Weird and Religious
Among the ancient Hebrews, the Ark of the Covenant was believed to be so dangerous that touching it improperly could cause instant death. Stories describe people struck down simply for steadying it when it seemed about to fall, showing how sacred objects were treated as physically hazardous.
Religious image of the day.
In the name of religion
2014, Syria and Iraq under Islamic State expansion. The group massacred Shia Muslims, Christians, and others, destroying shrines and churches. It justified killings and enslavement through extremist interpretations of Islam, claiming divine command to eliminate unbelief and establish a caliphate.
Fact
In Sikhism, the founder Guru Nanak is the first in a line of ten Gurus, and Sikhism recognises these teachers as guiding the community in spiritual and ethical life.
Belief in the ridiculous
For a long time, insisting on literal belief served a clear purpose. In societies with limited education, no scientific framework, and strong oral traditions, spectacle mattered. Miracles impressed, wonders silenced doubt, and a prophet Muhammad who could fly to heaven or an old Noah who rescued animals on his Ark were not to be questioned. A god who drowned the world was not to be resisted. The story itself became proof of authority. The more outrageous the claim, the greater the display of power demanded by belief.
These stories also functioned as filters. Those who accepted them demonstrated loyalty, and those who questioned them exposed themselves as threats. Religion learned early that demanding belief in the ridiculous was an effective way to enforce conformity. Reasonable ideas can be debated, but absurd ones cannot be questioned without challenging the entire structure.
Quote of the day
“Religion is like a glowworm. It needs darkness to shine.” Arthur Schopenhauer.
Ask the right question
Why do religious taboos often focus on private behaviour while ignoring large scale social harm?
Religious Crooks
Michael Travesser, also known as Wayne Bent, led a small apocalyptic religious group and claimed prophetic status, exercising strict control over followers’ lives and resources, later convicted on charges involving abuse within the group.
For more information, google the name.
Almost all of the crooks appearing in this section have their own wikipedia page.Every country in the world has its fair share of spiritual crooks.
Religion is supposed to bring morality but it also seem to bring a lot of crooks who take advantage of people.