I don't regard Rasta as a religion. Like the sistren Heather points out, there are reasons for people to look up to His Majesty, to follow HIM, but what that following then means, that is a personal thing.

Some become a Christyian. like me. Other go more into the eso-theric theories of inner divinity that Selassie then showed to them their own divinity. Personally I don't deal with that, and also not really sure if I want to discuss that, but I just want to mention the facts. Personally I see these two "main streams" within Rastafari, as strong growing segments each in their own house within Rastafari.

This ofcourse is a result of His Majesty leaving the visible spectrum, there's no denying that this had a major impact on Christology and Theology of Rastafari. This reality had to be put somewhere. If HIM was really the return of Christ, the way the Christians see the return of Christ, then why were not all prophecies fullfilled? Ofcourse, I have an answer, but that is not the issue here. The issue is that everyone has an opinnion about it. And having an opinnion about it, having to have an opinnion about it if you want to stay in touch with reality that is, is what is causing these two main streams.

If people can go into so much several directions, even spiritual directions that exclude each other, like (true) Christianity and Eso Theric, I think it is evidently Rastafari is not a religion. It is a culture, most of all an Identity.

For me, I don't call myself a Rasta, although I am dwelling within the movement, because I am a dreadlock, having a Dread Identity given to me by Jah from creation, this I know. But there are many who believe the same thing and they call themselves Rasta. And others call I Rasta and I don't mind when people do a thing like that, because I think I am following His Majesty also by being a Christian. I just wrote this so you know where I stand.