Sex, Religion and Women

**WitchyOoman** · 10-25-2011, 01:35 PM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

I don't know of any religion that puts women first, but many of the neo-pagan religions definitely put women on a completely equal footing with men.

**johnnycakes** · 10-25-2011, 03:33 PM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

(Rastafari) Commentary: Jamaican RastafarI: Misogyny and Sexism in the 'One Love' Culture
www.caribbeannetnews.com

Published on Friday, July 27, 2007
By Linda Petrusi

Every patriarchal organized religion has its own unique brand of misogyny and sexism. Rastafari is no exception. Grounded in the words of the old testament combined with traditional African culture; one can argue that RastafarI women are more oppressed than Jamaican women as a whole. Beginning with Adam and Eve, the Old Testament teaches women to believe they created “sin” because Eve ate from the tree of knowledge. (God forbid that women should have knowledge) The Bobo Shanti sect in particular view women as polluted, consistent with Christian dogma and traditional African culture where women are perceived as devious, manipulative, and are forbidden to express any political thought during “reasoning sessions”. This in turn, creates greater subordination for RastafarI women. It would appear that Queen Omega was only honored because of the man she was attached to. Once King Alpha died, so did any respect for the Queen.

I am not suggesting that all Jamaican RastafarI men are this way. However, one can not ignore the fact that the majority of Jamaican RastafarI men are sexist misogynists. While it is true that the Nyahbinghi Order (named after Queen Nyahbinghi of Uganda who fought against the colonists) might in theory be seen as non-sexist simply because the sect was named after a woman. The reality is that all other sects emerged from Emperor Haile Selassie, who was a man. The twelve tribes are perhaps the most liberal, except that the twelve tribes represent the twelve sons of David. No mention of a woman. This is because men were the historians and women’s voices were not allowed.

In fact, “One Love” is a commercial enterprise for the travel and tourism industry and undermines the integrity of Rastfari as a potential for social change and transformation. This creates an illusion that all is well in Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean. The pieces just don’t fit well together. In fact, what emerges is a hypocritical movement which consistently undermines the integrity and knowledge that RastafarI women could bring to the table if they were allowed.

Focusing on a fundamental change in a political economy that addresses the various forms of abuse women endure; Rastafari women can and should be the leaders of Rastafari. Instead, many believe their “brothers” who tell them they are respected while engaging in polygamous relationships contrary to Rastafarian system of marriage. The “rationale” for this is that it is okay for Rasta men to be with other women if they are not Rastafarian. This not only insults Rasta women, but, all women who are “fair game” to Rasta men.

Men who advocate for the liberation of African people in the African Diaspora are not exempt from sexist attitudes towards women. Rastafarian men have dominated leadership positions and consider Rasta women to be secondary in all matters pertaining to Rastafari. This position is not unusual given the existence of global patriarchy.

The transformation of reggae music from “for the people” to appeasing a commercial audience, questions the role of reggae within a capitalistic framework. These uneven relationships are significant because there is a male propensity to exclusively struggle for male power — a focus that has historically pervaded all Diaspora African movements.

Some may think I believe Rastafarians to be atypical, singling them out. This is not true. I offer them as a microcosm that depicts African and Diasporian African male/female relations. By keeping Rastafari women in a subordinate position betrays the African movement and seriously questions the revolutionary potential of Rastafari for meaningful social, political and economic change.

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**jah_yout** · 10-25-2011, 08:46 PM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am not suggesting that all Jamaican RastafarI men are this way. However, one can not ignore the fact that the majority of Jamaican RastafarI men are sexist misogynists.</div></div>

joke ting...
this writer does not have a clue...
second-hand & incorrect information
mi haffi bun out this article

rastafari does not have any more misogyny than any other population group...
where are all the ras among all the rapists & murderers i see in the news everyday?

no doubt some ones get carried away in old testament literalism & adopted philosophies...but further knowledge of the roots exposes that balance is required between male & female...and not in the euro-centric sense

**jah_yout** · 10-25-2011, 09:08 PM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

the topic is on religion, but since you singled out rastafari...check this if you can

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**jah_yout** · 10-25-2011, 09:20 PM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

this brethren is showing that the bible can not be seen in the way it has been pushed...one must still discern all of the ancient texts of our people...

the bible- a collection of books-- contains some of the knowledge--- but some books are not included...
also older texts like the egyptian book of coming forth by day...known as 'the book of the dead'...
he, like most ras i know in this time--- are aware of the gender struggle...present in all humans

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**jah_yout** · 10-25-2011, 09:36 PM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

huge populations' governments -- like china & india..have far more sexist policies than any ras i know practices...
male superiority doctrine haffi get eradicated...period;

before she points fingers she should just look right at home here in american history...
long struggle for women to gain due reights, eh?

