Antoine Raynor reports at the growing appeal of Rastafarianism and Islam to young men.

Rajah, a follower of the Rastafarian faith, whose believers regard the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie as "King of Kings'' and "Lord of Lords'', says the spirit that dwells in Haile Selassie is the same that was in Jesus Christ.

"When people think about Rastafari, they think about knotty hair and herb smoking. That is not what were about, true Rasta goes much deeper than that,'' he says. "We don't go to church on Sunday and then act another way during the week.

"Rasta is a way of life, if you read your Bible from end to end it will tell you everything you need to know in order to live your life in a better way.

From the way you eat, to basic morality, the Bible is central to the teachings of Rastafari.

He claims Christianity is taught from a "eurocentric'' point of view, in that it has excluded the black man in favour of European ways and images, therefore oppressing its followers. It also did not answer all of the questions to which he sought answers.

Asked how Rasta was viewed by the youth of Bermuda, Rajah replied that in general, youth had a more open mind than older Bermudians, but at the same time, like him, most were brought up in the church and what their parents told them about Rasta was carried in the back of their minds.

But both Rajah and other Rastafarians interviewed by The Royal Gazette say Rastafarianism teaches tolerance of other religions. This is a message that Rajah says speaks clearly to young people.

"We are dealing with a generation that was not taught love and respect, and now we are reaping what we have sown,'' he said. "I would urge every black youth that feels lost or confused when it comes to religion to seek out the most high, no matter what you call him.

"I found my truth in Jah Rastafari, read the Bible from Genesis to Revelations and find out for yourself, don't just take somebody's word, come to your own conclusion.

"As different as we are, we should be enjoying our differences. True men of faith should be able to reason together in Jah love as one body, not to conquer each other, but to enlighten.'' Photographer Stephen Raynor, also a Rastafarian, said: "It was my decision to devote my life to Christ, the Lord God and to seek the truth of the spirit for myself and not allow myself to become a clone of someone else's spiritual understanding. A man of faith is a man seeking God and it is God who will direct his path to the kingdom.'' Mr. Raynor added that any man of faith who judges another's faith is a hypocrite. And he said any person that searches for God and his Holy Kingdom with all his heart, soul and mind will find himself wherever God chooses to place him. He says the Body of Christ has many different parts and functions leading, in the end, to the same purpose.

Ameer Shakir, 44, is the Imam (leader) of the Muslim Community Centre. He first joined the Nation of Islam in the late 1960s but now follows the religion in its original form.

Imam Shakir said the youth of Bermuda have a strong belief in God but are confused.

The great majority have family in the church and grew up in the church, but believes those who leave have become disillusioned with it and felt psychologically oppressed by some of its teachings.

"As the Rasta rightly said, we have suffered under oppression and made to feel inferior. Our features (African) are not the acceptable features. We are not depicted at all in so-called divine pictures, even though those in the church say that faith is not about race, they don't hesitate to hold up European images. So blacks are forced to either integrate themselves into the European culture or stand and make a separation.'' Mr. Shakir said that more than orthodox Moslems, the Nation of Islam and Rastafarianism make social statements about young black males' cultures.

But he warned that if blacks make religion "black'', then they doing the same thing they say whites have done. He said the goal of finding where you stands in regards to God shouldn't stop with your own heritage.

He said blacks and everyone else need to understand that they are all a part of the human family, and need to come together to correct what is wrong with society as a whole.

Asked what advice he would give to young black males in Bermuda who have not made up their minds about the subject of God and religion, he said: "When we become serious seekers of the truth, that should compel us to study. When we enter a profession we know we have to study it to become better at it, is the same thing with religion.'' He also said he believes Satan is responsible for the divide among religions.

Such divisions keep not only blacks, but human beings from arriving at the truth, he said.

"I think the self pride we seek, the study of our history is good. All of this will help to point to the purpose that God has for us, and when we begin to see our purpose we will begin to see our destiny, and we will find in that, comfort for our soul,'' he said. "We all need to stick to what God is trying to teach us, like being morally upstanding and good neighbours, we may go to different houses of worship, but we are hurt by crime and the wrong we see in the world, so why is there any need for friction between religions?'' Imam Ameer Shakir