Iran Bans Da Vinci Code, Entheogens, What Would Jesus Buy?
More weird: MSNBC prints a balanced article about an entheogen, actually posting a thoughful piece on Salvia Divinorum, which is not something I've ever seen before. This is the first I've seen to explore the spiritual and ego-dissolving aspects as well as the first to point out that Salvia isn't the party drug it's often made out to be.
The Entheogen as acceptable religious practice progress that began with the Unaiao de Vegetal case may be cut short as the "Church of Cognizance" struggles to have their own sacrament- marijuana- recognized by the courts. This one is being laughed off by many as an attempt to use religion to justify drug abuse, which I find a bit short-sighted given that the plant has one of the best established uses as a religious sacrament going back possibly thousands of years. Also controversial is the group's (supposed) claim of ties to Zoroastrianism, which is provoking an outraged (and sometimes rude) response from Zoroastrians.
And when everyone's done criticizing the idea that one might find God in ancient sacramental psychadelics, we can go back to finding God in the stupidist of all possible places: consumer culture. After all, who needs an inner life when one can have "Christian chocolate" and "Armor of God pajamas?"
If you're still not convinced yet that we've left ordinary reality behind and entered a parallel universe, consider this: more than a hundred people turned up in Miami to celebrate the Second Coming, and it barely made the news.
Finally, what collection of odd wouldn't be complete without a couple of Virgin Mary sightings, the devil, and a signed crocodile?
And then there's this.
Comments
In return to your news, regarding The DaVinci Code, as its translator I must express my deep sorrow. But you could always keep your fingers crossed that ideas may improve and hope that we can get the books out to market.
Meanwhile, it was not a big shock for me in person to find the book confiscated, but interesting since they have based on clergy’s ideas! I’m sure you are aware that what Mr. Brown has brought in the book does not conflict with our Islamic believes since we have in our holy book that Jesus Christ was not a son of God but a man like the rest and he did not die on the cross but ascended up to heaven and will return with our savior.
Even the case, Jesus being married, does not hurt Islamic ideas since I have found no shred of evidence for it during a three years research.
They are still touchy about religion but we can always have hope, can’t we?
Yes, we can.