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**jah_yout** · 10-25-2011, 09:41 PM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

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**johnnycakes** · 10-25-2011, 11:00 PM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

j_y,

I watched the entire part one and a brief part of part 2.
I chose not to watch anymore because I have heard the rap before sitting long hours with a Rasta acquaintance of many years in a thatch roofed shack smoking the herb and reasoning but back then it was mostly listening to learn what Rastafari was about.
When I first met him he was a youth selling veggie patties on the beach but in later years got heavily into Rastafari and became a sort of self-styled spokesperson for the movement.

He and Rastafari made as little sense to me then as you and Rastafari do today.
You put down the article I posted without going through any one particular to gainsay its veracity. That is no different than the so-called and self-professed Christians who refused to view the Hitchens destruction of the Christ-died-for-our-sins fable.

Hailie Selassie was a mortal man and said he was not God. That's not only what he claimed but he was also killed by the Dergue in Ethiopia and his body buried in an air shaft of a building. The details of his death and the location of his body was revealed by someone who knew. They exhumed the body and DNA tested it using living family members to make the match that showed it was him.

Not God, not immortal. A human being .

Sure you can say we are all God's children if you believe in a God who created humanity but you cannot make the stretch that says that because God created us that we are also gods.

On those videos: All that mumbo-jumbo would be far more effective were the brother able to win points in a debate with the author of the article or were the smartest and best informed Rasta to meet someone like Christopher Hitchens or Richard Dawkins in debate.

For the brother to just spout rasta beliefs without someone right there to point out what doesn't make sense in the movement is just a waste of time. He's preaching to the choir and there are no atheists to tell him he's wrong and for him to debate it.

I don't take anyone at their word in political or religious matters and neither should anyone else.

It is incumbent upon those asserting that God, Haile Selassie, Isis and Osiris et al exist, to prove their case and it is not the responsibility of we atheists to prove that they don't

Faith requires avoidance of science, facts and logic.

The one big question that no one seems to be able to answer has to be:
Who picked out Marcus Garvey's wardrobe?

**jah_yout** · 10-26-2011, 12:55 AM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">j_y,

I watched the entire part one and a brief part of part 2.
I chose not to watch anymore because I have heard the rap before sitting long hours with a Rasta acquaintance of many years in a thatch roofed shack smoking the herb and reasoning but back then it was mostly listening to learn what Rastafari was about.</div></div>

so you are not interested in the topic of the thread it seems..."sex, religion & women"...
you were more interested in bashing the rastafari movement...fitting that into the thread topic...i see

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">When I first met him he was a youth selling veggie patties on the beach but in later years got heavily into Rastafari and became a sort of self-styled spokesperson for the movement.</div></div>

aren't many of us a self-styled spokesperson for something? be it a spiritual philosophy, an economic philosophy, an organizational or political philosophy, etc...like you do for --say-- communism or say singularity...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">He and Rastafari made as little sense to me then as you and Rastafari do today.</div></div>

it happens

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You put down the article I posted without going through any one particular to gainsay its veracity.</div></div>

the article is heavily generalized and pretty much outdated in terms of on-the-ground rastafari people's real relationships between male & female...
as i said above..granted there is some misguided sexism among some....but why is the author (and you) claiming rastafari is sexist and misogynyst when it is no more so than general american or european culture...or asian for that matter; and more progressive in other ways as well...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That is no different than the so-called and self-professed Christians who refused to view the Hitchens destruction of the Christ-died-for-our-sins fable</div></div>.

