Wednesday, August 29, 2007

No Reincarnation Allowed

It's so crazy, it's funny. If it wasn't so sad. I need to make it to Tibet:
In one of history's more absurd acts of totalitarianism, China has banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission. According to a statement issued by the State Administration for Religious Affairs, the law, which goes into effect next month and strictly stipulates the procedures by which one is to reincarnate, is "an important move to institutionalize management of reincarnation."
And I need to move to China. The audacity of their insane policies is a little awe-ing.

By the way, are we all agreed that if the Dalai Lama chooses to reincarnate in America, he's fucked? I mean, how is that kid going to see his way clear of Grand Theft Auto, junior high, and McDonald's. This is not the place to find enlightenment. This is the place to invent a crazy religion out of nothing.

5 comments:

rone said...

If Mormonism is a crazy religion made out of nothing, what does that make $cientology?

Professor Atish said...

A cult.

rone said...

See, now you've just set yourself up for the followup question: What's the difference?

Professor Atish said...

In the abstract, I wouldn't dare answer, I'm sure I'd get myself in trouble. In the case of Mormonism, I think its flowing, generally, from the Judeo-Christian tradition (i.e., recognizing a god that other people recognize) makes it a religion, or like a religion. And Scientology, for its part, has a system of rules and governing myths that are so crazy that I don't know under what definition it might be considered a religion, at all.

So, point taken, although I think there is some distinction between Mormonism, which is outlandish but connected to some more-broadly accepted tradition, and Scientology, which is just nuts, as far as I've bothered to explore.

rone said...

You should check out this 12-minute video that outlines how cults get a hold of converts.

My cynical opinion is that religions are cults that have mainstreamed by going easy on the mind control tricks.