Rastafarianism
About
Rastafari, sometimes called Rastafarianism, is a young, Africa-centred Abrahamic religion that originated in the West Indies in the 1930s, mainly in Jamaica and Dominica, following the coronation of Haile Selassie I as King of Ethiopia.
Considered as both a new religious movement and a social movement, Rastafari combines Protestant Christianity, mysticism, and a pan-African political consciousness, with a core belief that Haile Selassie is God.
End of Life
Rastafarians do not believe that there is a specific afterlife, but that life is eternal. In Rastafari, Dying is called 'transitioning' and depicts a person's change to a new body rather than an ending. Rastafari believe reincarnation occurs with the same identity despite this change of the physical form.
Rastafarianism places a strong emphasis on personal dignity and a deep love of God, and this is often emphasised at end of life. Rastafarians believe that God is present where the people are, so loved ones may pray around the bedside of the dying person.
Rastafarians will be unwilling to receive any end of life treatment which contaminates the body, preferring alternative therapies such as herbalism instead. They may also be unwilling to wear hospital or hospice garments that have been worn by others.
After Death
There are no churches or professional priesthood in Rastafari, as there is no perceived need for a priest to mediate between the worshipper and God (Jah). Members of the community who are held in the highest regard, known as Elders, may support with Biblical scripture, but there are generally no rites or rituals for death.
For funeral customs, burials are generally preferred, but cremation is not forbidden. The strong fear of contamination continues after death and will influence attitudes towards organ donation and transplantation, so these are not generally accepted for fear of interfering with God’s plan. Equally, few Rastafarians would agree to a Postmortem except when ordered by a Coroner.
As the Rastafari do not believe in death, there is no formal funeral ceremony and there is usually no special mourning ritual either. During the grieving period, loved ones may come together to share their memories and condolences of the deceased, often over the food and drinks that are allowed within Rastafarianism.