i can disect the article if you like

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Hailie Selassie was a mortal man and said he was not God.</div></div>

that's a loaded question when the world has questionable views on "god"
let's just say haile selassie held top level secret talks with the rases in jamaica...its contents not available to the general public--- and a land grant to the movement in shahshamene, ethiopia...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's not only what he claimed but he was also killed by the Dergue in Ethiopia and his body buried in an air shaft of a building. The details of his death and the location of his body was revealed by someone who knew.
They exhumed the body and DNA tested it using living family members to make the match that showed it was him.</div></div>

at least this is what you read and believed...

but even if this were the case...can you define the spirit or its relationship with the flesh?...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not God, not immortal. A human being .</div></div>

again, the word "god" is very vague...i do not accept your definition of it..(magician in the sky)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sure you can say we are all God's children if you believe in a God who created humanity but you cannot make the stretch that says that because God created us that we are also gods. </div></div>

i created my son...he is also a male human

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">On those videos: All that mumbo-jumbo would be far more effective were the brother able to win points in a debate with the author of the article or were the smartest and best informed Rasta to meet someone like Christopher Hitchens or Richard Dawkins in debate. </div></div>

you did not watch the videos you admitted, so it is pure folly to judge the man's reasoning or topic in relation to anyone else's...
i have watched & listened to both hitchens & dawkins...
but you are too contemptuous to hear this man's words due to your strong bias against those who are like him...
also known as a blockhead in colloqial terms...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For the brother to just spout rasta beliefs without someone right there to point out what doesn't make sense in the movement is just a waste of time. He's preaching to the choir and there are no atheists to tell him he's wrong and for him to debate it.</div></div>

again this fail big time...as his speech was on the topic of women & religion...he touched all the topics in the article you posted & he even debunked the bible-as-unquestioned-word-of-god theory... but your arrogance would never allow you to critique it on its merits...at least i read the article you posted-- which mostly re-hashed outdated generalisations & mixed in a little cheap name-calling...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't take anyone at their word in political or religious matters and neither should anyone else. </div></div>

so you would not expect anyone to take you at yours either

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">It is incumbent upon those asserting that God, Haile Selassie, Isis and Osiris et al exist, to prove their case and it is not the responsibility of we atheists to prove that they don't </div></div>

well you already know haile selassie exists...you just wrote a whole bunch of stuff about him

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Faith requires avoidance of science, facts and logic.</div></div>

i guess you never had faith in a plan...or an idea...or maybe you simply do not have the woord <span style="font-style: italic">faith</span> in your vocabulary...or faith means only one particular thing to you

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The one big question that no one seems to be able to answer has to be:
Who picked out Marcus Garvey's wardrobe?</div></div>

most of the time i saw marcus garvey he wore a standard 3-piece suit;

but as leader of the largest black-run movement the world has ever seen--not to mention a man of high inspiration...you would expect a few snazzy getups, yah?

**jah_yout** · 10-26-2011, 09:41 AM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why do Middle Eastern Religion and Western Religion... have such dislike of sex and hatred of women.</div></div>

cultural beliefs always find their way into religious doctrine...
these societies were (and still mostly are) patriarchal and the popularity of their religions world-wide has also influenced thought...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Whats wrong with sex sake of pleasure?</div></div>

nothing - provided there are no unwanted or detrimental consequences as a result-- (such as unwanted pregnancy, disease, deceit- in terms of safeguarding heirs & legacy, emotional trauma, etc.)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Could there be a common reason?</div></div>

sex obviously can not just be a total free-for-all...there has to be some kind of boundaries depending on situations...but certain ones obsess over it

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is God the father an enemy or competitor of God the mother.</div></div>

should not be...should be a complementary relationship-- the ying & yang-- balance

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If there is one God why is the sex male?</div></div>

we have perceived "god" or refer to "god" in the masculine...but that is merely our conception...this is learned behavior, for "god" contains both the male & female energy principles

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Is it true that Man was created first or just another expression of religious misogyny?</div></div>

just another case of religious misogyny

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do you know any religion that put women first?</div></div>

i wouldn't say put them first, but i have seen them put on an equal footing with males in some of the ancient nile valley spiritual texts

**johnnycakes** · 10-26-2011, 12:34 PM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

let's just say haile selassie held top level secret talks with the rases in jamaica...its contents not available to the general public--

If the meetings were top secret how is it you know about them and the contents of those talks?
If Selassie I claimed he was God in any meeting anywhere the followers of the movement would be out in the streets with recordings and texts of the meetings to prove their case that he was/is God.

