas, described by the Hispanic studies scholars Margarite Fernández Olmos and Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert as "a Creole religion, rooted in African, European, and Indian practices and beliefs". The scholar Ennis B. Edmonds also suggested that Rastafari was "emerging" as a world religion , not because of the number of its adherents, but because of its global spread. Many Rastas nevertheless reject descriptions of Rastafari as
2575-584: A spiritual force. A third response within the Rastafari community was that Selassie's death was inconsequential as he had only been a "personification" of Jah rather than Jah himself. During his life, Selassie described himself as a devout Christian. In a 1967 interview, Selassie was asked about the Rasta belief that he was the Second Coming of Jesus, to which he responded: "I have heard of this idea. I also met certain Rastafarians. I told them clearly that I am
2678-637: A state of mind. Rastas believe that Africa, as the Promised Land , will allow them to escape the domination and degradation they experience in Babylon. During the first three decades of the Rastafari movement, it placed strong emphasis on the need for the African diaspora to be repatriated to Africa. To this end, various Rastas lobbied the Jamaican government and United Nations to oversee this resettlement process. Other Rastas organised their own transportation to
2781-448: A symbol of their positive affirmation of Africa as a source of spiritual and cultural heritage. While he was emperor, many Jamaican Rastas professed the belief that Haile Selassie would never die. The 1974 overthrow of Haile Selassie by the military Derg and his subsequent death in 1975 resulted in a crisis of faith for many practitioners. Some left the movement altogether. Others remained, and developed new strategies for dealing with
2884-564: A tea, as a spice in cooking, and as an ingredient in medicine. Not all Rastas use cannabis; many abstainers explain that they have already achieved a higher level of consciousness and thus do not require it. In Rastafari, cannabis is considered a sacrament . Rastas argue that the use of ganja is promoted in the Bible, specifically in Genesis , Psalms , and Revelation. They regard it as having healing properties, eulogise it for inducing feelings of "peace and love", and claim that it cultivates
2987-423: A wide area, including from different countries. They establish and maintain a sense of solidarity among the Rasta community and cultivate a feeling of collective belonging. Unlike in many other religions, rites of passage play no role in Rastafari; on death, various Rastas have been given Christian funerals by their relatives, as there are no established Rasta funeral rites. The principal ritual of Rastafari
3090-491: Is GE-01, a sizable post-Saladoid and Archaic munti-component site (Winthorpe's East). Here was found a lithic workshop, or flint processing facility. There were two archeological excavations in 1997 and 2002. Barnacle Point, and the Archaic sites, GE-9 and 10, were destroyed by land development in the summer of 2003. Studies in this field are ongoing. The parish of Saint George was created on 22 January 1725 after An Act for dividing
3193-404: Is a first-level administrative division subordinate to Saint John. Antigua's first-level administrative divisions were based on Divisions, which were later joined to form the island's five parishes. Prior to the creation of parishes, Divisions served as the basis for Antigua's administrative divisions. Despite the fact that divisions have never been eliminated, major divisions have now taken over
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3296-504: Is a village, Fitches Creek is an estate, and St. John's is the sole city in the country. With the exception of St. John's and Codrington, the majority of parish/dependency capitals are not the largest settlements in the parish. Parham is the second-largest city in Saint Peter ; that being said, it would be the largest if the population of All Saints —which is spread across three parishes—were not included. Nonetheless, compared to Parham,
3399-433: Is an island nation made up of: Antigua island, which is divided into six parishes; and of the two dependencies of Barbuda island and Redonda island. Although Barbuda and Redonda are called dependencies, they are integral parts of the state, making them essentially administrative divisions. Dependency is simply their title. Redonda was annexed into Saint John and unlike Barbuda , is not an autonomous island, instead, it
