why do Rastafarians think Haile Selassie was God incarnate? when he himself told them he's NOT !!!?

Answer 1

Haile Selassie I's attitude to the Rastafarians

Haile Selassie I had no role in organising or promoting the Rastafari movement which for many Rastas is seen as proof of his divinity in that he was no false prophet claiming to be God in order to enjoy the benefits of being a cult leader. He was a devout member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, as demanded by his political role in Ethiopia, and it was his role as Emperor of Ethiopia that he devoted his life to. His publicly known views towards the Rastafarians varied from sympathy to polite interest.

Yet in his speeches and writings there is substantial material about the spiritual life, and he addressed his audience in the tone of a spiritual teacher. For instance, he wrote "Knowing that material and spiritual progress are essential to man, we must work ceaselessly for the attainment of both...No one should question the faith of others, for no human can judge the ways of God". During the Emperor's visit to Jamaica, he told Rastafari community leaders that they should not emigrate to Ethiopia until they had liberated the people of Jamaica. On another occasion Selassie said "We have been a child, a boy, a youth, an adult, and finally an old man. Like everyone else. Our Lord the Creator made us like everyone else," (in an interview with Oriana Fallaci, Chicago Tribune, June 24, 1973) and the Rastafarians do see Selassie as man incarnate. On numerous occasions Selassie expressed his belief in his faith, stating that one is doomed apart from faith in Christ, who in the Tewahido faith is considered both man and God: "A rudderless ship is at the mercy of the waves and the wind, drifts wherever they take it and if there arises a whirlwind it is smashed against the rocks and becomes as if it has never existed. It is our firm belief that a soul without Christ is bound to meet with no better fate." (One Race, One Gospel, One Task, address to the World Evangelical Congress, Berlin, October 28, 1966). He also encouraged religious freedom and tolerance. "Since nobody can interfere in the realm of God we should tolerate and live side by side with those of other faiths… We wish to recall here the spirit of tolerance shown by Our Lord Jesus Christ when He gave forgiveness to all including those that crucified Him." (op. cit.).

In order to help the Rastas and their aspirations of returning to Africa the Emperor donated a piece of land at Shashamane, 250 km south of Addis Ababa, for the use of Jamaican Rastafarians and there is a community there to this day.

[edit] The Rastafarians' attitude towards Haile Selassie I

Many Rastas say that they know Haile Selassie I is God, and therefore do not need to believe it; belief to them implies doubt, and they claim to have no doubts about his divinity. He is a central theme and presence within the life of Rastafarians. He is seen as a symbol of black pride, and as a king for African people. The first Rastafari to appear in front of a court was Leonard Howell, who was charged with sedition against the state and its King George V of the United Kingdom. Howell declared himself a loyal subject not of the King of the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth, but of Haile Selassie I and of his country Ethiopia. When Emperor Haile Selassie I came before the League of Nations to plead his case, and having it rejected by the League, this event confirmed their belief because the nations of Babylon, in reference to the ancient biblical place, will turn their backs to messiah on his return. Many equated the Italo-Ethiopian war with the fight in the Book of Revelation between the returned messiah and the antichrist. The Emperor's restoration to power in 1941 strengthened the Rastafari faith that he was Almighty God.

The Rastafarians use his full name, Haile Selassie I, pronouncing the Roman numeral that indicates "the first" as the word "I", that being the first person pronoun, thus emphasising both the personal relationship they have with him and also that God is to be found within the human being; he is also called "Jah Rastafari Selassie I," and affectionately "Jah Jah". They are very proud of knowing and declaring that he is their God. They have never been worried by Haile Selassie never claiming to be God, arguing that the real God would never claim to be so just to get worldly acclaim and power. Roots reggae is full of thanks and praises towards "Selassie I". The Rastas say that Haile Selassie I will one day call the day of judgement, calling the righteous and the faithful to live with him forever on a new Earth ruled from Holy Mount Zion, said to be a place in Africa. Some Rastas state that "Zion is a state of mind", emphasising that Zion is a current earth reality and not some place in the sky only to be experienced after one has died.

Rastas say that Haile Selassie I is still alive, and that his purported death was part of a conspiracy to discredit their religion, and Selassie himself. In addition to being a political and historical figure, Haile Selassie I has become a popular culture symbol for God through the Rastafari movement. Many Rastas are concerned that the world does not see Haile Selassie I in a positive light due to negative and unproven rumours about large bank accounts that the Marxist government in Ethiopia claimed he had used to salt away the wealth of the country. [citation needed]

Selassie's core beliefs of racial integration, a united Africa and the following of a moral path are at the heart of Rasta philosophy.

Answer 2

Bible is the best answer for that question, remember those who have eyes will see and those who have ears will hear. What is still been hidden to the wise and prudent will only always be revealed by to the babes and sucklings. Christ said it long time ago that children of the wicked people want miracle which will they never ever see, all those who always ask Haile Selassie about what people say about HIM don't believe in HIM, so why should He tell them that is HIM God and King of creation, still they were not gonna believe, they were going to demand for miracle. Is only Haile Selassie I and Rastafarians who know their relationship to each other!!!