Sunday, November 09, 2008

Greeks in the Edicule



So this Sunday morning while eating my (non-holy) bread I came across a BBC story about a skirmish earlier today between Orthodox Greek and Armenian monks at Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is built on the alleged site of Christ's crucifixion. Apparently one of the Greek monks insisted on standing in the Edicule, said to house Christ's tomb, while the Armenians were trying to process through it in order to mark the supposed discovery in the 4th century of the cross on which Jesus was crucified. Words were exchanged, punches were thrown, and religious paraphernalia went flying. With their elaborate garments, the holy men looked rather like professional wrestlers.

There, in a nutshell, is everything I find ridiculous about organized religion. Petty tribalism masquerading as faith and spirituality. It's all rather silly, as is this:

Chumbawamba - Look! No Strings! (buy here)

And this:

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I saw that monkish scuffle on TV today and I thought it was kinda hot ;) but only because of the police presence!

xoxox,
Tart

Girl said...

They all need a good dunk in a cold river.

ally. said...

bless em
x

FiL said...

Indeed, Dearest Tart, the combo of vestments, nightsticks, and crucifixes does add a certain frisson, n'est-ce pas...? ;-p

For God's sake (and ours), Dearest JaG, don't get the Baptists involved in this!!!

But Dearest Ally, who would we get to bless them without pouring petrol on the fire??