The Editor, Sir:

This is in reply to Mr. Ray G. Stennett, published April 26.

Psalms 82:6 states: "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High."

So if you are biblically inclined, then clearly Selassie, as well as you and I, are 'gods'.

The difficulty in understanding the Selassie is God viewpoint lies in the reliance upon the Christian understanding of God; the belief that God is a benevolent male figure ruling in a kingdom in Heaven, wherever that may be.

For I and I, Selassie is a modern example of the godly (Christly) lifestyle which we see as optimal. For the Christian, I challenge you to search his majesty's Christian foundations to find him lacking. Even on this basis alone, Selassie is our Christ, not by the understanding of the word which Christians reserve exclusively for Jesus, but He is our 'anointed one'. We can forgo the arguments that relate to the veracity of the Jesus story of 2,000 years ago, because the life of Selassie is well documented in modern times. Hence, for I and I, we have a modern, more appropriate example.

Regarding those that smoke marijuana, it is rather funny how much modern scientific research is showing to be truth the statements made by Rastafari concerning marijuana; marijuana does not cause lung cancer (Wall Street Journal); marijuana is good for pain relief, glaucoma, Alzheimer's (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4286435.stm), and many other illnesses. Many other studies have disproved many of the earlier unfounded fears associated with marijuana.

In some churches, 'anointing oil' is considered a sacrament; in others, 'the bread of life'. Incense fits this description for some other religions. We are not all required to treat something as a sacrament because others do so, but we can accept that others view things differently than ourselves.

In closing, Rastafari is such an ingrained aspect of Jamaican culture. Our apologies, but you should have stopped Bob Marley before he spread reggae and Rastafari culture worldwide. Rastafari culture, including musicians, brings a very significant amount of foreign currency into the Jamaican economy. Personally, I believe it is time that people stop fighting the Rasta(wo)man!

If your mind can wrap around the confusing twists of logic required to accept Jesus as God and Man in whichever interpretation you subscribe to, and there arequite a few, then let Rastafari hail the king in peace.

I am, etc.,

DENTON COCKBURN

diboss@hotmail.com

Windsor, Ontario,

Canada

Via Go-Jamaica