Mind if I use this for a timeline?
Haile Selassie did say that he was not the Son of God and in 1967, was asked about his thoughts on the Rastafari belief of his divinity. Below, he outright stated:But he didn't tell them that he is actually not the Son of God. Why didn't he denied their myths about him more clearly? Is it because he viewed them as possible allies/lobby-makers for Ethiopia?
One of my favorite things ever was reading just how confused and uncomfortable Rastafarianism/ Rastafarians made Emperor Selassie.
"You're worshiping what now?"
Ethiopia was the second nation to become Christian (Armenia the first). They have a Christian tradition that is more than 16 centuries old, and till the advent of the European powers they were a Christian island in a sea of animism and Islam. Christianity is a cornerstone of Ethiopian identity, and thus its precepts on who is God is very important, and thus it makes sense that an Ethiopian Christian would be very uncomfortable with him being declared THAT holy. His subjects would not tolerate a Rastafarian Ethiopia. I actually think making Ethiopia Rastafarian is 100000x harder than some realize, so it would truly be an AH challenge.
This is exactly as to why Rastafarianism is only a prominent movement amongst the New World and not at all in Ethiopia.Ethiopia was the second nation to become Christian (Armenia the first). They have a Christian tradition that is more than 16 centuries old, and till the advent of the European powers they were a Christian island in a sea of animism and Islam. Christianity is a cornerstone of Ethiopian identity, and thus its precepts on who is God is very important, and thus it makes sense that an Ethiopian Christian would be very uncomfortable with him being declared THAT holy. His subjects would not tolerate a Rastafarian Ethiopia. I actually think making Ethiopia Rastafarian is 100000x harder than some realize, so it would truly be an AH challenge.
If you play your cards right, it could spread to the Caribbean and Rastafari settlements in Ethiopia like Shashamane.That's why I advocate Jamaica as being far more opportune. If Rastas are seen as just another religion and a part of Jamaica's mainstream, it could work, but Ethiopia never would.