Again, if you make claims of unreal or non-existent things it is incumbent upon you to prove their veracity.

To make just one more unprovable claim just adds to the sense that the movement has no place in rational thinking.

This is not to say that all the practices of Rastafari are either unreal or not beneficial to the believer just as many practices of Christianity, Mormon, Judaism, Islam are but when the movement is based on unprovable fictions and beings as they all are, the whole structure is not sustainable because you have no real foundation in fact.

The reality of life, the wonders of the physical universe all things of nature based on the facts and scientific proof go far beyond the miracles and the creationism of a celestial dictatorship.

The belief in supernatural beings is simply unnecessary and a waste of our time, energies and money.

As it was with posting in the now defunct International Political News forum I am now ending my participation in the Faith, Reason and Philosophy forum.

Anyone interested in my thoughts on anything relating to these matters can always go to You Tube and watch any of the Christopher Hitchens or Richard Dawkins videos in which they debate believers and you'll get what fairly well represents my thinking on theological matters.

But.... believers will not watch these nor can they watch them and this willful ignorance this fear of being found to be wrong this inability to look at arguments that oppose their beliefs in a fair and reasoned manner is why I will no longer participate here.

Walk Good.

**jah_yout** · 10-26-2011, 03:04 PM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><span style="font-style: italic">let's just say haile selassie held top level secret talks with the rases in jamaica...its contents not available to the general public--</span>

If the meetings were top secret how is it you know about them and the contents of those talks?</div></div>

well it is on video, the scenes of him in jamaica giving gold medals to the rases...
the land grant in shashamene is public record///

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If Selassie I claimed he was God in any meeting anywhere the followers of the movement would be out in the streets with recordings and texts of the meetings to prove their case that he was/is God.</div></div>

nonsense...it's not about convincing anyone or a popularity contest...we know what we need to know so we are content in that...again you have a certain definition or idea of "god"...
ras already has his own idea & concept of divinity...the word "god" is meaningless in this society as it evokes many different often erroneous concepts...so yes selassie I is god/christ/messiah/angel, but not in the sense that you think of it...he is no magician in the sky...
if you want to know what was discussed when Selassie I met with the rastafari in jamaica you will have to find a way to communicate with prince emmanuel from bobo hill

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Again, if you make claims of unreal or non-existent things it is incumbent upon you to prove their veracity.</div></div>

what is real to me may be unreal to you & vice versa...the events we mark are actual historic events recorded in this time on this earth...
i know god is a living man while you know there is no god

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">To make just one more unprovable claim just adds to the sense that the movement has no place in rational thinking.</div></div>

you will always feel that way so there is no progress to be made...you think all things came about through blind random chance out of chaos and found order...through processes enabled by probability...which you think you have figured out & labeled as "abiogenesis"...

which adds to the sense that this theory has no place in rational thinking

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This is not to say that all the practices of Rastafari are either unreal or not beneficial to the believer just as many practices of Christianity, Mormon, Judaism, Islam are but when the movement is based on unprovable fictions</div></div>

rastafari is not based on any fictions...it is simply based on life and african & human redemption...haile selassie is a key figure to the movement, but it is simply confusion to believe that rastafari is based solely on the bible or that haile selassie is worshipped in the sense that people are used to seeing worshipping based on the common religions...

rastafari is not the same as these religions..it is reality based;
there is no sky god or sky heaven or underground hell or paradise in the afterlife...
it is a spiritual & cultural philosophy which you have very limited knowledge on yet think you have it all figured out...
the bible is a very small part of overall rastafari philosophy

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">and beings as they all are, the whole structure is not sustainable because you have no real foundation in fact. </div></div>

we have foundation in only reality & facts...
africa in particular & earth in general is our heaven...a real place...
your heaven is an unproven utopian state you call singularity...yet I am the one who has no real foundation in fact?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The reality of life, the wonders of the physical universe all things of nature based on the facts and scientific proof go far beyond the miracles and the creationism of a celestial dictatorship.</div></div>

the top scientists are unsure how this was all formed, but you claim you know how....
that is just beyond silliness

