Snoop: From Dogg to Lion

Lion of Judah     (Photo by Talmoryair)

Whereas four-legged dogs bury bones, two-legged Doggs bury their past.  Such was the case with Snoop Dogg in 2012.

At the time, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor Eric Marrapodi reported that rapper Snoop Dogg had undergone “a religious experience with Rastafari, an Afrocentric religion with origins in Jamaica,” and was therefore changing his name to Snoop Lion.

The Lion of Judah is an important symbol for Jews (regarding the tribe of Judah), for Christians (regarding Jesus), and for Rastas (regarding the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie).  When then-Snoop Dogg visited a Rastafari high priest in Jamaica, he was told:  You are the light, you are the lion.

Along with shedding his name, Snoop Lion also began giving up his former ways.  No longer wishing to sing gangsta rap, he now focused upon inspirational reggae.  

Rastafari is seen as a vital lifestyle, rather than as an authoritative religion.  It incorporates such practices as vegetarianism, herbs for the spirit (marijuana), natural living (dreadlocks), and respect for others.  There are approximately one million Rastas throughout the world.

Resources

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/02/snopp-dogg-is-a-rasta-now-what-is-that-anyway/ 

Copyright September 22, 2016 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved