Greetings Blackkulcha an give thanks fi yuh post. Well, Iyah, I am not one to doubt a brother, yuh say yuh are about to be baptise into di Ithiopian Orthodox Church an I seh I been to one right in Harlem an talked wid various members of 12 Tribe converts an membas of di Church, an dem all seh divinity of Selassie is definetly di ONLY point dem ask yuh fi renounce (not denounce). I can only speak fi wha mi hear wid I own ears, allso wha mi read...Selassie him self seh he told ones he is a man dat he is mortal, an ones should never mek a mistake of assuming or pretendin dat a human being is emanated from a deity, yuh know, so if he said dat, why would HIS CHURCH allow INI to worship him who clearly said allready he is a human being? Allso, look at any doctrinal statemant of di Ithiopian Churches, dem all say dat dem worship as yuh say di Father, Son an Hola Spirit, NONE say dem worship Selassie...now perhaps some congregations have chosen to embrace Rastafari any way dem can, to aide Rastafari to come to Christ, which I woman am in Complete Agreemant, wid out no judgemants, jus gentle explanations of truth, an biblical overstandin which comes to all ones as INI mature. Perhaps dat is how dat congregation conduct itself, but in no way would Abuna accept as DOCTRINE man worshipping man. He would be leading di people in di opposite way di Emperor asked him to lead di people an would be going against di gospel of Christ.
Give thanks an may Jah Bless yuh an Yuh Fambly as yuh enter into covenant
in His Light an Love
kaya I