Little-known fact: Bob Marley left Rastafarianism and became Christian before his...

[Michie]

...death. Here's the full story

Redemption songs: The conversion of Bob Marley
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May 11 marks the 30th anniversary of the passing of Robert Nesta Marley, more popularly known as Bob Marley. He’s known by other titles as well: “The king of reggae,” “the first Third World superstar,” “The Honorable Robert Nesta Marley,” and, by Rastafarians, as “The Prophet,” or “The Teacher.” There have even been efforts by Jamaicans for him to be declared a national hero.

What many don’t know is that Bob Marley can also be called a Christian. He was baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox faith before his death in 1981.

Marley had become a zealous Rastafarian as a young man. The dreadlocks and pot smoking that became central to his image weren’t just accessories to a rock star lifestyle. They were pillars of Rastafarian faith. Rastas believe that cannabis removes mental barriers to enlightened thinking, and they base their dreadlocks in Old Testament law. As debatable as these doctrines are, it’s clear that a sincere faith in God and service of his people were the driving forces in Bob’s life and music.

One doesn’t have to dig deep into his lyrics to see Marley’s faith. In “One Love,” named the song of the millennium by BBC, Bob sings, “Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right.” And in songs like, “Forever Loving Jah” (“Jah” is the Rastafarian word for God), Marley is clearly praying, not just performing. Praise to “Jah” can be found throughout his music. Bob wasn’t just a secular rock star. It’s probably more accurate to say he was a religious musician who had made it in the secular world.

And when Marley wasn’t praying with his music, he was using it to fight for peace and equality, giving a voice to the marginalized in Jamaica and throughout the world. Bob’s fame overlapped a particularly turbulent time in Jamaica’s history. His musical career had so much social influence that he was the target of an assassination attempt in 1976. Two days later, with his would-be-assassins still on the loose, he took to the stage to perform with two gunshot wounds. Asked why he’d take such a risk, he answered: “The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off. How can I?”

Continued- http://www.archden.org/index.cfm/ID/6031​

 

[MKJ]

Well, I knew that. I think there have been a fair number of Rastafarians who have become Ethiopian Orthodox.

 

[Vendetta]

Didn't know that. Great thread.

 

[ProScribe]

Interesting fact, if its true.

 

[QueenMommy]

Wow. Learn something new every day....

 

[Fran75]

I am a big Marley fan and did not know this, I hope it is true.
It' s a nice thought but the Lord he was refering to in "One Love" does not nessicarily have to be our Christian God, the world Lord is used by many religions. It would be hard to find a more anti - religious song than "Get up, Stand up" whose lyrics have caused me to quesion my own belief in God.
I would really like to think that Bob died a Christian.

 

[MKJ]

I am a big Marley fan and did not know this, I hope it is true.
It' s a nice thought but the Lord he was refering to in "One Love" does not nessicarily have to be our Christian God, the world Lord is used by many religions. It would be hard to find a more anti - religious song than "Get up, Stand up" whose lyrics have caused me to quesion my own belief in God.
I would really like to think that Bob died a Christian.

You don't need to hope it. He was baptized, the priest who did it has talked about it, his family were there...

I'm not sure why it's even a question?

 

[Fran75]

You don't need to hope it. He was baptized, the priest who did it has talked about it, his family were there...

I'm not sure why it's even a question?

Well Okay, I just wonder why I never heard it before, would shattering the myth effect record sales or something.

 

[Rhamiel]

it is funny Haile Selassie (Rasta Fari) was always a devout christian, he did not start rastafarinism, they just thought he was an earthly messiah, you can find recordings of him talking about his faith in Jesus and in the Orthodox Church

 

[Rhamiel]

iron lion zion - YouTube

 

[Cosmic Charlie]

yeah, but I bet he was still a serious stoner

 

[Michie]

I am a big Marley fan and did not know this, I hope it is true.
It' s a nice thought but the Lord he was refering to in "One Love" does not nessicarily have to be our Christian God, the world Lord is used by many religions. It would be hard to find a more anti - religious song than "Get up, Stand up" whose lyrics have caused me to quesion my own belief in God.
I would really like to think that Bob died a Christian.

He did from everything I have read about the end of his life.

 

[MKJ]

Well Okay, I just wonder why I never heard it before, would shattering the myth effect record sales or something.

Well, there seems to have been some real pressure on him not to be baptized, and it was kept very quiet.

In the same way, Rastafarians tend to avoid modern medicine, which is why he did not seek conventional treatment for his cancer right away. As it progressed, he did, but that too was kept very quiet.

I think he was very much a symbol for an entire nation and culture, and there is a lot of baggage that comes with being a living symbol.