10 Jun 2019, 11:00 am
10 Jun 2019, 11:12 am
10 Jun 2019, 11:16 am
10 Jun 2019, 11:18 am
Not really but when I went to New Orleans I visited authentic voodoo shop. You know it's authentic when the person working there says not to buy anything if you're just a tourist looking for a souviner.
The voodoo dolls were all handmade and they had various candles and idols . They also had a little shrine where customers placed offerings of pennies, tobacco, candy, and other cool things.
It felt very sacred. 
10 Jun 2019, 11:28 am
TheRevengeofTW1ZTY wrote:
Not really but when I went to New Orleans I visited authentic voodoo shop. You know it's authentic when the person working there says not to buy anything if you're just a tourist looking for a souviner.
The voodoo dolls were all handmade and they had various candles and idols . They also had a little shrine where customers placed offerings of pennies, tobacco, candy, and other cool things.
It felt very sacred.
The voodoo dolls were all handmade and they had various candles and idols . They also had a little shrine where customers placed offerings of pennies, tobacco, candy, and other cool things.
It felt very sacred.
It’s interesting to learn about the various things people believe in.
10 Jun 2019, 11:34 am
Twilightprincess wrote:
TheRevengeofTW1ZTY wrote:
Not really but when I went to New Orleans I visited authentic voodoo shop. You know it's authentic when the person working there says not to buy anything if you're just a tourist looking for a souviner.
The voodoo dolls were all handmade and they had various candles and idols . They also had a little shrine where customers placed offerings of pennies, tobacco, candy, and other cool things.
It felt very sacred.
The voodoo dolls were all handmade and they had various candles and idols . They also had a little shrine where customers placed offerings of pennies, tobacco, candy, and other cool things.
It felt very sacred.
It’s interesting to learn about the various things people believe in.
I agree. Like the fact that voodoo is actually a combination of West African religions brought over during the slave trade and combined with Catholicism. It's an interesting religion with an interesting history.
10 Jun 2019, 11:42 am
10 Jun 2019, 11:45 am
10 Jun 2019, 11:46 am
10 Jun 2019, 11:49 am
10 Jun 2019, 11:51 am
Twilightprincess wrote:
naturalplastic wrote:
Twilightprincess wrote:
This is meant to be a fun topic and is not meant to pick on mainstream Christianity.
I enjoy looking at churches. Some have beautiful architecture and stained glass windows, but I derive much amusement from observing some of the stranger/offbeat establishments.
I met someone once who was starting a church (i.e. his own religion) out of his garage. “You know you’re a cult when...”
There’s a tiny church about a block away from me that has a billboard which is constantly threatening hell or damnation unless one chooses to attend their services. It seems very Puritan! I’m not going to do it, but I frequently feel the urge to rearrange the letters on the sign to spell naughty words. Tsk tsk!
I’ve seen churches in double wide trailers, a snake charming church (with ominous-looking wire cages that are set outside), and a church that holds services at precisely 10:17 on Sunday mornings (what scripture do you suppose that’s referencing?).
I also know a church that focuses largely on patriotism (it has a large patriotic mural painted on the building) and pushes its members to vote for Republicans with the view that this is part of the members’ religious duties. This church also pushes young adults to go to “Bible college” but doesn’t let the women get any more schooling than that.
I’m sure more will come to me.
I enjoy looking at churches. Some have beautiful architecture and stained glass windows, but I derive much amusement from observing some of the stranger/offbeat establishments.
I met someone once who was starting a church (i.e. his own religion) out of his garage. “You know you’re a cult when...”
There’s a tiny church about a block away from me that has a billboard which is constantly threatening hell or damnation unless one chooses to attend their services. It seems very Puritan! I’m not going to do it, but I frequently feel the urge to rearrange the letters on the sign to spell naughty words. Tsk tsk!
I’ve seen churches in double wide trailers, a snake charming church (with ominous-looking wire cages that are set outside), and a church that holds services at precisely 10:17 on Sunday mornings (what scripture do you suppose that’s referencing?).
I also know a church that focuses largely on patriotism (it has a large patriotic mural painted on the building) and pushes its members to vote for Republicans with the view that this is part of the members’ religious duties. This church also pushes young adults to go to “Bible college” but doesn’t let the women get any more schooling than that.
I’m sure more will come to me.
We have some architecturally interesting churches. But I am not aware of churches with the kind of theological weirdness that you're talking about.
One question: did you mean "snake charming"? Or snake HANDLING?
Hindu Indians do snake charming (though its not usually connected to their religion. Just a parlor trick). That thing with the flute playing. But snake handlng IS a thing among some American Pentacostal congregations.
I live near Washington DC so have at least one mosque, buddhist temples, and every kind of church (modern archeture to tradition, small to cathedrals, small civil war era rural churches, storefront churches in the inner city).
The most conspicuous, and most loved/hated architecturally is probably the great Mormon Temple. Right off of the Beltway in Silver Spring.
I guess I mean snake handling. It was most likely a Pentecostal type of church.
I have a family member who is a Pentecostal. He used to play the drums in his church’s band.
