Why do moslems beat themselves about the head and body, often so frenzied that they are saturated in blood. I was watching the news the other day and hundreds of them were beating themselves senseless. Does Allah demand the blood of his followers or are they just mentally imbalanced?
No. The Shi'tes, as do Shi'am and Sunni muslims, of Iraq and much of the mideast region commemorate the death of their prophet Muhammad's son, Husain, who was slain somewhere around the 7th century A.D. And why why oh why do they flog themselves with steel tipped whips and slash their bodies til the meat shows, says you. Its their twisted way of showing solidarity. I'm assuming you were being cynical. Yes, they're a bit odd but its much in the way Catholic whities and Mexicans pray to dead statues and believe a hippy was crucified to be raised from the dead.
Very few people out of that large group did that and they were Shiites. There are Sunnis and Shiites. Allah doesnt demand something like that but people have different ways of showing their love. Allah = God.. So there is nothing like a Christian God or Muslem God.. Its the same
It’s fanatical Shia Muslims that beat themselves in the head and chest to mourn the decapitation of the grandson of Prophet Mohammed by Sunni Muslims.
Hannibal: No, darling. It's all three- Shiam, Shi'ite and Sunni muslims all commerate the prophet's martyred son.
becuase most americans are not articulate enough to say muslim instead of moslem and so on. the funniest one is when they say aluminum, even though it's spelt aluminium. basically alot of words in america have been changed so that they can be used and understood by the mass of their population with low IQ's let's face it. And as for the whole why do Muslims beat themselves senseless? some people eat swords, some people free dive to 50m under the water without breathing equipment, some people jump off cliffs, on some islands people walk on piping hot coals, elsewhere we have people ingesting vast qauntites of a certain mushroom(in order to change their senses and perception) in an attempt to speak to their god. All people who do the things mentioned above find the activity important on a spiritual level(or a mental one), even though the activity is essentially a physical one. It is a test of determination for most and a show of faith, it is not easy to understand. Nor should it be, to a logical person risking personal harm seems pointless and even negative. However to these people the activity is only painful in the superficial sense and the mental reward is far more positive. Such activities are in a more general sense carried out as a result of culture and the geography of the region, the type of people who lived their and the religions which they adopted, any outside influences, the laws and the general morals of such a place all come into play.
First, they're Shiaa and not Muslims. Anyways, Shiaa enjoy bodily pain, they all have smiles on their faces as they bleed. Plus the chains come in handy, their women enjoy pain in sex as well. It's a chemical imbalance indeed.
Flagellants Flagellation is in the Christian heritage also. In 1349 there was a particular nasty group called the flagellants who would go from town to town in Germany and the low countries torturing themselves for Christianity's sin of Jew toleration (Jews were being blamed for the plague), creating a climate for Jew murder so strong that, according to Barbara Tuchman, by the time the plague ended few Jews were left in these countries.
"Why do moslems beat themselves about the head and body, often so frenzied that they are saturated in blood" The brain releases certain chemicals as a result of physical trauma. For whatever reason, these chemicals have a side effect (or perchance a desired affect?) of giving one a most exhilarating high. Religious ecstacy, sexual ecstacy and pain have been associated since fuck-knows-when for precisely this reason. (Allegedly, the more severe the trauma, the better the high. Which would make death the ultimate high. Something to look forward to. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! )
I have never in my life referred to anyone as a "Moslem". Bravo to my excellent schooling. Were did that form of muslim come from? BTW, I had no idea it was aluminium! Maybe that's the name of the element and the stuff I use to wrap my andwiched in is just a product made from it.
In the Native American Souix nation, there is such a thing a s a "sun dance" wherein your chest is peirced by eagle talons, which are tied to the rafters of a building via rope. You are then lifted up by the talons and hung from the chest until the talons tear out, or you have a vision. (the sight of the chest flesh pulling under the weight of the human body is fairly disturbing the first few times you see it, to say the least) The brain is a fasinating thing, and often times the different between eating and sex, pain and pleasure, extasy and torture can become blurred. There is also the social factor of pain=bad. So to self-induce pain for the sake of a cause shows great dedication. It has been used by Buddhists, Christains, Native Americans (North and South), Africans, and more.
Heflores is right. Shias are whackos IMO. This is coming form a former Sunni Muslim who lived in a predominately Shia neighborhood.
I do not know much about muslims or the islamic faith except the basics, but i have some information to add to the discussion. Hurting oneself inthe name of God or a religion isnt new, nor is it just muslims that do it. Christians in the phillipines, catholic i think cant be sure, they are some of the most devout christians onthe planet. There's a ceremony every year, a person is chosen to carry a cross up a hill with the thorn crown and then be crucified and everything. I don't see why people see the news bit and think "oh, muslims, they are crazy" 1, this is a small population of muslims doing this. 2, they are just devout! they are just showing their devotion to God just as catholics do lent and jews study the torah etc..
So devotion equals self-mutilation? Why? Wouldn't Allah be just as happy with a wave and a smile? And yes Salty, moslems/muslims are both equally correct spellings.
Huxley comes to mind. BNW juxtaposes the self torture of the indians to the superfluous pleasures of civilization. In the end it's all about the same thing.