Weird and Religious
In early Japan, there are legends of hitobashira, or “human pillars,” where people were supposedly buried alive at the base of bridges or castles to appease spirits and ensure the stability of the structure. Whether all accounts are historical or partly mythical, the belief shows a link between construction and sacrifice.
Religious image of the day.
In the name of religion
622 to 630, Arabian Peninsula. Early Muslim community conflicts under Muhammad included battles such as Badr and the conquest of Mecca. Fighting was justified in Islamic terms as defence of the Muslim community, struggle against persecution, and establishing God’s rule over society and sacred space.
Fact
In Islam, hadith literature is important, and Islam uses reports about the words and actions of Muhammad as a major source for understanding religious practice and law alongside the Qur an.
Looking for Agents
One of the brain’s most powerful features is agency detection. Early humans who assumed that movement or noise was caused by something alive had a better chance of survival than those who waited for proof. Mistaking the wind for a predator was safer than mistaking a predator for the wind, so the brain learned to err on the side of intention. This instinct never switched off. Humans still look for agents behind events, even when none exist. Storms become angry, illness becomes punishment, and fortune becomes reward. Once agency is assumed, the leap to invisible agents is small, and gods slip neatly into the gap.
Quote of the day
“Where knowledge ends, religion begins.” Benjamin Disraeli.
Ask the right question
If a religion claims scientific miracles in its scripture, why do these claims usually depend on modern reinterpretations rather than clear original meaning?
Religious Crooks
Father Divine, leader of the International Peace Mission movement, claimed divine status and attracted donations and property from followers, with detractors arguing that his religious claims underpinned a system that channelled wealth and loyalty to himself.
For more information, google the name.
Almost all of the crooks appearing in this section have their own wikipedia page.
History tells us that wherever fools gathered, there was always a religious crook to take advantage of them. The best way to stop the crooks is not to be a fool.