The Editor, Sir:

I JUST saw the article by Peter Espeut, and must agree with his principles, but disagree with his facts. Though he may be a theologian with honours from the school he attended, I can readily see that he has not taken enough time to do meaningful research on Rastafarians, Jehovah's Witnesses, nor Seventh-day Adventists (SDA).

Rastafarians do believe that Jesus is the Son of God. However, they believe that this same Jesus was incarnated in the person of HIM Selassie I. Jehovah's Witnesses are Arians. They believe that Jesus is a god, and the one through whom God has redeemed the world. For them, Jesus is Saviour. Seventh-day Adventists do not subscribe to the Old Covenant, but to the New Covenant, ratified at the Cross of Calvary, by the spilling of Jesus' blood.

As a Roman Catholic, Mr. Espeut should be well aware that the SDA Church, while not subscribing to RCC theology has had dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), and like the rest of the Protestant world, is viewed as 'separated brethren', by the RCC.

As a Jamaican, Mr. Espeut should be aware of the roots of Rastafa-rianism, and its anti-establishment outlook. It is a reactionary culture, intended to show the beauty of blackness, in contrast to the philosophy that only white is beautiful. He should also be aware that the SDA Church has had tremendous growth in Jamaica, because of its totally Biblical outlook. SDAs do not celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Christ, but view it as a day of goodwill, and will endorse its celebration as a time to remember that Christ came into the world, the gift from God to redeem humanity and bring them back into fellowship with Himself.

I am, etc.,

GENE GIBBS

janbou00@juno.com

Dallas, Texas

Via Go-Jamaica