Hindus unveil colossal statue

AlJazeera ^ | Jan 30, 2006 | staff

[liberallarry]

Something out of Marvel comic books.

[coconutt2000]

Next week Al Jazeera will publish the security precautions around the site. Then some Muslim fanatic will bomb it.

[SlowBoat407]

Indian Hindus, who make up about 7% of Malaysia's 26 million people, regard Lord Muruga as a manifestation of valour, beauty, youthfulness, vitality, masculinity and happiness.

And...

Devotees pierce the skin on their backs and chests with scores of hooks, or drive skewers through their cheeks and tongues before climbing to the temple.

Anyone else see a contradiction here?

[Andy from Beaverton]

[Cicero]

How long before the Muslims blow it up?

[Minutemen]

I hope it doesn't offend Muslims.

[MineralMan]

Not really. It's something out of what is probably the oldest continually active religion on this planet. That's worth some respect, I think.

[mewzilla]

Something out of Marvel comic books.

What is?

[MineralMan]

"Devotees pierce the skin on their backs and chests with scores of hooks, or drive skewers through their cheeks and tongues before climbing to the temple.

Anyone else see a contradiction here?"

Not really. Christian monks and pilgrims used to whip themselves to "mortify the flesh." And that was just a few hundred years ago. No contradiction.

[edgrimly78]

Not really. It's something out of what is probably the oldest continually active religion on this planet. That's worth some respect, I think.

--Yes, Yes!!

[liberallarry]

I agree...but it's still an image out of Marvel comics, or a sci-fi movie.

[Old_Mil]

active religion on this planet. That's worth some respect, I think.

Yes and no - depending on which account of history you accept, Hinduism post-dates the events of Genesis making the Judeo-Christian tradition the oldest religion on the planet.

[TOWER]

Kind of reminds me of Goldar from that old Japanese TV show.

[MineralMan]

"Yes and no - depending on which account of history you accept, Hinduism post-dates the events of Genesis making the Judeo-Christian tradition the oldest religion on the planet."

Yes, well. Are you a believer that the events of Genesis happened around 6000 years ago? If so, then you have a point.

Either way, Hinduism is one of the great religions of this planet. Its history and beliefs are not for ridicule. Anyone who ridicules Hinduism mocks his own beliefs, as well, in my opinion.

[MineralMan]

Actually the comics and sci-fi stuff came from images from Hinduism. It's not the other way around. Hindu sculptures of their deities go back in time farther than almost any other structures we have on this planet, save, perhaps the pyramids and other relics of the old Egyptian religions.

The difference is that Hinduism is still a major religion.

[MeanWestTexan]

"Not really. Christian monks and pilgrims used to whip themselves to "mortify the flesh." And that was just a few hundred years ago. No contradiction."

Yes and no. This "christian" practice was extra-Biblical, and, in fact, similiar early practices were criticised as unnecessary and distracting by St. Paul. (Although he did say to tolerate them, to a limited degree.)

[Skooz]

Hilarious.

You lecture posters for mocking Hinduism, and say "Anyone who ridicules Hinduism mocks his own beliefs, as well, in my opinion," one line down from where you ridiculed the Jewish and Christian faiths.

[Old_Mil]

Yes, well. Are you a believer that the events of Genesis happened around 6000 years ago? If so, then you have a point.

While I won't say specifically 6,000 on the nose, I will say that I believe that the events of Genesis happened within thousands or tens of thousands of years and that Hinduism is a later derivative of fertile crescent polytheism.

There are two broad views of religion: that monotheism was the original faith with polytheism being a "de"-volution of this original faith...and that animistic polytheism was the original faith and that monotheism is an evolution of it. Clearly, I believe the former to be the case.

[bonfire]

Good grief!

[frogjerk]

Either way, Hinduism is one of the great religions of this planet. Its history and beliefs are not for ridicule. Anyone who ridicules Hinduism mocks his own beliefs, as well, in my opinion

That's a weird statement coming from as avowed atheist.