Weird and Religious
Among certain Siberian shamanic traditions, shamans wore costumes covered in metal pieces and antlers to represent a spirit journey in which they symbolically died and travelled to other worlds. The clothing itself was seen as part of the transformation.
Religious image of the day.
In the name of religion
1529, Central Europe. Ottoman Muslim forces besieged Vienna. Expansion was framed by leaders as legitimate jihad and extension of Islamic rule, while Christian defenders cast resistance as protecting Christendom from Islamic domination, giving the conflict strong religious meaning on both sides.
Fact
In Sikhism, courage and willingness to defend justice are valued, and Sikhism includes a history of resisting oppression.
On prophets
Every religion has its prophet(s). Once established, prophetic authority becomes self-reinforcing. Followers reinterpret contradictions as wisdom. Failed predictions are reframed. Moral flaws are excused as divine mystery. Violence becomes justice. Obedience becomes virtue. The prophet is protected from ordinary judgement because questioning him becomes equivalent to questioning god. This insulation is essential. Without it, the system collapses quickly.
Quote of the day
“The Church says the earth is flat, but I know that it is round.” Galileo Galilei, reflecting conflict with religious authority.
Ask the right question
Why does divine revelation depend so heavily on the time, place and culture of the people receiving it?
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.Every country in the world has its fair share of spiritual crooks.
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.