Your argument holds no water. I already know all there is to know about Rastafarian after studying it extensively, when defending P.O.D. of this very same accusation before.
First of all, lets get a few things straight. Some of the Rasta religion is based around the bible, but much of it, sadly, they do not believe nor follow. Now, such words are used commonly in Rasta "call to worship" songs. But, before you begin to debate you have to know something about these phrases. Each term comes from parts of the bible which the Rasta have taken as part of their religion.
JAH - The Rastafarian name for God.
BABYLON - Babylon is the Rastafarian term for the white political and church structure that has been holding the black race down for centuries.
I AND I Rastafarian expression for oneness. `I and I' as being the oneness of two persons.
ZION Ethiopia, Africa, the Rastafarian holy land.
TRIBAL Rastafarians believe the black race is the reincarnation of the ancient tribes of Israel.
Thats exactly what your thinking, now let me show you what P.O.D. and Christian PREACHERS use these terms for.
JAH: Found in Psalms! This is a word for God! Or Jehovah! Or Yahweh! Or Yah! Or the Lord! Or Heavenly Father! Or just plain God! This word was adopted by Rastas because they didnt want to use the other words, since they believe partially in scripture, they felt they'd rather adopt a term used very rarely in the Bible. They knew that there were very few christians around, and with the absence of any christian doctrine the word Jah would go unnoticed by the people as a name for the christian/jewish God.
BABYLON: You've got to be kidding me right? If you've read ANYTHING in the bible you know where and what Babylon was. You know that Babylon was one of the greatest cities, rich in wealth. Yet the city was filled with decievers, hatred, se, false icons, graven images, golden idols, and everything against God. In all of P.O.D.'s songs, they use Babylon to represent the hatred and corrupt of this world. "I see you people babylon and on and on
Graven images, golden idols and false icons
I'm seeking wisdom like Solomon
But my antenae keeps on picking up evil transmissions" From the song Breathe Babylon
Sit down in the dust, Babylon without a throne to call your own is 47:1
The city has fallen, she has fallen golden images of it's god
Lie shattered on the ground- Breathe Babylon, P.O.D. Brown Album
I think its apparent enough which Babylon P.O.D. is talkin about. On to term number three.
I AND I: Frequently used by P.O.D. When P.O.D. talks about I and I, they/he are talking about them/him and the rest of the warriors, warriors for christ and him/them living in Christ as one. The term is used to discourage the division among today's culture, showing that no matter what denomination you are we are all as one, living in Jesus.
ZION: Once again, you read the bible you know what it means. Zion is the holy land of Israel, or Mount Zion. Usually reffered to as the holy land. "Misled bureaucracy, full of hypocrisy
I gotta steel pulse, looking for a true democracy
Destruction, now your walls have fallen
Just sitting here waiting for the train to Zion"- Breathe Babylon
I follow the Son and ride on to Zion
And dance this last song of freedom - Satellite, from Satellite Album.
Since Rastas dont believe in the Son what other Zion is he talking about? Ive been to alot of P.O.D. concerts, at one of them, you know what he said during the song "Satellite"? He said to the audience
"You gotta follow the Son, man, yo Jesus, Hes for real, follow Him to da true Zion, da Holy land, follow Him to Israel and know who died there, and know where it all began."
TRIBAL: Last but not least. Tribal, usually used when referring to P.O.D. fans as tribal warriors. We're like the ancient tribes of Israel, warriors, tribal warriors fighting a spiritual war with Jesus at our side.
"All hail, we prevail, the Tribes of Israel, flow through ya
We pursue the conquering lion of the Tribe of Judah- The Messenjah, Satellite Album
Are you convinced yet?
First of all, lets get a few things straight. Some of the Rasta religion is based around the bible, but much of it, sadly, they do not believe nor follow. Now, such words are used commonly in Rasta "call to worship" songs. But, before you begin to debate you have to know something about these phrases. Each term comes from parts of the bible which the Rasta have taken as part of their religion.
JAH - The Rastafarian name for God.
BABYLON - Babylon is the Rastafarian term for the white political and church structure that has been holding the black race down for centuries.
I AND I Rastafarian expression for oneness. `I and I' as being the oneness of two persons.
ZION Ethiopia, Africa, the Rastafarian holy land.
TRIBAL Rastafarians believe the black race is the reincarnation of the ancient tribes of Israel.
Thats exactly what your thinking, now let me show you what P.O.D. and Christian PREACHERS use these terms for.
JAH: Found in Psalms! This is a word for God! Or Jehovah! Or Yahweh! Or Yah! Or the Lord! Or Heavenly Father! Or just plain God! This word was adopted by Rastas because they didnt want to use the other words, since they believe partially in scripture, they felt they'd rather adopt a term used very rarely in the Bible. They knew that there were very few christians around, and with the absence of any christian doctrine the word Jah would go unnoticed by the people as a name for the christian/jewish God.
BABYLON: You've got to be kidding me right? If you've read ANYTHING in the bible you know where and what Babylon was. You know that Babylon was one of the greatest cities, rich in wealth. Yet the city was filled with decievers, hatred, se, false icons, graven images, golden idols, and everything against God. In all of P.O.D.'s songs, they use Babylon to represent the hatred and corrupt of this world. "I see you people babylon and on and on
Graven images, golden idols and false icons
I'm seeking wisdom like Solomon
But my antenae keeps on picking up evil transmissions" From the song Breathe Babylon
Sit down in the dust, Babylon without a throne to call your own is 47:1
The city has fallen, she has fallen golden images of it's god
Lie shattered on the ground- Breathe Babylon, P.O.D. Brown Album
I think its apparent enough which Babylon P.O.D. is talkin about. On to term number three.
I AND I: Frequently used by P.O.D. When P.O.D. talks about I and I, they/he are talking about them/him and the rest of the warriors, warriors for christ and him/them living in Christ as one. The term is used to discourage the division among today's culture, showing that no matter what denomination you are we are all as one, living in Jesus.
ZION: Once again, you read the bible you know what it means. Zion is the holy land of Israel, or Mount Zion. Usually reffered to as the holy land. "Misled bureaucracy, full of hypocrisy
I gotta steel pulse, looking for a true democracy
Destruction, now your walls have fallen
Just sitting here waiting for the train to Zion"- Breathe Babylon
I follow the Son and ride on to Zion
And dance this last song of freedom - Satellite, from Satellite Album.
Since Rastas dont believe in the Son what other Zion is he talking about? Ive been to alot of P.O.D. concerts, at one of them, you know what he said during the song "Satellite"? He said to the audience
"You gotta follow the Son, man, yo Jesus, Hes for real, follow Him to da true Zion, da Holy land, follow Him to Israel and know who died there, and know where it all began."
TRIBAL: Last but not least. Tribal, usually used when referring to P.O.D. fans as tribal warriors. We're like the ancient tribes of Israel, warriors, tribal warriors fighting a spiritual war with Jesus at our side.
"All hail, we prevail, the Tribes of Israel, flow through ya
We pursue the conquering lion of the Tribe of Judah- The Messenjah, Satellite Album
Are you convinced yet?
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