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The belief in supernatural beings is simply unnecessary and a waste of our time, energies and money.</div></div>

who said anything about supernatural beings except you?
give up the tired arguments and show me where i have ever claimed supernatural beings

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">As it was with posting in the now defunct International Political News forum I am now ending my participation in the Faith, Reason and Philosophy forum.</div></div>

why?
tired of sharing your superior infallible knowledge with the rest of us un-enlightened ones?
dang! now i will never get my questions answered

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Anyone interested in my thoughts on anything relating to these matters can always go to You Tube and watch any of the Christopher Hitchens or Richard Dawkins videos in which they debate believers and you'll get what fairly well represents my thinking on theological matters.</div></div>

you have a lot of faith in these guys...any chance they could be mistaken on anything?
in your desire to discredit any thing or any one who does not buy into your concept of random-chance universe you often ignore the immediate point being presented in favor of sweeping dismissals of anything remotely spiritual...
youu didn't even attempt to discuss the topic of the thread---
you are only interested in bashing discourse which diverges from your militant atheistic stance..

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">But.... believers will not watch these nor can they watch them and this willful ignorance this fear of being found to be wrong this inability to look at arguments that oppose their beliefs in a fair and reasoned manner is why I will no longer participate here. </div></div>

put yourself in that boat also-- you are a believer in a concept---which may or may not be factual...you can't prove your theories- you only think you can due to arrogance-
but you nor the scientists are able to create life at this time

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Walk Good.</div></div>

you do the same bredrin...peace & blessings

**franksterr** · 10-28-2011, 10:22 AM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: WitchyOoman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't know of any religion that puts women first, but many of the neo-pagan religions definitely put women on a completely equal footing with men. </div></div>

why do you think this is so?

**franksterr** · 10-28-2011, 11:20 AM

Re: Sex, Religion and Women

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: johnnycakes</div><div class="ubbcode-body">(Rastafari) Commentary: Jamaican RastafarI: Misogyny and Sexism in the 'One Love' Culture
www.caribbeannetnews.com

Published on Friday, July 27, 2007
By Linda Petrusi

Every patriarchal organized religion has its own unique brand of misogyny and sexism. Rastafari is no exception. Grounded in the words of the old testament combined with traditional African culture; one can argue that RastafarI women are more oppressed than Jamaican women as a whole. Beginning with Adam and Eve, the Old Testament teaches women to believe they created “sin” because Eve ate from the tree of knowledge. (God forbid that women should have knowledge) The Bobo Shanti sect in particular view women as polluted, consistent with Christian dogma and traditional African culture where women are perceived as devious, manipulative, and are forbidden to express any political thought during “reasoning sessions”. This in turn, creates greater subordination for RastafarI women. It would appear that Queen Omega was only honored because of the man she was attached to. Once King Alpha died, so did any respect for the Queen.</div></div>

Many houses of Rasta do subscribe heavily to the judeo-christian message espouse by the West which does oppress women.
Rasta's African roots which in large part is vodun (Vodoo/Obiah) has no such practices, only that which is construed so by Western mind.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am not suggesting that all Jamaican RastafarI men are this way. However, one can not ignore the fact that the majority of Jamaican RastafarI men are sexist misogynists. While it is true that the Nyahbinghi Order (named after Queen Nyahbinghi of Uganda who fought against the colonists) might in theory be seen as non-sexist simply because the sect was named after a woman. <span style="font-weight: bold">The reality is that all other sects emerged from Emperor Haile Selassie, who was a man</span>. The twelve tribes are perhaps the most liberal, except that the twelve tribes represent the twelve sons of David. No mention of a woman. This is because men were the historians and women’s voices were not allowed.</div></div>

Rasta did not emanate from Selassie, but from the son and daughters of African slaves held in bondage in Jamaica

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In fact, “One Love” is a commercial enterprise for the travel and tourism industry and undermines the integrity of Rastfari as a potential for social change and transformation. This creates an illusion that all is well in Jamaica and throughout the Caribbean. The pieces just don’t fit well together. In fact, what emerges is a hypocritical movement which consistently undermines the integrity and knowledge that RastafarI women could bring to the table if they were allowed.</div></div>

