OK, I know I’m a Westerner and a Christian and all, so I shouldn’t comment or criticize. Yeah right. Putting hooks in your skin is painful, dangerous, and just plain stupid.

That said, anybody wants to do these kinds of things can do so with my blessing. They can also swallow dirty razor blades, drive rusty nails into their hands and feet, or impale themselves on a post for all I care.

Judgmental? Me? Perish the thought!

Dale, this sort of thing isn’t just for non-Christians. Check out some of the passion plays of the Philippines and Mexico, live crucifixions and all!

Great and interesting pics! I’m a hindu and I’ve never seen anything like this.

Dale, you do know there’s a long tradition in Western Christianity on self-flagellation?

Mona,

I don’t know if you got to speak with any Indian Malays who are there, but there is also an Indian movement called HINDRAF, that’s trying to fight for equal rights.

I’d have to look up the details, but one thing I know is that the Malaysian govt is very pro-ethnic Malay, at the expense of the civil rights of other ethnic groups, the Indians are mostly there b/c they are descendents of indentured servants who came there under British rule.

They have a system there, that is almost like affirmative action for the dominant group – the Malays. Admission scores for Chinese and Indian ethnic groups, in universities are set higher in the effort to make sure as many Malays get in as possible. I don’t know if there’s any religious element to it and I think not…I think it’s mostly what I would call discrimination against certain ethnic minorities.

“OK, I know I’m a Westerner and a Christian and all, so I shouldn’t comment or criticize. Yeah right. Putting hooks in your skin is painful, dangerous, and just plain stupid.”

I promised myself I would not waste the time responding to this type of individual as that in and of itself is completely lacking intelligence on my part but you call yourself a christian yet you pass judgement on that which you know nothing about, clearly, and do not understand. Sounds like a violation of Matthew 7:1. Sounds like you have a bit of that hypocracy in your game.

“completely lacking intelligence on my part ”

to piggy back to the statement I made above, merely I was stating that was not a good idea for someone of my intelligence level to do but sometimes, you know you just can’t help yourself.

“Dale, you do know there’s a long tradition in Western Christianity on self-flagellation?”

Of course not. If many Christains, keep in mind I am a practicing one myself, actually knew a fragment of the history behind their faith, they would not know what to do with themselves. It is one thing to have faith de to ral spiritual enlightment, it is something completely different when one follows “religion” as a sheep. A LOT of religious people are sheep. Hey, if it floats your boat do what is right for you however I implore you do not push your dogma and indoctrination off on others, that is when problems occur.

Looked like you picked a good time to go. Batu Cave is one one those bucket list places imo.

Well aware of idiots crucifying themselves and other silly things. Idiocy is rampant in all religions. Don’t have a high opinion of Christians who do these kinds of things either.

Certainly Christians are not supposed to be overly judgmental, but in life one must make judgments as a matter of course. As to the judgment call someone else made on my intelligence… not really worth commenting upon.

The things depicted in these photographs are dangerous and stupid. That is my judgment. Nobody has to accept it, but we have freedom of speech in this country, unlike in many other parts of the world… for the moment anyway.

That’ll probably change.

Hi Mona

Good shots you have there. I suppose you din get a chance to visit the Penang Thaipusam. Its a whole new different experience there.
http://www.uniqueamazing.com/?p=2241

I do see lot of commentary on its rituals and stuff. Well, in my opinion, experiencing life without a preconception would give you a whole new way of looking at ‘things’. Its truly AMAZING to see how they express their devotion to God. Likewise, all of us have our own way too.

Let’s EMBRACE the differences between us. Else, life would be too dull… DON’T YOU agree??