The longest solar eclipse in this century is scheduled to become visible on the west coast of India at dawn on Wednesday (NASA has images and charts showing where the eclipse will be visible and when)…For millions of Indians, the rare astronomical event is a source of dread.
The pending eclipse has become a stage where fact and myth, modern science and Hindu mythology are competing for public acceptance….
For many Indians of all classes, astrology is an active and vital part of everyday life. Couples consult astrologers about auspicious days to marry. The days deemed to be most fortuitous can sometimes seem like citywide holidays, with scores of marriages filling the city with the wail of brass bands and the thump of fireworks – both common features at Indians’ routinely elaborate wedding ceremonies….
Indian soothsayers have warned that pregnant women should cover the windows and stay indoors on Wednesday, lest the dark forces associated with the eclipse deform their unborn children. Astrologers in India have warned of impending terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and civil wars too.
Hindu mythology blames eclipses on the demon Rahu – who is variously depicted as a snake or a dragon or a disembodied head – who swallows the sun.
Fortunately our western society has been cleansed for the most part of superstition. Thank God we are washed in the blood of the lamb.
Thanks, K B
OK, so astrology is “mostly” for entertainment purposes unless we are talking about Nancy Regan’s years as the President of the USA. I still think that Card Readers and what not should be ILLEGAL as obvious frauds and thereby not allowed to advertise in newspapers/internet and so forth. But OK.
So what in America does the washed in the blood of the lamb actually refer to?
EVOLUTION/ANTI-SCIENCE BIAS.
Any you find the warp and weave of this idiotic nonsense throughout our society. From “In God we Trust” on our Money, to Failure to pay for Abortions in our Public Policy.
Laugh at India, don’t look at our own society.
Basically, humans are ignorant. What and advantage over every other species. How many dogs or other animals are terrified during and eclipse? None. Speaking of myths, how about that Catholic or Baptist religion? Or Islam? Great little organizations that benefit humanity, right?
Thank you! It’s tiresome to ONLY hear about our American/Christian perspective…and how the creator of a trillion galaxies (6,000 years ago) commands us not to eat pork, have gay marriage, and how Koala’s walked/swam from Australia to Jordon to get on the “Ark”. Millions of people with the minds of 5 year olds nod blankly when you explain that. But the Hindu magic? Oh THAT’S silly, but OUR magic is the TRUTH(tm). LOL
My god is a nice old man who lives in the sky and occasionally murders people.
Your god is blue and rides on a cow.
Clearly my god is superior.
I missed the email about needing to be washed by lamb blood. Sounds rather kinky but I’m up for anything.
“its only kinky the first time.”
I swear the Atheists on this blog speak, write and think more about God than do most of the bible thumping Baptists I come in contact with.
Great Googley Moogley…I dont care if any one believes in Red Assed Flying Monkeys with Elephans feet and 3 heads or has 8 arms and is blue. Just leave me alone and I’ll leave you alone… Imagine if we all lived like that… Most of India Does. The Great Crusades killed many a person. Hmmm I don’t know what to do.. let see where did I leave my chicken bones… What does Dione Warwick have to say about this?
John Lennon may have said it best…Imagine…
Want to know what it is like to live in an asylum? Look around, nothing put crazy stupid primates everywhere. I am ready for my medication now nurse Ratched.
#7–Giggy==I wouldn’t speak for the other atheists, but for myself, I hardly ever speak about gawd. No, not even the same ball park. You see, gawd, spirits, faieries, unicorns, DON’T EXIST.
Now what does exist and gets talked about all the time, is the STOOPID people who think it does exist.
With your metaphysical astuteness, I’m sure you know the difference, so why do you prevaricate so? Getting any directives?
Grow up.
#11–do-ill===what you mean? So vague. Can be taken so many ways. Is “grow up” christian code for “get as stupid as we are” or “don’t rock the boat with the contributions coming in? – – or – – just exactly what?
Surely you can put more than two words together. I’ll wait.
Hey, the Church of Algore uses the same kind of science.
Just wait till 2012 … May 20, to be exact. There will be an annular eclipse visible in several US states. (In an annular eclipse, the Moon is not big enough to totally cover the Sun, so there’s a ring effect.) Next Total eclipse visible in the USA: August 21, 2017.
New show on Sun Morn TV: “Closer to the Truth” first episode is “Does God Make Sense.” Seems the believers don’t understand the question because God Exists as there is no other truth. The non-believers don’t think he makes any sense.
Wonder what episode two will be about?
So tell me what a story about a bunch of pagans being superstitious about a solar ellipse, ships falling off waterfalls, and Christianity have to do with one another. Christians are neither Flat-earthers, nor do they believe in astrology.
@Benjamin
Devout Christians, Muslims and Jews have their own special brands of crazy. Rapture much? The Catholic church, at one point, also insisted that the sun revolved around the Earth. Need more examples?
You have to manifestly stupid to follow ANY “organized” religion.
sigh
You have to be …
When will we get the ability to edit frakking posts? Editors? Any one? Bueller?
There you go again slamming Christianity. What is it with you and your disdain of the Christian religion? Someday you will find your rational construction of life’s purpose is empty and hopeless. Let’s just hope it isn’t while you are taking your last few breaths.
…Fire Insurance…?
@Barister
There you go again slamming Christianity.
I am an equal opportunity slammer but I was raised Catholic so …
Someday you will find your rational construction of life’s purpose is empty and hopeless.
Says you, I find it quite satisfactory.
P.S. I don’t believe in Santa either.
#19
Lets try this again:
“There you go again slamming reality. What is it with you and your disdain of reality? Someday you will find your irrational construction of life’s purpose is empty and hopeless. Let’s just hope it isn’t while you are taking your last few breaths.”
Much better.
Benji is quite right:
over time, every single religious based proposition/belief/teaching/dogma about the REAL world has been shown WRONG by science. So, now, the good religionists are down to matters of faith that science cannot debunk as superstitious.
You have to admire that about religion.
All hail God of the gaps!
#24–improb==thanks for the good links and the reference to Bueller above. Keeps us informed and cracks me up.
Lots of good video’s on topic at this website:
http://closertotruth.com/webisode-list
Before eclipse oh god oh god were all going to die!!! After eclipse oh, never mind.
I wonder what this will do for global warming…
#7, GigG
“I swear the Atheists on this blog speak, write and think more about God than do most of the bible thumping Baptists I come in contact with.”
So your point is that bible thumping Baptists don’t think God is too important?