Sumadera (須磨寺) is a unique #temple full of iconographic #arts, at the western end of Kōbe (神戸). Perhaps because it's not in Kyōto or Nara, there is little information available online about Sumadera, even in #Japanese. It was founded in 886 and has its own branch of Kūkai's #Shingon#Buddhism: Sumadera-ha (真言宗須磨寺派). It is internationally active, and a place for #religious practices rather than an outdoor museum. By the same token, it's free to enter.
Suma appears in ancient waka poetry (和歌) of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables, and is associated with the Heike Monogatari (平家物語). I was determined to go, despite the rain, because I'd read an article clarifying wabi and sabi with a #waka coincidentally about Suma. The first photos show Sumadera's exchanges with #Nepal resulting in a display of Tibetan #Buddhist and #Hindu#iconography. Although there was light rain on the beach at first, later up at Sumadera the day turned bright.
#America is a -young- Nation
understandable 'mistakes' are made
Today #Religious fanatics are mixed with politics
do you understand now why in #Europe we fought 400+ years of bloody wars
to exclude Religion from politics?
Fanaticism
does not marry with politics
Superstitions of some> CANNOT be imposed to ALL
it's a >mistake<
Everyone has the right to believe in the 'Easter Bunny'
but
to force EVERYONE to OBEY the Easter Bunny...
it's wrong
who wrote your Constitution knew it.
Todd Chisholm, 59, former Vermont State trooper for 13 yrs, pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of lewd and lascivious behavior with a child. He has been sentenced to 4 to 5 years, all SUSPENDED except for 30 days, and 6 yrs of probation, with no early termination
@jimcarroll IMO, the bible is one of the most sociopathic books ever written by white men. #Trump is doing what so many #religious people do. #Exploiting others.
The new #law effectively removes half of what is needed under state law to become legally married. In #Tennessee, #marriage occurs after 2 events: the issuance of a marriage license, & the formal #solemnization of a marriage, which can be carried out by a #religious ofcl, a state notary public or a state ofcl.
#Alabama Lawmakers Move to Protect #IVF Treatments
A court ruling declaring frozen #embryos to be legally considered children has set off a scramble among leaders in both parties to preserve access to a crucial reproductive treatment.
The court’s ruling, handed down by an 8-to-1 majority, applies only to 3 couples who were suing a #fertility clinic over the accidental destruction of their #embryos. But its wording — paired w/a fiery blatantly [#religious] opinion from the chief justice encouraging lawmakers to push its scope further — has left many wondering about the possible wider implications for people seeking #IVF treatment.
#Speaker#MikeJohnson delivered a presentation at a weekend #GOP retreat that — although it was billed as a map to keeping the #House majority — took on a surprisingly #religious tone, acc/to 2 people in the room.
Johnson’s private remarks to a small group of #Republican lawmakers in Miami over the wknd alarmed both people…. Rather than outlining a specific plan to hold & grow the majority, …Johnson effectively delivered a sermon.
The #speaker contended that when one doesn’t have #God in their life, the govt or “state” will become their guide, referring back to Bible verses…. the approach fell flat among some in the room.
“I’m not at church,” one… said, describing Johnson’s presentation as “horrible.”
Not attempting to get #Religious by using this line “"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" Some of you have this self-righteous view of #Mastodon as if it’s perfect and never caused harm. You state as if there are not moderation issues amongst 30k plus servers. It’s odd for you to call out #Bluesky which is just a year old regarding moderation yet it hasn’t had anywhere near the reputation and moderation issues that Mastodon has. How does that make sense?
Evidence for persecution and imprisonment of hundreds of older #Uyghur women for #religious crimes.
'"Rachel Harris, professor of ethnomusicology at Soas University of London and co-author of the new report, said the ustaz (urban female leaders who embraced reformist styles of Islam coming from the Middle East in the 1980s) used religion to pursue education and participate in international trade.
"Meanwhile, the büwi (female religious leaders primarily in rural Uyghur communities) held significant power in society, and were responsible for leading birth and death rituals, teaching children and overseeing women’s religious and cultural activities.
"The government narrative was that women needed to be liberated from religious oppression. They really took that [agency] away in the name of liberating women,” said Harris'
Pew asked about various #civic metrics, including whether respondents had volunteered in the past year, had voted in recent midterm elections or follow public affairs closely. The rates for nones are similar to those of #people who have a #religious affiliation but don’t attend religious services. In other words, the issue appears to be more about involvement in groups than religious labels or associations.
#Trump, 2X-divorced casino magnate, made little pretense of being #religious before his presidency. The ardent support he received from #evangelical voters in 2016 & 2020 is often described as largely #transactional: an investment in his appointment of #SCOTUS justices who would abolish the fed right to #abortion & advance the group’s other top priorities.…
But #religion scholars, drawing on a growing body of data, suggest another explanation: #Evangelicals are not exactly who they used to be.
Your right to #religiousFreedom doesn't allow you to steamroll the rights of your #children, and endanger their well-being. Your rights as a #parent don't allow you to obliterate your child's #identity. Maybe try putting the best interests of your child over your thirst for #religious#fanaticism.
A bunch of self-righteous #Christians who view themselves as the pinnacle of morality are opening up their wallets to help fund overt #religious#bigotry.
Reading an otherwise excellent book, “Polarized America,” published in 2006. But this line strikes me as a bit naive through the lens of December 2023:
“there is simply no question to us that the United States is a far more tolerant place [than] it was fifty years ago.”
The authors couldn’t have imagined what - and who - was coming. #politics