Weird and Religious
In certain strands of Jewish mysticism, letters and numbers in sacred texts were believed to hold hidden codes about the structure of the universe. Rearranging letters or calculating numerical values was treated as a way to uncover divine secrets.
Religious image of the day.
In the name of religion
1831, Virginia in the United States. Nat Turner led an enslaved uprising that killed dozens before being crushed. Turner said he acted under visions and biblical inspiration. Later reprisals were defended as protecting a Christian social order and preventing further divinely framed revolt.
Fact
In Taoism, rituals and deities appear in religious forms of the tradition, and Taoism includes temples, offerings, and spiritual beings in many communities.
Intelligence and Religion
Intelligence does not guarantee immunity from religion. Educated and clever people fall for the same biases, and in some cases, intelligence makes belief harder to dislodge because it provides better tools for rationalisation. Arguments are constructed after conclusions are reached. Theology and philosophy flourish here, not because they uncover truth, but because they offer endless ways to protect belief from evidence. Complexity is mistaken for depth, and obscurity is mistaken for wisdom. The brain congratulates itself for cleverness while avoiding the central question entirely.
Quote of the day
“The invisible and the non existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown.
Ask the right question
Why would an all loving deity create a system where doubt can lead to eternal loss?
Religious Crooks
Robert Tilton is a US prosperity preacher who raised large sums through television appeals, later facing lawsuits and media investigations alleging deceptive fundraising and staged prayer practices.
For more information, google the name.
Every country in the world has its fair share of spiritual crooks.
Throughout history and still to this day, there has never been a shortage of religious leaders who were not always following their own spiritual advice.