Weird and Religious
Among the ancient Israelites, a ritual described a “scapegoat” onto which the sins of the community were symbolically placed before it was driven into the wilderness. The idea that guilt could be transferred onto an animal became a lasting metaphor in many cultures.
Religious image of the day.
In the name of religion
1994, Hebron in the West Bank. Baruch Goldstein killed Muslim worshippers at the Ibrahimi Mosque site. He was influenced by extremist religious nationalist ideas. Supporters cast the attack as defence of Jews and a holy place, using religious identity to rationalise murder.
Fact
In Sikhism, honest work is valued, and Sikhism encourages earning a living through fair effort rather than exploitation.
Blessing violence
Wars most clearly demonstrate the partnership between religion and rulers. Religion has rarely restrained violence; it has sanctified it. Enemies were redefined as unbelievers, heretics, or infidels, and killing them became an act of virtue. Land was seized under divine approval, and atrocities were reframed as holy duty. Across cultures and centuries, the same pattern repeats. Whenever violence serves power, religion provides its blessing.
Quote of the day
“In religion and politics people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second hand, and without examination.” Mark Twain.
Ask the right question
If religion brings peace, why has it so often been linked to conflict when mixed with power?
Religious Crooks
Tony Quinn, an Irish spiritual teacher, led a movement where followers provided money and labour, with media investigations and former members describing a structure of financial exploitation and authoritarian control linked to his religious role.
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.