In Reply to: Re: I saw a strange Hindu custom posted by Donny on March 13, 2003 at 15:30:04:
to fanaticism in some of the "christian" believers such as snake handlers? Or the traditional Mexican worshippers that bloody their knees by scraping along on them and at the same time flaggelating themselves on the way to the Cathedrals on certain holy days?
While the vast majority of "Christians" do not handle snakes, shoot doctors, lead cults, or hurt and punish themselves to prove dedication,
There are different examples of spirituality in most religions.
Within most major religions are many different slants on interpretations and doctrine.
I saw a documentary on the Rat God in India, and it showed a city dedicated to its rats. The rats crawled all over the people in the temple(rat crap everywhere and the people were barefooted) and were worshipped and fed with milk and spices.
I don't know for sure, but maybe there is something innate that seeks for truth and finds it in different venues. Some find fanatical and destructive ones. Others pour themselves into the world around them and keep themselves from thinking. This is an interesting discussion.
I think it is very hard to accept Jesus in a traditional sense (for many exers) because the reaction to that name stirs an automatic sickness in the gut feeling. Like if you had been raised and everytime you heard the word "love" someone hit you or raped you. Love would then have a bad connotation and be very difficult to find.