Observations of the Random sort

[Mo]

Seriously, this thread needs to leave the veil.

The calculation for when Easter falls is the most Pagan thing in the world. First Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring equinox. All it's missing is the ritual sacrifice of a goat.

[Kolohe]

Says the man who grew up in the culture of the most movable observance of Ramadan, where one does sacrifice a goat at the end (I think)

[Mo]

Says the man who grew up in the culture of the most movable observance of Ramadan, where one does sacrifice a goat at the end (I think)

It's Eid al-Adha. And it's a lamb. Technically, the feasts in Islam are not moveable because they are consistent within the religion's calendar. Ramadan always happens during the month of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha always happens during the 10-13th of Dhu al-Hijjah. Granted, the whole calendar moves because it's lunar, which is pretty Pagany. Hell, part of the religion is praying in the direction of a black meteorite in the desert.

Basing a holiday on the equinox/solstice and the phase of the moon gives you two squares in Pagan bingo.

[thoreau]

I feel like a black meteorite in the desert is just crying out for a comic book superhero origin story.

[Jennifer]

Even though I'm totally non-religious, I think things like the black meteorite are cool -- or, more specifically, I think it's cool when mythologies nonetheless turn out to have an undigested corn-kernel of truth nestled deep within the bullshit.

I remember being fascinated by a science-channel documentary suggesting there really were cities named Sodom and Gomorrah, and they really were destroyed by fire from the sky -- specifically, a meteor strike in Austria, with a debris plume trashing parts of the Levant. And ancient Greek monster myths, like the Cyclops, griffin (lion w/eagle head) and others, were probably based on misinterpretations of ancient fossil finds.

[Hugh Akston]

I feel like a black meteorite in the desert is just crying out for a comic book superhero origin story.

I'm pretty sure anyone who tried to draw that comic book wouldn't last long.

[dhex]

rushdie seems to be doing ok.

[Shem]

Hell, part of the religion is praying in the direction of a black meteorite in the desert.

That was a repurposed altar to other gods. Lots of other gods. Like, Mecca was the Times Square of pagan idolatry before Muhammad and his pals went all Rudy Giuliani on it.

Seriously, that's got to be at least three numbers in the Pagan Idolatry lotto.

[Aresen]

Hell, part of the religion is praying in the direction of a black meteorite in the desert.

That was a repurposed altar to other gods. Lots of other gods. Like, Mecca was the Times Square of pagan idolatry before Muhammad and his pals went all Rudy Giuliani on it.

Seriously, that's got to be at least three numbers in the Pagan Idolatry lotto.

OK, let's raise:

1) Based on the winter solstice
2) Birth of a God to the line of Kings
3) Appearance of a great star
4) Wise men travel to witness birth
5) Said Wise Men make offerings symbolic of divinity
6) Annunciation to common people by divine messenger
7) Virgin conceives by deity

That's seven Lotto Pagan points.

[Jennifer]

Hell, part of the religion is praying in the direction of a black meteorite in the desert.

That was a repurposed altar to other gods. Lots of other gods. Like, Mecca was the Times Square of pagan idolatry before Muhammad and his pals went all Rudy Giuliani on it.

Seriously, that's got to be at least three numbers in the Pagan Idolatry lotto.

OK, let's raise:

1) Based on the winter solstice
2) Birth of a God to the line of Kings
3) Appearance of a great star
4) Wise men travel to witness birth
5) Said Wise Men make offerings symbolic of divinity
6) Annunciation to common people by divine messenger
7) Virgin conceives by deity

That's seven Lotto Pagan points.

Extra bonus pagan points over the whole "born solely to serve as a human sacrifice to the god" bit.

[Warren]

2) Birth of a God to the line of Kings

Wait what?

[thoreau]

Jesus was descended from King David.

[Shem]

Though one of the gospels traces the descent through Joseph. Go figure.

[Warren]

Jesus was descended from King David.

Wouldn't that mean God (Jesus' father) descended from David? Or are you saying Mary was a noblewoman? In which case, she married beneath herself.

[Ayn_Randian]

Jesus was descended from King David.

Wouldn't that mean God (Jesus' father) descended from David? Or are you saying Mary was a noblewoman? In which case, she married beneath herself.

Well, no. It's Joseph who is in the line.

[tr0g]

Jesus was descended from King David.

Wouldn't that mean God (Jesus' father) descended from David? Or are you saying Mary was a noblewoman? In which case, she married beneath herself.

Well, no. It's Joseph who is in the line.

That doesn't count. We're all about blood of my blood here in Pagan Idolatry land. Adoption is weak sauce for bloodlines.

[Kolohe]

Is that what the Roman Emperors did though? Adopt an heir?

[Pham Nuwen]

What about the Mayor of Injuns!!!

[Shem]

Jesus was descended from King David.

Wouldn't that mean God (Jesus' father) descended from David? Or are you saying Mary was a noblewoman? In which case, she married beneath herself.

Well, no. It's Joseph who is in the line.

One of them traces it through Mary, I believe.

[lunchstealer]

What about the Mayor of Injuns!!!

J. Michael Straczynski presents: The Legend of Vir Cotto: Business Stoner.

[Fin Fang Foom]

Oh my god. This is so much more amazing than I could have ever believed.

[Pham Nuwen]

JasonL on appropriate footwear: "Dammit Ryan! There's more to life than tennis shoes and flip flops."

[Mo]

I think Google is just trolling people with their doodles now. Though I doubt the outrage machine would get so ginned up about Caesar Chavez that they would get pissed and think it was Hugo Chavez.

*Fingers crossed for a Twilight Zone themed doodle on Dec. 25*

[Timothy]

JasonL on appropriate footwear: "Dammit Ryan! There's more to life than tennis shoes and flip flops."

Indeed - there are hiking boots.

[Highway]

I think Google is just trolling people with their doodles now. Though I doubt the outrage machine would get so ginned up about Caesar Chavez that they would get pissed and think it was Hugo Chavez.

*Fingers crossed for a Twilight Zone themed doodle on Dec. 25*

I like the people who complain about Google not 'celebrating Easter' who praise Bing for putting Easter Eggs on their site. Seems kinda point-missy to me.