The only thing hypocritical is your misunderstanding of what Rasta Is.....As An agent of transformation Rasta is counted as one of the most transformative movement in contemporary black culture world wide allowing people of African ancestry to find pride and dignity in their Africaness which in many respects is contrary to hip hop and more in tune with the black power movements of the sixties. This is not to be read as a slight of hip hop as if to say that it is negative, just an attempt to show where Rasta stands in relationship to it.
Most Rasta I know do not belong to any house, and as such do not hold any view that would oppress women.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Focusing on a fundamental change in a political economy that addresses the various forms of abuse women endure; Rastafari women can and should be the leaders of Rastafari. Instead, many believe their “brothers” who tell them they are respected while engaging in polygamous relationships contrary to Rastafarian system of marriage. The “rationale” for this is that it is okay for Rasta men to be with other women if they are not Rastafarian. This not only insults Rasta women, but, all women who are “fair game” to Rasta men.</div></div>

Within the movement there is such and injunction known as " To each his own vine and fig tree" or "each according to his order" Cheating spouse is known in every human society, relation, movement or organization, and as such they are no more guilty than others.
Nevertheless this is not to used or seen as a support/excuse or apology for deception of any kind with in human relations.
Leadership is not a given, but usually earned and as such it often goes to those in a position to exercise regardless of sex.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Men who advocate for the liberation of African people in the African Diaspora are not exempt from sexist attitudes towards women. Rastafarian men have dominated leadership positions and consider Rasta women to be secondary in all matters pertaining to Rastafari. <span style="font-weight: bold">This position is not unusual given the existence of global patriarchy.</span></div></div>

True

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The transformation of reggae music from “for the people” to appeasing a commercial audience, <span style="font-weight: bold">questions the role of reggae</span> within a capitalistic framework. These uneven relationships are significant because there is a <span style="font-weight: bold">male propensity to exclusively struggle for male power </span>— a focus that has historically pervaded all Diaspora African movements.</div></div>

True

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Some may think I believe Rastafarians to be atypical, singling them out. This is not true. I offer them as a microcosm that depicts African and Diasporian African male/female relations. By keeping Rastafari women in a subordinate position betrays the African movement and seriously questions the revolutionary potential of Rastafari for meaningful social, political and economic change.</div></div>

Rasta has already achieve it goal of revolutionary change - hearts and minds. That is social and political change.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Read This First (Disclaimer)
Both Cults & Isms are listed here. Not every group mentioned on this site is considered a destructive cult. Some are 'benign isms' — different but not emotionally or socially destructive.

Even cults vary in their degree of destructiveness. The information about benign groups is provided because we have received more than five inquiries about those groups.</div></div>

Rasta liberates the African Mind form self hate.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There is bound to be information you will not agree with, however it is our conviction that the public should have access to alternative information before deciding whether to participate in any particular group. If they want to know what your group teaches they can ask you directly.

Why provide information about cults?

A goldfish living in a bowl that is painted black on the outside will never know it lives in a bowl unless someone takes it out and shows it the rest of the world. Mindsets can be like that — locked into a `thinking box', unable to see outside because the web of beliefs is so all-encompassing</div></div>

True

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How can this happen to people like you and me?

Have you ever bought an outfit that didn't fit properly because the sales person convinced you it looked nice? Ever have someone talk you into having another drink when you didn't want one? Ever run into a clever con-artist who had a good line? Ever sign a contract you didn't really want to sign? Getting involved with a cultic group can be as easy as that. (If you still think it can't happen to you take our test in the General Information section. )</div></div>

It can happen to anyone.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In the USA alone there are an estimated 5,000 cults actively recruiting people of all ages, from all walks of life, at the rate of tens of thousands of new recruits every year. Australia is not far behind. Like most other countries, we tend to import them as soon as they develop.</div></div>

Rasta is not a cult

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We hope this site will help you to learn how to establish criteria for defining a cult, how to recognize cultic and spiritually abusive behaviors, and how to guard against unwanted psychological persuasion — the techniques used by cults and spiritually abusive groups to recruit and retain their members (as well as unethical salespeople).

http://www.culthelp.info/</div></div>

Thanks and I hope I have been of help to you also.... JC

Sex, Religion and Women

Sex, Religion and Women

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