Editing Rastafari (section)

=== Haile Selassie ===
[[File:Haile Selassie in full dress (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Haile Selassie]], the Emperor of Ethiopia between 1930 and 1974. He is of central importance to Rastas, many of whom regard him as the Second Coming of Jesus and thus God incarnate in human form.]]
From its origins, Rastafari was intrinsically linked with Haile Selassie, the Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974.{{sfnm|1a1=Bedasse|1y=2010|1p=960|2a1=Edmonds|2y=2012|2p=32}} He remains the central figure in Rastafari ideology,{{sfnm|1a1=Barnett|1y=2005|1p=77|2a1=Benard|2y=2007|2p=94}} and although all Rastas hold him in esteem, precise interpretations of his identity differ.{{sfn|Edmonds|2012|p=34}} Understandings of how Haile Selassie relates to Jesus vary among Rastas.{{sfn|Bedasse|2010|p=961}} Many, although not all, believe that the Ethiopian monarch was the [[Second Coming]] of Jesus,{{sfnm|1a1=Clarke|1y=1986|1p=67|2a1=Bedasse|2y=2010|2pp=961, 964}} legitimising this by reference to their interpretation of the nineteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation.{{sfn|Clarke|1986|p=67}} By viewing Haile Selassie as Jesus, these Rastas also regard him as the [[messiah]] prophesied in the Old Testament,{{sfnm|1a1=Clarke|1y=1986|1pp=15–16, 66|2a1=Barnett|2y=2006|2p=876|3a1=Bedasse|3y=2010|3p=966|4a1=Edmonds|4y=2012|4pp=32–33}} the manifestation of God in human form,{{sfn|Edmonds|2012|p=34}} and "the living God".{{sfnm|1a1=Watson|1y=1973|1p=191|2a1=Clarke|2y=1986|2p=65|3a1=Kebede|3a2=Knottnerus|3y=1998|3pp=510, 511|4a1=Mhango|4y=2008|4p=222|5a1=Bedasse|5y=2010|5p=964}} Some perceive him as part of a [[Trinity]], alongside God as Creator and the [[Holy Spirit]], the latter referred to as "the Breath within the temple".{{sfnm|1a1=Kitzinger|1y=1966|1p=36|2a1=Kitzinger|2y=1969|2p=246}} Rastas who view Haile Selassie as Jesus argue that both were descendants from the royal line of the Biblical king [[David]],{{sfn|Clarke|1986|p=67}} while Rastas also emphasise the fact that the Makonnen dynasty, of which Haile Selassie was a member, claimed descent from the Biblical figures [[Solomon]] and the [[Queen of Sheba]].{{sfnm|1a1=Soumahoro|1y=2007|1p=44|2a1=Bedasse|2y=2010|2p=960}}

Other Rastas see Selassie as embodying Jesus' teachings and essence but reject the idea that he was the literal reincarnation of Jesus.{{sfn|Bedasse|2010|p=964}} Members of the [[Twelve Tribes of Israel (Rastafari)|Twelve Tribes of Israel]] denomination, for instance, reject the idea that Selassie was the Second Coming, arguing that this event has yet to occur.{{sfn|Edmonds|2012|p=36}} From this perspective, Selassie is perceived as a messenger or emissary of God rather than a manifestation of God himself.{{sfnm|1a1=Middleton|1y=2006|1p=159|2a1=Edmonds|2y=2012|2p=34}} Rastas holding to this view sometimes regard the deification of Haile Selassie as naïve or ignorant,{{sfn|Middleton|2006|p=59}} in some cases thinking it as dangerous to worship a human being as God.{{sfn|Salter|2005|p=16}} There are various Rastas who went from believing that Haile Selassie was both God incarnate and the Second Coming of Jesus to seeing him as something distinct.{{sfn|Bedasse|2010|p=968}}

On being crowned, Haile Selassie was given the title of "[[King of Kings]] and Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah".{{sfn|Cashmore|1983|p=22}} Rastas use this title for Haile Selassie alongside others, such as "Almighty God", "Judge and Avenger", "King Alpha and Queen Omega", "Returned Messiah", "Elect of God", and "Elect of Himself".{{sfn|Clarke|1986|p=66}} Rastas also view Haile Selassie as a symbol of their positive affirmation of Africa as a source of spiritual and cultural heritage.{{sfn|Edmonds|2012|p=1}}

While he was emperor, many Jamaican Rastas professed the belief that Haile Selassie would never die.{{sfn|Kitzinger|1966|p=36}} The 1974 overthrow of Haile Selassie by the military [[Derg]] and his subsequent death in 1975 resulted in a crisis of faith for many practitioners.{{sfnm|1a1=Cashmore|1y=1983|1p=59|2a1=Edmonds|2y=2012|2pp=36–37}} Some left the movement altogether.{{sfn|Cashmore|1983|p=63}} Others remained, and developed new strategies for dealing with the news. Some Rastas believed that Selassie did not really die and that claims to the contrary were Western misinformation.{{sfnm|1a1=Cashmore|1y=1983|1p=60|2a1=Edmonds|2y=2012|2p=37|3a1=Middleton|3y=2006|3p=158}} To bolster their argument, they pointed to the fact that no corpse had been produced; in reality, Haile Selassie's body had been buried beneath his palace, remaining undiscovered there until 1992.{{sfn|Edmonds|2012|p=37}} Another perspective within Rastafari acknowledged that Haile Selassie's body had perished, but claimed that his inner essence survived as a spiritual force.{{sfnm|1a1=Cashmore|1y=1983|1p=60|2a1=Barrett|2y=1997|2p=253|3a1=Edmonds|3y=2012|3p=37}} A third response within the Rastafari community was that Selassie's death was inconsequential as he had only been a "personification" of Jah rather than Jah himself.{{sfn|Cashmore|1983|p=60}}

During his life, Selassie described himself as a devout Christian.{{sfnm|1a1=Kebede|1a2=Knottnerus|1y=1998|1p=511|2a1=Edmonds|2y=2012|2p=25}} In a 1967 interview, Selassie was asked about the Rasta belief that he was the Second Coming of Jesus, to which he responded: "I have heard of this idea. I also met certain Rastafarians. I told them clearly that I am a man, that I am mortal, and that I will be replaced by the oncoming generation, and that they should never make a mistake in assuming or pretending that a human being is emanated from a deity."{{sfn|MacLeod|2014|p=70}} His grandson [[Ermias Sahle Selassie]] has said that there is "no doubt that Haile Selassie did not encourage the Rastafari movement".{{sfn|MacLeod|2014|p=71}} Critics of Rastafari have used this as evidence that Rasta theological beliefs are incorrect,{{sfn|Cashmore|1983|p=127}} although some Rastas take Selassie's denials as evidence that he was indeed the incarnation of God, based on their reading of the [[Gospel of Luke]].{{efn|{{Bibleverse|Luke|14:11|KJV}}}}{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=1997|1p=108|2a1=Kebede|2a2=Knottnerus|2y=1998|2p=511}}