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Enigma you make a cogent point. I had not thought of it that way. I suppose it is because the Afrikan cultures to which I was exposed for 18 years did not display elements of human or animal sacrfice. They lived close to the Earth and were unwilling to give up their wholesome food for burgers and stuff with grease in it. Although they had different names for God, they all believed in the One True God and in the principles of Peace, Community, and Equality. Interestingly, I find many of these traits among Native Americans as well.
What's interesting about Enigma's question is the concept of calling oneself anything at all. Many of the Afrikan religions do not even have names. The religion of Kemet certainly did not. The name Rastafari (in terms of religion or lifestyle) was first coined by Afrikans in the Caribbean, but I have always believed that Ras Tafari was not a concretized religion like the Western religions. In fact, I hesitate to call it a religion at all because when we use that word, we imply an entire spectrum of Eurocentric concepts that simply have no place in the tenets of the Original People. I believe that Rasta is a living, evolving, growing Essence, expanding like the universe expands. The Rasta worships The All, and the All has built growth and change into every one of His/Her creations. InI giving me a great deal to think about. Thank you. Blessings All!
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