Weird and Religious
The ancient Maya performed bloodletting rituals on themselves, including piercing tongues or genitals, because blood was thought to feed the gods and open portals to the spirit world. Pain was treated as a communication tool with the divine.
Religious image of the day.
In the name of religion
1839 to 1842, Qing China. The Taiping movement, led by Hong Xiuquan who claimed a Christian inspired divine mission, began rebellion that became a massive war. Followers justified violence as establishing a heavenly kingdom, destroying demons, and carrying out God’s will on earth.
Fact
In Zoroastrianism, charity and helping others are encouraged, and Zoroastrianism links generosity with righteousness.
Why religion survives
In some societies punishment is explicit. Apostasy carries legal or physical consequences. In others it is subtle but equally powerful. Loss of family contact, loss of community, or loss of purpose follow disbelief. Even where religion claims tolerance, disbelief is often framed as moral failure. The message remains consistent. Belief is rewarded. Questioning is punished.
Quote of the day
“One man’s religion is another man’s belly laugh.” Robert A. Heinlein.
Ask the right question
Why do near death experiences vary so much across cultures if they are glimpses of the same afterlife?
Religious Crooks
Ryuho Okawa founded Happy Science in Japan, claiming to channel spiritual beings and producing a vast catalogue of paid books, seminars, and films, with critics describing the organisation as centred on monetised revelations and personality driven belief.
For more information, google the name.
That was just a tiny case in a vast ocean of religious crooks.