3502-427: Is expected of them whenever in public. According to traditional Rasta discourse, this dress code is necessary to prevent the sexual objectification of women by men in Babylon. Rasta men do not usually have such a dress code. Some Rasta women have challenged gender norms by wearing their hair uncovered in public and donning trousers. Although men and women took part alongside each other in early Rasta rituals, from
3605-700: Is inevitable opens the religion up to the criticism from the political left that it discourages attempts to alter the status quo. Other Rastas do engage in political activism; the Ghanaian Rasta singer-songwriter Rocky Dawuni for instance was involved in campaigns promoting democratic elections, while in Grenada , many Rastas joined the People's Revolutionary Government formed in 1979. Rasta discourse has traditionally presented women as morally weak, susceptible to deception by evil , and impure while menstruating , citing
3708-480: Is no need for a priest to act as mediator between the worshipper and Jah. It nevertheless has "elders", an honorific title bestowed upon those with a good reputation among the community. Although respected figures, they do not necessarily have administrative functions or responsibilities. When they do oversee ritual meetings, they are often responsible for helping to interpret current events in terms of Biblical scripture. Elders often communicate with each other through
3811-501: Is oppressed within Western society, or "Babylon". Many Rastas call for this diaspora's resettlement in Africa, a continent they consider the Promised Land , or "Zion". Rastas refer to their practices as " livity ", which includes adhering to Ital dietary requirements, wearing their hair in dreadlocks , and following patriarchal gender roles. Communal meetings are known as "groundations", and are typified by music, chanting, discussions, and
3914-441: Is that those who are righteous may undergo reincarnation . Rastas have traditionally avoided death and funerals, meaning that many were given Christian funerals by their relatives. This attitude to death is less common among more recent or moderate strands of Rastafari, with many considering death a natural part of life. Unlike other African diaspora religions , Rastas typically avoid ancestor veneration . Most Rastas share
4017-420: Is the norm, although many Rastas are legally married. Rasta men refer to their female partners as "queens", , "empresses", or "lionesses", while the males in these relationships are known as "kingmen". Rastafari places great importance on family life and the raising of children, with reproduction being encouraged. Traditionally, the religion emphasised the place of men in child-rearing, associating this with
4120-458: Is the smoking of ganja, also known as marijuana or cannabis. Among the names that Rastas give to the plant are callie , Iley , "the herb", "the holy herb", "the grass", and "the weed". Cannabis is usually smoked during groundings, although some practitioners also smoke it informally in other contexts. Some Rastas smoke cannabis very frequently, something other practitioners regard as excessive. Many practitioners alternatively consume cannabis in
4223-416: Is unknown why the early Rastas adopted this form of Haile Selassie's name as the basis of the term for their religion. As well as being the religion's name, "Rastafari" is also used for the religion's practitioners themselves. Many commentators—including some academic sources and some practitioners —refer to the movement as "Rastafarianism". However, the term is disparaged by many Rastafari, who believe that
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4326-569: The Kebra Nagast , a 14th-century Ethiopian text, as a source through which to interpret the Bible. Rastas are monotheists , worshipping a singular God whom they call Jah . The term "Jah" is a shortened version of " Jehovah ", the name of God in English translations of the Old Testament . Rastas believe in the immanence of Jah, who is inherent within each individual. This belief is reflected in
4429-531: The American University of Antigua and the Antigua and Barbuda International Institute of Technology, the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium , and the former Antigua Air Station . This economic prosperity is spread throughout the parish, with both the northern region of the parish, and the southern region, having important and modern facilities. Long Island and Maiden Island are legally parts of
4532-541: The Bible . Central to the religion is a monotheistic belief in a single God, referred to as Jah , who partially resides within each individual . Rastas accord key importance to Haile Selassie , Emperor of Ethiopia between 1930 and 1974, who is regarded variously as the Second Coming of Jesus , Jah incarnate , or a human prophet. Rastafari is Afrocentric and focuses attention on the African diaspora , which it believes
