Weird and Religious
Among certain Celtic groups in Iron Age Europe, classical writers claimed that prisoners of war were sacrificed in large wicker structures sometimes described as “wicker men.” The victims were burned as offerings to the gods, though modern historians debate how literal these reports were.
Religious image of the day.
In the name of religion
2001, New York and Washington in the United States. Al-Qaeda hijackers killed thousands in coordinated attacks. Leaders issued religious political rulings portraying civilians as legitimate targets and casting violence as defensive jihad, promising martyrdom and divine reward for striking perceived enemies of Islam.
Fact
In Confucianism, good government is moral rather than forceful, and Confucianism teaches that rulers should lead by example.
Religion and Storytelling
Storytelling is central to religion. Humans do not think in statistics but in narratives. A story with characters, motives, and consequences is easier to remember and transmit than a complex explanation or an honest admission of ignorance. Gods became characters in humanity’s longest-running story. They explained the seasons, justified suffering, and promised resolution. Each retelling polished the narrative. Gaps were filled, contradictions ignored, and authority added. Over generations, stories turned into myths, myths into doctrines, and doctrines into sacred truth. The original fear that inspired them was forgotten, but the structures remained.
Quote of the day
“Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature.” Karl Marx.
Ask the right question
Why do end times predictions repeatedly fail across many religions and centuries?
Religious Crooks
Efraín Ríos Montt is more political, so instead take Efrain Rios Montt style cases out and use José Mercau, a self proclaimed Catholic mystic in Argentina, who was convicted of sexual abuse after presenting himself as a spiritual healer with special powers.
For more information, google the name.
If a real God existed, would he allow crooks to act on his behalf?