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Hello and Happy Easter everyone. As many of my friends made their way to church and family celebrations, I turned my mind to the spectrum of worship that exists this time of year. Thanks to the media, many of us are no longer surprised when we hear the actions of Islamic extremists, and as sad as I am to say it, many of us of other religions see ourselves as above that kind of behavior. So I thought, what could be a better day to bring attention to the kookiness of all religions than Easter, a huge day for the world’s biggest religion, Christianity (although Islam is starting to gain on it).
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Since it is Easter, let us discuss those crazy Christians. In the Philippines, the only “official” Catholic country in Asia, extremists volunteer to be dragged through town on Good Friday. These volunteers are then nailed to wooden crosses (to simulate Jesus’ crucifixion) and left to hang for five to ten minutes as a sign of their devotion. These ritual crucifixions are repeated year after year, with those completing the most in the past given the first chance to be displayed. Also prevalent in the realm of Christian extremism are Flagellants—those who whip themselves as penance. Let us also not forget about the most publicized Christian extremists, the White Knights (or KKK).
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Next on the list of the top five religions in the world is Islam. We have all heard of the extremists who turned their attention to the Twin Towers on 9/11 and their subsequent attacks on the Pentagon and other cities globally. Muslims also have their own share of Flagellants, who can be seen walking the streets of many Islamic countries on holy days. These flagellants can be as young as teenagers in some cases, and can continue the practice for years. Flagellants are also common in other religions, as pain and religious devotion have been linked for years. Other sources of extremism are the extensive faster in monasteries, and the yogis who bury themselves underground, or keep their hands in fists for years.
So you see friends, we all have extremists in our respective religions. Let us not denounce other religions for their people unless you are willing to denounce your own for the same reason. Happy Easter my friends, and safe travels.
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