4635-486: The Book of Daniel . Rasta views on death vary. Traditionally, many Rastas believed in the possibility of eternal life. In the 1980s, scholar of religion Leonard E. Barrett observed Jamaican Rastas who believed that practitioners who died had not been faithful to Jah. He suggested that this attitude stemmed from the large numbers of young people in the movement, who had thus seen very few Rastas die. Another common Rasta view
4738-739: The Book of Leviticus and the writings of Paul the Apostle . By contrast, Rastafari often espouses the belief that black men in the African diaspora have been emasculated by Babylon and that their manhood must therefore be restored. As a result, Rastafari often affirms patriarchal principles, including the idea that women should submit to male leadership. External observers—including scholars such as Cashmore and Edmonds —have claimed that Rastafari accords women an inferior position to men. Cashmore suggests Rastafari women accept this subordinate position and regard it as their duty to obey their men. The academic Maureen Rowe suggested that women were willing to join
4841-699: The smoking of cannabis , the latter regarded as a sacrament with beneficial properties. Rastafari originated among impoverished and socially disenfranchised Afro-Jamaican communities in 1930s Jamaica. Its Afrocentric ideology was largely a reaction against Jamaica's then-dominant British colonial culture . It was influenced by both Ethiopianism and the Back-to-Africa movement promoted by black nationalist figures such as Marcus Garvey . The religion developed after several Protestant Christian clergymen, most notably Leonard Howell , proclaimed that Haile Selassie's crowning as Emperor of Ethiopia in 1930 fulfilled
4944-495: The "book within" which allows them to commune with God. Because of what they regard as the corruption of the Bible, Rastas also turn to other sources that they believe shed light on African history, including Leonard Howell 's 1935 work The Promised Key , Robert Athlyi Rogers ' 1924 book Holy Piby , and Fitz Balintine Pettersburg 's 1920s work, the Royal Parchment Scroll of Black Supremacy . Many Rastas also treat
5047-610: The 2,177 people asked, 82.55% had completed training, 8.85% were undergoing training, 6.13% attempted training but did not complete it, and 2.48% didn't know out didn't state their training status. 36.80% had on the job training, 5.54% had an apprenticeship, 4.28% had a correspondence course, 1.17% had secondary school, 28.39% had vocational training, 1.80% had commercial training, 2.67% had business/computer training, 9.53% had university on campus training, 4.42% private study, 3.79% other, and 1.60% didn't know or didn't state their training method. 26.64% had no training qualification, 31.99% had
5150-404: The 20,000-capacity Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium, which co-hosted the 2007 Cricket World Cup . Due to the many international universities hosted in Saint George, Saint George has a large international student population. Due to Saint George hosting Antigua's only airport, Saint George also hosts the only air-links into Barbuda and Montserrat . The Division of New North Sound, which is now
5253-405: The 2011 census, sixteen religious groups were self-reported by parish residents. The major religious groups chosen were Adventists (12.02 per cent), Anglicans (23.20 per cent), Moravian (11.26 per cent), Pentecostalism (9.65 per cent), irreligion (4.48 per cent), and Rastafari (0.55 per cent). According to the 2011 census, there were 3,882 workers in the parish. 87.21 per cent of these workers had
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#17328594307595356-410: The 2011 census, there were 350 business owners living in the parish. 17.82 per cent made under EC$ 1,000 per month from their business, another 17.82 percent made $ 1,000 to $ 1,999 per month from their business, 21.15 per cent made $ 2,000 to $ 2,999 per month, 18.73 per cent made $ 3,000 to $ 4,999 per month, and 24.47 per cent made over $ 5,000. According to the 2011 census, 1.90 per cent of workers were paid
5459-432: The 2011 census, twenty-one country of birth groups were self-reported by parish residents. The country of birth groups chosen were born in Africa (0.19 per cent), other Latin or North American countries (0.17 per cent), Antigua and Barbuda (73.04 per cent), other Caribbean countries (1.22 per cent), Canada (0.50 per cent), other Asian countries (0.33 per cent), other European countries (0.20 per cent), Dominica (3.66 per cent),
