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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!unc!mcnc!philabs!cmcl2!lanl!wkp
From: wkp@lanl.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Crowley's sense of humor.
Message-ID: <27669@lanl.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 27-Jun-85 01:40:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: lanl.27669
Posted: Thu Jun 27 01:40:40 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 29-Jun-85 02:55:41 EDT
References: <437@cmu-cs-k.ARPA>, <5429@cbscc.UUCP>, <452@cmu-cs-k.ARPA>, <5458@cbscc.UUCP> <464@cmu-cs-k.ARPA>
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Lines: 25


In article <464@cmu-cs-k.ARPA> Tim Maroney writes:

> It
> does, however, run counter to taboo-list morality in its Jewish, Moslem, and
> Christian manifestations.  You would not find any such difficulty in Hindu
> or Taoist cultures.
> 

I think that this statement is a little unfair.  Taboos?  Let's not forget that
Hinduism theologically and socially justifies the Varna (the four main castes
plus the Untouchable caste).  Paraiyans, Kammalans and Pulayans, etc. to this
day are discouraged from (for example) eating with or marrying each other.

I rather like the Upanishads, Puranas, and the Bhagavad-Gita, but much of
these writings are no more sophisticated than some of the sacred writings
of Western religions.  So let's be fair.  I myself feel that emphasis on
social justice and charity is an important part of any religion, and
performing ritual ablutions if another (lower-caste) human being comes
within a distance of 64 feet of you is not something to be proud of.
--

bill peter                                       ihnp4!lanl!wkp

"A demd, damp, moist, unpleasant body!"  --Charles Dickens