10 Weird Religious Practices August 19, 2007

10 Weird Religious Practices

By Guest Contributor
August 19, 2007

Here’s a list of “10 Weird Religious Practices.” It includes:

Only because I was raised in it, I feel the need to point out my family is part of the other major sect of Jainism, Svetambara. People kept their clothes on at our temple.

(via Bitchasaurus)


[tags]atheist, atheism, religion, ritual, practices, Mormon, Temple Garments, Scientology, E-Meter, Exorcism, Jewish, Kaparot, Shamanism, Hindu, Dowry, Mormon, Baptism of the Dead, Jain, Jainist, Digambara, Islam, Niqab, Muslim, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Blood Transfusions, Svetambara[/tags]

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  • Mriana

    I’m amazed. Holy Eucharist is not on that list.

  • Josh

    From that Wiki entry for Jehovah’s Witnesses:

    Blood was reserved for only one special use, the atonement for sins, which led up to Jesus’ shed blood

    Actually, blood has a lot of special uses, like carrying oxygen-rich red blood cells throughout the body and like, transporting other nutrients and such.

    What happens when it’s a young child who needs a transfusion? Do the crazy parents get to make the decision for him/her?

  • Jonas Green

    What happens when it’s a young child who needs a transfusion? Do the crazy parents get to make the decision for him/her?

    If it’s like Christian Science, it could very well be. Some Christian Scientist children have dies due to their parents refusing them medical treatment.

    Say Hement would the Svetambara sect of Jainism, take their clothes off for a Skepdude calendar? I’m sure Rebecca would be interested.

  • Say Hement would the Svetambara sect of Jainism, take their clothes off for a Skepdude calendar? I’m sure Rebecca would be interested.

    Shh! The temple doesn’t know about that yet.

    And I was being all atheistic when I did the Skepdude calendar. So there.

  • Mriana

    Oo baby! Hemant naked! Now that has to be a nice picture. 😉

  • Miko

    What happens when it’s a young child who needs a transfusion? Do the crazy parents get to make the decision for him/her?

    In the U.S., it’s decided state-to-state. Typically, parents have authority over medical care for their children until age 12-14, with the exception that they can be charged with a crime (usually negligent manslaughter) for refusing medical care that a ‘reasonable’ person would deem necessary in life-or-death circumstances. Some states further amend this to specifically remove criminal penalties if the parent claims a religious excuse. I’m dreading the inevitable day when this comes up in the context of a rebirthing case.

  • So these Jain monks don’t wear clothes ever? Are there groups of them here in the US? If so, I’d imagine they don’t go outside much… especially in the winter time!

  • Jen

    I am shocked they only came up with ten. I can think of ten within Christianity right now; what about relics? While not restricted to Christianity alone, they are a fucking creepy concept.

  • Maria

    interesting list……

  • I still think that prayer is the wierdest religious practice of them all.

    Pray, v. To ask the laws of the universe to be annulled on behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy. -Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914), [The Devil’s Dictionary, 1906]

  • PrimateIR

    hoverFrog – aren’t the Satanists just another group of theists?

    From Princeton

    # S: (n) prayer, supplication (the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)) “the priest sank to his knees in prayer”
    # S: (n) prayer, petition, orison (reverent petition to a deity)
    # S: (n) entreaty, prayer, appeal (earnest or urgent request) “an entreaty to stop the fighting”; “an appeal for help”; “an appeal to the public to keep calm”
    # S: (n) prayer (a fixed text used in praying)
    # S: (n) prayer, supplicant (someone who prays to God)

    I guess if you are going to have an imaginary friend, the least you can do is talk to him

  • TXatheist

    Josh, luckily man hospitals have a alternative to blood they can use for transfusions. I forget the name but there is a solution that is available. The JW’s are wrong on this of course because the biblical requirement was to abstain from people for a short period of time if they were contaminated by blood and they somehow construe that to mean no blood transfusions.

  • Cec

    hospitals have a alternative to blood they can use for transfusions.

    I don’t think so; I’m sure I’d have heard of such an alternative if it existed, being a doctor in training and blood donor both. Jehovah’s Witnesses suffering from blood loss are often prescribed saline infusions to prevent hypovolemic shock but this doesn’t prevent ischemia from lack of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, so eventually they will need blood transfusions or risk the most severe consequences.

    As for children of Jehovah’s Witnesses in need of blood transfusions, the standard procedure here in Denmark is to simply revoke their parental rights and treat the child regardless of the parents’ religious beliefs. I don’t think you’ll find any doctor willing to stand back and watch a child bleed to death for any reason, least of all the religious beliefs of the parents.

    ~Cec.

  • Manoj

    Dowry might be more an Indian tradition than just Hindu (like wearing a saree). I should know…I’m an Indian Christian and my parents paid dowry for both my sisters.

  • hoverFrog – aren’t the Satanists just another group of theists?

    @PrimateIR — The Devil’s Dictionary is a satirical work, not Satanic!

  • I understand the blood part but from a different angle. To me is blood something VERY personal. It is mine and as much as my blood is mine is someone else’s blood his. I would not take tranfusion unless there is no alternative and I choose not to die yet. To me blood is far more than just the nice red stuff transporting oxygen and luring little vampires.. 😉

  • Following the blog for 4 days now. That to be exact :). gotta mention that your posts are interesting and now how do i follow or subscribe to your blog?