5562-451: The African continent. Critics of the movement have argued that the migration of the entire African diaspora to Africa is implausible, particularly as no African country would welcome this. By the movement's fourth decade, the desire for physical repatriation to Africa had declined among Rastas, a change influenced by observation of the 1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia . Rather, many Rastas saw
5665-501: The African diaspora. Rastas believe Biblical scripture explains the Atlantic slave trade, and that the enslavement, exile, and exploitation of black Africans was punishment for failing to live up to their status as Jah's chosen people. Many Rastas, adopting a Pan-Africanist ethos, have criticised the division of Africa into nation-states, regarding this as a Babylonian development, and are often hostile to capitalist resource extraction from
5768-501: The Bible . Cashmore reported that Rastas typically saw the growing acceptance of birth control and homosexuality in the 1970s and 1980s as evidence of the degeneration of Babylon and proof of its approaching demise. LGBTQ+ Rastas may conceal their sexual orientation because of these attitudes. Rastas refer to their cultural and religious practices as "livity". Rastafari does not place emphasis on hierarchical structures. It has no professional priesthood, with Rastas believing that there
5871-466: The Bible, where it refers to an idealised Jerusalem . Rastas use "Zion" either for Ethiopia specifically or for Africa more broadly. Many Rastas use the term "Ethiopia" as a synonym for Africa, following its usage in English translations of the Bible. Rastas in Ghana, for instance, describe themselves as already living within "Ethiopia". Other Rastas apply the term "Zion" to Jamaica or they use it to describe
5974-754: The Dominican Republic (0.96 per cent), Guyana (4.92 per cent), Jamaica (3.80 per cent), Montserrat (0.81 per cent), St. Kitts and Nevis (0.53 per cent), St. Lucia (1.54 per cent), St. Vincent and the Grenadines (0.74 per cent), Syria (0.04 per cent), Trinidad and Tobago (0.86 per cent), the United Kingdom (0.98 per cent), the United States (3.48 per cent), the United States Virgin Islands (0.53 per cent), and not stated (1.50 per cent). According to
6077-676: The Parish of Saint Peter in the said Island; and for erecting a new Parish, to be called the Parish of Saint George passed the Assembly on 10 January 1725, and the Council on the same day. The parish was created due to the parish of Saint Peter being too large to support the parish of Saint George. The parish was governed by twelve vestry-men. During the times of slavery, Saint George was divided into twenty-two slave plantations. The United States sought to establish an Army Air Base at Coolidge, Saint George, and
6180-581: The ancient Israelites —God's chosen people in the Old Testament—and believe that black Africans broadly or Rastas more specifically are either the descendants or the reincarnations of this ancient people. This is similar to beliefs in Judaism , although many Rastas believe that contemporary Jews ' status as the descendants of the ancient Israelites is a false claim . Rastas typically believe that black Africans are God's chosen people, meaning that they made
6283-464: The aphorism, often cited by Rastas, that "God is man and man is God", and Rastas speak of "knowing" Jah, rather than simply "believing" in him. In seeking to narrow the distance between humanity and divinity, Rastafari embraces mysticism . This idea of connecting to a singular divine force within differs from the forms of spirit possession found in other African diaspora religions, such as Kumina and Convince , where external spirits are invited into
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#17328594307596386-576: The bigger Army Air Base started. The settlement of Winthorpes and the MacDonalds' estate house at High Point were included in the borders of the region selected for the Army base, which was primarily made up of canefield, scrub, and mango swamp. Construction on the base did not conclude until the spring of 1942, in part due to the lengthy process of relocating the village and its residents. However, both bases had started up immediately using makeshift facilities, with
6489-664: The black African diaspora are exiles living in " Babylon ", a term which it applies to Western society . For Rastas, European colonialism and global capitalism are regarded as manifestations of Babylon, while police and soldiers are viewed as its agents. The term "Babylon" is adopted because of its Biblical associations. In the Old Testament, Babylon is the Mesopotamian city where the Israelites were held captive , exiled from their homeland, between 597 and 586 BCE; Rastas compare