Pentecostals often have some strange beliefs.
So do Mormons, although the two mormon ladies who used to go door to door in my old neighborhood were both very nice to me and my brother.
10 Jun 2019, 11:56 am
10 Jun 2019, 12:01 pm
Twilightprincess wrote:
I’m no stranger to the likes of Mormons!
In those types of religions, their beliefs are unusual, but they are presented in a rational, reasonable, and relatable sort of way, so they don’t seem as strange as they actually are.
In those types of religions, their beliefs are unusual, but they are presented in a rational, reasonable, and relatable sort of way, so they don’t seem as strange as they actually are.
And as an agnostic omnist (an omnist is a believer in all religions containing "some" truth to them) the one belief they have that I do agree with is not consuming substances like drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and even caffeine.
Those things are unhealthy, damage the body, and are addictive. It's best if we all do without that stuff if we want to live long and healthy.
But I'm also a firm believer in freedom of choice. There isn't anything wrong with a person partaking in such things for pleasure but they should always be aware of either the health or legal consequences.
10 Jun 2019, 12:07 pm
TheRevengeofTW1ZTY wrote:
Twilightprincess wrote:
I’m no stranger to the likes of Mormons!
In those types of religions, their beliefs are unusual, but they are presented in a rational, reasonable, and relatable sort of way, so they don’t seem as strange as they actually are.
In those types of religions, their beliefs are unusual, but they are presented in a rational, reasonable, and relatable sort of way, so they don’t seem as strange as they actually are.
And as an agnostic omnist (an omnist is a believer in all religions containing "some" truth to them) the one belief they have that I do agree with is not consuming substances like drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and even caffeine.
Those things are unhealthy, damage the body, and are addictive. It's best if we all do without that stuff if we want to live long and healthy.
But I'm also a firm believer in freedom of choice. There isn't anything wrong with a person partaking in such things for pleasure but they should always be aware of either the health or legal consequences.
I tend to believe in moderation instead of total abstinence, except in the case of drugs and tobacco although I see no problem with someone wanting to enjoy a cigar to celebrate a special occasion.
There are health benefits associated with alcohol and caffeine if they are both consumed in moderation.
Not everyone can be moderate when it comes to this stuff, though, so they should avoid it altogether.
10 Jun 2019, 12:11 pm
Twilightprincess wrote:
TheRevengeofTW1ZTY wrote:
Twilightprincess wrote:
I’m no stranger to the likes of Mormons!
In those types of religions, their beliefs are unusual, but they are presented in a rational, reasonable, and relatable sort of way, so they don’t seem as strange as they actually are.
In those types of religions, their beliefs are unusual, but they are presented in a rational, reasonable, and relatable sort of way, so they don’t seem as strange as they actually are.
And as an agnostic omnist (an omnist is a believer in all religions containing "some" truth to them) the one belief they have that I do agree with is not consuming substances like drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and even caffeine.
Those things are unhealthy, damage the body, and are addictive. It's best if we all do without that stuff if we want to live long and healthy.
But I'm also a firm believer in freedom of choice. There isn't anything wrong with a person partaking in such things for pleasure but they should always be aware of either the health or legal consequences.
I tend to believe in moderation instead of total abstinence, except in the case of drugs and tobacco although I see no problem with someone wanting to enjoy a cigar to celebrate a special occasion.
There are health benefits associated with alcohol and caffeine if they are both consumed in moderation.
Not everyone can be moderate when it comes to this stuff, though, so they should avoid it altogether.
Agreed. I am such a person with no self control, so I choose not to do it.
Alcoholism and drug abuse runs in my family.
10 Jun 2019, 12:17 pm
TheRevengeofTW1ZTY wrote:
Twilightprincess wrote:
TheRevengeofTW1ZTY wrote:
Twilightprincess wrote:
I’m no stranger to the likes of Mormons!
In those types of religions, their beliefs are unusual, but they are presented in a rational, reasonable, and relatable sort of way, so they don’t seem as strange as they actually are.
In those types of religions, their beliefs are unusual, but they are presented in a rational, reasonable, and relatable sort of way, so they don’t seem as strange as they actually are.
And as an agnostic omnist (an omnist is a believer in all religions containing "some" truth to them) the one belief they have that I do agree with is not consuming substances like drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and even caffeine.
Those things are unhealthy, damage the body, and are addictive. It's best if we all do without that stuff if we want to live long and healthy.
But I'm also a firm believer in freedom of choice. There isn't anything wrong with a person partaking in such things for pleasure but they should always be aware of either the health or legal consequences.
I tend to believe in moderation instead of total abstinence, except in the case of drugs and tobacco although I see no problem with someone wanting to enjoy a cigar to celebrate a special occasion.
There are health benefits associated with alcohol and caffeine if they are both consumed in moderation.
Not everyone can be moderate when it comes to this stuff, though, so they should avoid it altogether.
Agreed. I am such a person with no self control, so I choose not to do it.
Alcoholism and drug abuse runs in my family.
It’s very mature of you to recognize that and to stay away from such things. Not everyone has that level of insight.
