Weird and Religious
The medieval Catholic practice of selling indulgences promised to reduce time in purgatory in exchange for money or acts. This commercial approach to the afterlife later helped spark the Protestant Reformation.
Religious image of the day.
In the name of religion
1984, Amritsar in India. Indian forces stormed the Golden Temple complex to remove Sikh militants, causing heavy casualties and damage to a sacred site. Militants had framed their campaign as defence of Sikh faith and rights, while the state justified action as restoring order.
Fact
In Sikhism, honest work is valued, and Sikhism encourages earning a living through fair effort rather than exploitation.
Convenient revelations
A pattern repeats across religions. Prophets receive revelations that legitimise their leadership, punish dissent, and enforce loyalty. Sexual rules often favour the prophet. Wealth flows upward. Violence is justified. Doubt is condemned. God’s priorities mirror the needs of the movement and the ambitions of its leader. The divine voice sounds suspiciously like the human one delivering it.
Quote of the day
“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” Voltaire.
Ask the right question
Why do believers attribute good outcomes to divine blessing but bad outcomes to mysterious plans?
Religious Crooks
Bikram Choudhury, founder of Bikram Yoga, built a global yoga movement with spiritual overtones and faced numerous lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and assault, with court judgments and settlements severely damaging his standing.
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.