6592-428: The body. Jesus is an important figure in Rastafari. However, practitioners reject the traditional Christian view of Jesus, and particularly the depiction of him as a white European . They believe Jesus was a black African, and that the white Jesus was a false god. Many Rastas regard Christianity as the creation of the white man; they treat it with suspicion out of the view that the oppressors (white Europeans) and
6695-401: The continent. Rastas seek to delegitimise and destroy Babylon, something often conveyed in the Rasta aphorism "Chant down Babylon". Rastas often expect the white-dominated society to dismiss their beliefs as false, and when this happens they see it as confirmation of the correctness of their faith. Rastas view Zion as an ideal to which they aspire. As with "Babylon", this term comes from
6798-509: The correctness of their beliefs. Rastafari meetings are opened and closed with prayers. These involve supplication of Jah, the supplication for the hungry, sick, and infants, and calls for the destruction of the Rastas' enemies, and then close with statements of adoration. Princes shall come out of Egypt, Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hand unto God. Oh thou God of Ethiopia, thou God of divine majesty, thy spirit come within our hearts to dwell in
6901-536: The exile of the Israelites in Mesopotamia to the exile of the African diaspora outside Africa. Rastas perceive the exile of the black African diaspora in Babylon as an experience of great suffering, with the term "suffering" having a significant place in Rasta discourse. Rastas view Babylon as being responsible for both the Atlantic slave trade , which removed enslaved Africans from their continent, and ongoing poverty in
7004-406: The fallacies in any arguments presented. Those assembled inform each other about the revelations that they have received through meditation and dream. Each contributor is supposed to push the boundaries of understanding until the entire group has gained greater insight into the topic under discussion. In meeting together with like-minded individuals, reasoning helps Rastas to reassure one another of
7107-775: The final book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation , as the most important part, because they see its contents as having particular significance for the world's present situation. Contrary to scholarly understandings of how the Bible was compiled, Rastas commonly believe it was originally written on stone in the Ethiopian language of Amharic . They also believe that the Bible's true meaning has been warped, both through mistranslation into other languages and by deliberate manipulation by those seeking to deny black Africans their history. They also regard it as cryptographic, meaning that it has many hidden meanings. They believe that its true teachings can be revealed through intuition and meditation on
7210-465: The first plane landing at Coolidge on 6 June 1941, and the first seaplane arriving at Crabbs, Saint Peter on 25 June. When the air bases diminished in importance, the army air base was converted into the Coolidge Airport, later renamed the V.C. Bird International Airport. Saint George is mostly flat, being dominated by grasslands in the south, marshland in the centre, and forest in the north. Much of
7313-431: The idea of returning to Africa in a metaphorical sense, entailing the restoration of their pride and self-confidence as people of black African descent. The term "liberation before repatriation" began to be used within the movement. Some Rastas seek to transform Western society so that they may more comfortably live within it rather than seeking to move to Africa. There are nevertheless many Rastas who continue to emphasise
7416-456: The idea that Selassie was the Second Coming, arguing that this event has yet to occur. From this perspective, Selassie is perceived as a messenger or emissary of God rather than a manifestation of God himself. Rastas holding to this view sometimes regard the deification of Haile Selassie as naïve or ignorant, in some cases thinking it as dangerous to worship a human being as God. There are various Rastas who went from believing that Haile Selassie
7519-507: The late 1940s and 1950s the Rasta community increasingly encouraged gender segregation for ceremonies. This was based on the belief that women's menstruation made them impure and that their presence at the ceremonies would distract male participants. As it existed in Jamaica, Rastafari did not promote monogamy. Though it is not especially common, Rasta men are permitted to engage in polygamy , while women are expected to reserve their sexual activity for one male partner. Common-law marriage
7622-632: The most prominent of which are the Nyahbinghi , Bobo Ashanti , and the Twelve Tribes of Israel , each offering a different interpretation of Rastafari belief. There are an estimated 700,000 to one million Rastafari across the world. The largest population is in Jamaica, although small communities can be found in most of the world's major population centres. Most Rastafari are of black African descent, and some groups accept only black members, but non-black groups have also emerged. Rastafari has been described as
7725-419: The movement since at least the 1970s, and non-black Rastas are now widely accepted. Some Rastas citing a 1963 speech by Haile Selassie in support of racial acceptance. Some sects maintains that white Europeans can never be legitimate Rastas but others believe an "African" identity is not inherently linked to black skin but whether an individual displays an African "attitude" or "spirit". Rastafari teaches that
7828-565: The name of a mythical African queen. Nyabinghi Issemblies are often held on dates associated with Ethiopia and Haile Selassie. These include Ethiopian Christmas (7 January), the day on which Haile Selassie visited Jamaica (21 April), Selassie's birthday (23 July), Ethiopian New Year (11 September), and Selassie's coronation day (2 November). Some Rastas also organise Nyabinghi Issemblies to mark Jamaica's Emancipation Day (1 August) and Marcus Garvey 's birthday (17 August). Nyabinghi Issemblies typically take place in rural areas, being situated in
7931-411: The need for physical resettlement of the African diaspora in Africa. Rastafari is a millenarian movement, espousing the idea that the present age will come to an apocalyptic end. Many practitioners believe that on this Day of Judgment , Babylon will be overthrown, with Rastas being the chosen few who survive the upheaval. With Babylon destroyed, Rastas believe that humanity will enter a "new age",
8034-461: The news. Some Rastas believed that Selassie did not really die and that claims to the contrary were Western misinformation. To bolster their argument, they pointed to the fact that no corpse had been produced; in reality, Haile Selassie's body had been buried beneath his palace, remaining undiscovered there until 1992. Another perspective within Rastafari acknowledged that Haile Selassie's body had perished, but claimed that his inner essence survived as
8137-606: The nineteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation. By viewing Haile Selassie as Jesus, these Rastas also regard him as the messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, the manifestation of God in human form, and "the living God". Some perceive him as part of a Trinity , alongside God as Creator and the Holy Spirit , the latter referred to as "the Breath within the temple". Rastas who view Haile Selassie as Jesus argue that both were descendants from
8240-571: The only division in Saint George, split from Saint Peter with the primary objective of providing for their parish church and having their own parish vestry . Historically, the majority of the parish's lands were used for agricultural purposes. Numerous historical relics from the parish can still be seen today, including the Blackman's and Judge Blizzard's plantations. From the earliest days of colonization, pre-Columbian peoples made extensive use of Winthorpe's Bay. There are patches of Archaic Age flakes and lithic debitage scattered over many kilometers of
8343-530: The open air or in temporary structures—known as "temples" or "tabernacles"—specifically constructed for the purpose. Any elder seeking to sponsor a Nyabinghi Issembly must have approval from other elders and requires the adequate resources to organise such an event. The assembly usually lasts between three and seven days. During the daytime, attendees engage in food preparation, ganja smoking, and reasoning, while at night they focus on drumming and dancing around bonfires. Nyabinghi Issemblies often attract Rastas from
8446-699: The oppressed (black Africans) cannot share the same God. Some Rastas take the view that the God worshipped by most white Christians is actually the Devil , and a recurring claim among Rastas is that the Pope is Satan or the Antichrist . Rastas therefore often view Christian preachers as deceivers and regard Christianity as being guilty of furthering the oppression of the African diaspora , frequently referring to it as having perpetrated "mental enslavement". From its origins, Rastafari
8549-526: The parish of Saint George, however, statistically, the three residents on Long Island in 2011 were counted as living in Saint Peter, and politically, Long Island and Maiden Island are sometimes considered parts of the St. Peter constituency . Saint George does not have many tourist attractions and beaches, and instead generates much of its revenue from the V.C. Bird International Airport, the only airport in Antigua, and
8652-449: The parts of righteousness. That the hungry be fed, the sick nourished, the aged protected, and the infant cared for. Teach us love and loyalty as it is in Zion. — Opening passage of a common Rasta prayer The largest groundings were known as "groundations" or "grounations" in the 1950s, although they were subsequently re-termed "Nyabinghi Issemblies". The term " Nyabinghi " is adopted from
8755-534: The past; but, this role is no longer held in any parishes. Each parish also had a vestry . There are seven parish/dependency capitals in Antigua and Barbuda . One of these, St. John's , serves as the national seat of government. Each parish capital contains the parish church, while the capital of Barbuda contains the administrative offices of the Barbuda Council . Most capitals have town status, however, Codrington
8858-514: The playing of drums, chanting, the singing of hymns, and the recitation of poetry. Cannabis , known as ganja, is often smoked. Most groundings contain only men, although some Rasta women have established their own all-female grounding circles. One of the central activities at groundings is " reasoning ". This is a discussion among assembled Rastas about the religion's principles and their relevance to current events. These discussions are supposed to be non-combative, although attendees can point out
8961-404: The popularity of Rastafari-inspired reggae musicians, most notably Bob Marley . Enthusiasm for Rastafari declined in the 1980s, following the deaths of Haile Selassie and Marley, but the movement survived and has a presence in many parts of the world. The Rastafari movement is decentralised and organised on a largely sectarian basis. There are several denominations, or " Mansions of Rastafari ",
9064-557: The population of the sector of All Saints in Saint Peter is considerably higher. Rastafari Rastafari is an Abrahamic religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s. It is classified as both a new religious movement and a social movement by scholars of religion . There is no central authority in control of the movement and much diversity exists among practitioners, who are known as Rastafari, Rastafarians, or Rastas. Rastafari beliefs are based on an interpretation of
9167-580: The recovery of African manhood. Women would often work, sometimes while the man raised the children at home. Rastafari regards procreation as the purpose of sex, and thus oral and anal sex are usually forbidden. Both contraception and abortion are usually censured, and a common claim in Rasta discourse is that these were inventions of Babylon to decrease the black African birth-rate. Rastas typically express hostile attitudes to homosexuality, regarding homosexuals as evil and unnatural; this attitude derives from references to same-sex sexual activity in
9270-549: The religion despite its restrictions because they valued the life of structure and discipline it provided. Attitudes to women within Rastafari have changed since the 1970s, however, with a growing " womanist " movement, and increasing numbers of women in leadership positions at local and international levels. Rasta women usually wear clothing that covers their head and hides their body contours. Trousers are usually avoided, with long skirts preferred. Women are expected to cover their head while praying, and in some Rasta groups this
9373-399: The role of becoming Antigua's second-level administrative divisions. On January 11, 1692, the five founding parishes of Antigua—Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, and Saint Philip and Saint Peter—were formally organised. In 1725, Saint Peter was divided into the Saint Peter as it is known today and Saint George. The office of "justice" served as the top government official in parishes in
9476-590: The royal line of the Biblical king David , while Rastas also emphasise the fact that the Makonnen dynasty, of which Haile Selassie was a member, claimed descent from the Biblical figures Solomon and the Queen of Sheba . Other Rastas see Selassie as embodying Jesus' teachings and essence but reject the idea that he was the literal reincarnation of Jesus. Members of the Twelve Tribes of Israel denomination, for instance, reject
9579-422: The sea floor surrounding the parish is home to seagrass patches. There are many creek systems in the southern region of the parish. There is a salt pond in the northern region, and various small water bodies in the south. In 1891, Saint George was very well connected by Antigua's historic rail infrastructure. The parish is mostly part of Antigua's limestone region. The northern region has a very right drought risk and
9682-489: The six neighbourhoods in the country to have high-income status in 2008. The neighbourhoods of Fitches Creek, Coolidge, Airport all had the top fifteen living conditions indexes in 2008. Saint George's prosperity has been the result of having one of the most modern airports in the Caribbean, V. C. Bird International Airport , the headquarters of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force , Camp Blizzard , multiple universities such as
9785-403: The smallest parish in Antigua and Barbuda, and the parish capital is Fitches Creek. The largest city in the parish is Piggotts . Saint George is the newest parish, splitting from the parish of Saint Peter in 1725. It had an estimated population of 8,817 in 2018. Saint George is the most prosperous parish in the country, with the communities of Fitches Creek and Coolidge being classified as one of
9888-750: The southern region has a low drought risk. All of the coastline is part of the Northeast Marine Management Area. The parish has some marine sand coverage, many coral reef communities, and many mangrove wetlands. Saint George is one of the most diverse parishes in the country. According to the 2011 census, nine ethnic groups were self-reported by parish residents. The ethnic groups chosen were African descendent (89.29 per cent), other mixed (5.15 per cent), mixed black/white (1.14 per cent), East Indian (1.01 per cent), Hispanic (0.97 per cent), white (0.97 per cent), other (0.68 per cent), dn/ns (0.42 per cent), and Syrian/Lebanese (0.37 per cent). According to
9991-437: The status of a catechism or creed . Rastas place great emphasis on the idea that personal experience and intuitive understanding should be used to determine the truth or validity of a particular belief or practice. No Rasta, therefore, has the authority to declare which beliefs and practices are orthodox and which are heterodox . The conviction that Rastafari has no dogma "is so strong that it has itself become something of
10094-449: The use of -ism implies religious doctrine and institutional organisation, things they wish to avoid. Rastas refer to the totality of their religion's ideas and beliefs as "Rastalogy". Edmonds described Rastafari as having "a fairly cohesive worldview"; however, the scholar Ernest Cashmore thought that its beliefs were "fluid and open to interpretation". Within the movement, attempts to summarise Rastafari belief have never been accorded
10197-505: The waterfront, together with deposits of shellfish, which are the leftovers of prehistoric meals. In 1997, a shoreline archaeological survey was carried out. Three sites from the Ceramic Age were identified and examined during this search. One meter below the surface, Saladoid pottery was found in GE-06 (Winthorpe's West). But the site is essentially a post-Saladoid site. The second and biggest site
10300-466: Was appropriate to speak of "a plethora of Rasta spiritualities " rather than a single phenomenon. The term "Rastafari" derives from "Ras Tafari Makonnen", the pre-regnal title of Haile Selassie , the former Ethiopian emperor who occupies a central role in Rasta belief. The term " Ras " means a duke or prince in the Ethiopian Semitic languages ; "Tafari Makonnen" was Selassie's personal name. It
10403-505: Was both God incarnate and the Second Coming of Jesus to seeing him as something distinct. On being crowned, Haile Selassie was given the title of " King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah". Rastas use this title for Haile Selassie alongside others, such as "Almighty God", "Judge and Avenger", "King Alpha and Queen Omega", "Returned Messiah", "Elect of God", and "Elect of Himself". Rastas also view Haile Selassie as
10506-502: Was indeed the incarnation of God, based on their reading of the Gospel of Luke . According to Clarke, Rastafari is "concerned above all else with black consciousness, with rediscovering the identity, personal and racial, of black people". The movement began among Afro-Jamaicans who wanted to reject the British colonial culture that dominated Jamaica and replace it with a new identity based on
10609-512: Was intrinsically linked with Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974. He remains the central figure in Rastafari ideology, and although all Rastas hold him in esteem, precise interpretations of his identity differ. Understandings of how Haile Selassie relates to Jesus vary among Rastas. Many, although not all, believe that the Ethiopian monarch was the Second Coming of Jesus, legitimising this by reference to their interpretation of
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